Horse of the Week

Zenyatta, Queen of Racing, and her first foal

Photograph available for purchase from the Zenyatta shop

17.2hh, bay mare,  Zenyatta the hugely popular American Thoroughbred out of Vertineux by Street Cry hit the news big time again on 8th March with the birth of her first foal, currently known as Zenyatta's Prince,  by Bernadini.

Zenyatta owned by A & M Records Jerry Moss was named after the  Police album Zenyatta Mondatta. Born on April 1st, April Fool's Day, in 2004 she was sold as a yearling to Jerry Moss at the bargain price of $60,000 because she was suffering from ringworm.

Photograph available for purchase from the Zenyatta shop

During her racing career Zenyatta, known as the "Queen of Racing" achieved the following:

• Her Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic was the second-fastest in Breeders Cup history at 1:46.85 for 1⅛ miles.
• On November 7, 2009, Zenyatta became the first female to win the Grade I Breeders Cup Classic and the first horse ever to win two different Breeder's Cup Races.
• The 2010 Apple Blossom Handicap marked her 16th win in a row, tying the record held by Citation and Cigar for consecutive victories in unrestricted races.
• With her win of the 2010 Vanity International Handicap she broke the all-time North American record for consecutive wins in unrestricted races (17 wins in 17 starts).
• On August 7, 2010, at the Clement L. Hirsch Handicap, Zenyatta broke the world record (set by Rock of Gibraltar) for consecutive (8) Grade/Group I victories and tied the legendary Eclipse with 18 consecutive victories without defeat.
• Winning the 2010 Lady's Secret Stakes, Zenyatta broke the all-time North American record for Grade/Group I victories by a filly/mare. She tied the all-time North American record for consecutive victories without defeat, and broke the all-time North American female earnings record. She is also the first mare to win this race 3× (consecutive years).
• Zenyatta set speed records in the 2008 El Encino Stakes (1:40:61) and the 2008 Lady's Secret Stakes (1:40:30).
• She is the first mare to win Vanity International Handicap, Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, and the Lady's Secret Stakes for 3 consecutive years.
• Zenyatta holds both the speed record and record for most wins in the Lady's Secret Stakes. Her connections Ann & Jerry Moss, John Shirreffs, and Mike Smith hold records for most wins (four) by an owner, trainer, and jockey respectively.

• On January 18, 2010, Zenyatta won The Eclipse Award for Top Older Female of the 2009 Season.
• She was named by Oprah Winfrey to the 2010 “O Power List” in O Magazine.
• Zenyatta was selected three years in a row (2008–2010) for NTRA's Moment of the Year Award, for her 2008 Ladies' Classic victory, historic 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic victory, and narrow defeat in the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic.
• On January 17, 2011 Zenyatta won the Eclipse Award for Top Older Female and Horse Of The Year of the 2010 season. The voting for Horse of the Year was 128 for Zenyatta to 102 for Blame, with 5 votes for Goldikova. It was Zenyatta's third nomination for Horse of the Year, and her first win.
• On January 20, 2011, Penny Chenery announced that Zenyatta was named the 2010 recipient of the Secretariat Vox Populi Award.
• On March 23, 2011, Zenyatta became the first horse to win the William H. May Award. The award honors an individual or group that has provided "meritorious service" to the industry. Past recipients include racing industry greats such as John R. Gaines (Breeders' Cup founder), Joe Hirsch (founder of the National Turf Writers Association), Bob and Beverly Lewis, Stanley Bergstein and Richard Duchossois.
• On May 10, 2011, Zenyatta's story kicked off the "Inspire" segment of the 2011 Professional Business Women of California (PBWC) Conference.  This organization was founded by California Congresswoman Jackie Speier. Ann Moss, Dr. Dawn Hunkin, and Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs and several thousand people attended as Zenyatta was presented with a PBWC Honorary Membership.
• Zenyatta was the first horse to receive an Honorary Membership to the San Pedro Assistance League. Her photo proudly hangs in their official conference room.

Retired in 2010 Zenyatta is now a mother with her own Dairy :

Z's Diary | March 8, 2012

Diary Post #454

Dear, dear, dear friends,

I am so proud and elated to share the news with you that I am now a MOM. I just gave birth to a lovely dark bay COLT, March 8th, at approximately 10:10 p.m. Eastern Time.

My adorable foal weighed in at 130 pounds, has a white star on his forehead….and some white on his feet. As Ann commented when she saw him, “he has polka dots on his feet, Zennie, just like YOU.”

All went very well with the foaling. I must say….I did it like a CHAMP!

My foal is absolutely precious…and I am so pleased to share this entire experience with all of you…my precious and loving friends.

Photo by Ann Moss.

We are all still just getting acclimated to this entire new experience. I’m doing great. MY BABY is doing great….and Bernie is also excited! I’ll update you again with some more photos in the morning.

All blessings to each of YOU….and THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART….for being there for ME and SHARING THIS WONDERFUL PART OF MY LIFE WITH ME!

With Love,
Hugs to All~(Can you believe it…..I’m now a MOM!)
Z

Zenyatta has her own website, shop and FB page.

Shayne the World 's Oldest Horse

Although Guiness World Records have not received a claim for the oldest living horse from Shayne's owners he is being hailed by the press as the world's oldest living horse at he grand old age of 51.

Shayne a 15hh, liver chestnut,  Irish Draught cross resides at the Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary having been taken there by his previous owner in 2007 after the death of Shayne's companion. His age has been based on what the owners told the sanctuary, he is in good health suffering only mild arthritis.

Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary care for some 200 animals and are gaining much credence as a unit specialising in the care of veteran horses. They can advise owners of older horses in all aspects of their care. As one of the few Sanctuaries who are prepared to keep horses to such a ripe old age, Remus feel this is a role that they are well placed to carry out, and to this end  launched an Elderly Horse Campaign, holding seminars and workshops for horse owners to make them aware of just how much they can do for their animals to help them to thrive in old age.

The Sanctuary embraces holistic care alongside the superb work of  species specific Vets. They have a solarium to help the older horses, ponies and donkeys and a Laminitic Barn equipped to help the laminitic and Cushingoid ponies – which consists of a special sand flooring, day light bulbs to help boost the immune system and deep cushioned stables.

Please do browse the Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary website and learn about Remus and their work, their animals and the many other facets of life in a busy Animal Sanctuary.

2013 Update - Shayne was put to sleep on 22nd February 2013 after collapsing at Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary. 

Sue Burton, founder of the Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary told the Mail Online that

"He was such a lovely horse with a great character and he showed how good a horse of this age could look."

"Shayne was a happy horse, a lovely old boy and we are proud to have known him. He was great to own and we are delighted to have had him and we shall miss him dearly."

There is a lovely video of Shayne  here - Shayne believed to be the world's oldest horse dies

You might also be interested to read about Old Billy the world's oldest horse who died in 1822 at the age of 62.