Zenyatta Walks, Jogs, Runs (with Video)

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Zenyatta’s California connections were in Versailles, Ky., Dec. 20 to visit the great mare and watch her stretch her legs in a paddock at Lane’s End Farm.

Owners Ann and Jerry Moss, trainer John Shirreffs and his wife Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs (the Mosses’ racing manager), groom Mario Espinoza, and Espinoza's wife hotwalker Carmen Zamona made the trip. They arrived at the broodmare barn that is Zenyatta’s new home at about 8:30 a.m. EST.

The champion mare was walked in her paddock for a while before she was released and allowed to walk, jog, and run. As a precautionary measure, Lane’s End farm workers were stationed around the inside of the paddock.

Photos: Zenyatta at the Farm

Zenyatta at the Farm

After about two hours, Zenyatta was given carrots and mints by her visitors, and then led back to her stall.

Zenyatta, a two-time champion, winner of 19 consecutive races, and a contender for 2010 Horse of the Year, arrived at Lane’s End Dec. 6 following a flight from Southern California and an appearance at Keeneland, which attracted more than 1,000 fans despite sub-zero temperatures. She was then taken to a 24-stall barn where maiden and barren mares are stabled.

Because of snow and ice on the ground, Zenyatta had been spending most of her time in her stall and being hand-walked several hours daily. The 6-year-old daughter of Street Cry was hand-walked outside in a paddock for the first time Dec. 9, when the daytime temperature rose above freezing.