Secretariat’s descendants are helping to keep his legacy alive! As we get closer to Big Red’s birthday on March 30, we’re writing about some of his progeny here in Virginia. Our last post was about Rainaway, his great grandson who lives at The Meadow in Doswell.
This is Covert Action, a Secretariat grandson, who quite generously, has helped us promote our book “Secretariat’s Meadow.” He lives in Goochland County at the James River Correctional Center. No, he is not serving time. He is serving as the resident “spokeshorse” for Greener Pastures, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) farm located there.
This picture was taken during a barn tour last year of Greener Pastures, where I showed Covert Action the book about his grandfather. I’m not sure he grasped the significance of the occasion as he seemed more interested in looking for carrots.
At Greener Pastures, inmates and retired racehorses get a second chance at a new life. The selected inmates care for the horses in a supervised program and can learn a new career suitable for the horse industry. In fact, Covert Action’s groom has now become a professional farrier.
The horses learn how to transition from the track, or in some cases from unhealthy environments. Many are later adopted out to permanent, caring homes. Read more about this inspiring program at www.jamesriverhorses.org.
Covert Action certainly had the pedigree to be a racehorse. Born in 1995, his lineage included Mr. Prospector, a very successful stallion whose get have won many of the classic races such as the Kentucky Derby. Even more auspicious, the colt’s grandsire on his dam’s side was our mighty Secretariat. And Secretariat’s daughters have produced outstanding champions such as A.P.Indy, Storm Cat and Smarty Jones.
But Covert Action did not find much action on the racetrack. He won only three of his 26 races and earned only $22,000 during his career. Instead he found another calling, thanks to the TRF and its dedicated volunteers. He also found a forever home.
Kate Tweedy and I teamed up with him and TRF again at another book event at a Southern States store. I believe he would have preferred to chew on our giant book poster but he was far too well-mannered for that!
Covert Action and his “cousin” Rainaway, will be on hand for “meet and greet” at the Secretariat birthday celebration at The Meadow on March 27.
Surely Big Red would be glad that two of his descendants have found greener pastures in his home state of Virginia!
By Leeanne Meadows Ladin
copyright 2011