Charlie Davis | Secretariat's Meadow

SECRETARIAT BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT THE MEADOW MARCH 29-30 KICKS OFF 40^TH ANNIVERSARY OF SECRETARIAT’S 1973 TRIPLE CROWN

Come Join Us Where the Legend Began!

Forty years ago in 1973, the big red horse pounded the turf in the Belmont Stakes like a “tremendous machine” and clinched the first Triple Crown in a quarter-century.

Forty years and his fame is undiminished, his fans’ adoration unabated and his record unequalled. Of the 11 champions who have won the Triple Crown since 1919, only the mighty Secretariat broke all three track records. His Derby was 1:59 2/5; his Preakness 1:53 (finally corrected this year) and his phenomenal Belmont was 2:24.

On March 29-30, fans from all over the country are converging on Big Red’s birthplace at The Meadow in Doswell, VA to celebrate his birthday and kick off the 40^th anniversary of his Triple Crown. It promises to be a historic gathering.

Penny Chenery, Kate Chenery Tweedy, Ron Turcotte and Charlie Davis are all scheduled to appear. They will be joined by some of the original grooms and riders who assisted with Secretariat when he was a colt at the Virginia farm. This will be the first time that all of them have been together at the farm. Also, for the first time ever, both of the very first training saddles worn by Secretariat and Riva Ridge will be on display by their owners.

Fans will have the unique opportunity on Friday March 29 to watch the Secretariat movie at The Meadow with the Secretariat team. There will be a panel discussion afterward as Penny, Kate, Ron and Charlie share their memories of Big Red.

The Saturday program will be chockfull of everything a fan could want:

autograph sessions with the Secretariat team;
extensive display of Secretariat merchandise and memorabilia;
local Secretariat descendants on hand;
tram tours of the historic farm, featuring Secretariat’s original foaling shed;
continuous showing of the Triple Crown races;
horse industry exhibits;
local vendors;
a “Kiddie Corral” for children;
and a special musical tribute to Secretariat.

The complete program schedule and ticket info is on our website at http://www.secretariatsmeadow.com/events/2013-events/. Come join us where the legend began!

The Secretariat Birthday Celebration at The Meadow is being co-hosted by Commonwealth Fairs and Events of Virginia and Secretariat.com of Louisville, Kentucky.

by Leeanne Meadows Ladin

co-author of

“Secretariat’s Meadow – The Land, The Family, The Legend” and “Riva Ridge – Penny’s First Champion”

For once, Riva Ridge shared the spotlight with his stablemate, Big Red, and in Paris, of all places. Paris, Kentucky, that is, where the annual Secretariat Festival took place and where our new book “Riva Ridge – Penny’s First Champion” made its “world debut” on September 29.

What better kick-off than to have Penny Chenery, the First Lady of Racing, signing copies of the book about the horse she called her “Golden Boy.” She credits Riva with saving Meadow Stable when it was faltering after her father’s illness and her family wanted to sell it. Riva’s winnings of $500,000 in 1971 quelled that notion and earned him the title of Champion Two-Year- Old. Penny said in our book, “Riva kept everything – the morale, the plan, the program – going until Secretariat came along to do those remarkable things. Without Riva, I can’t guarantee we would have even had Secretariat.”

At the Secretariat Festival, Penny autographed copies of our Riva book and “Secretariat’s Meadow,” along with lots of memorabilia, for over two hours. Also signing autographs for hundreds of delighted fans were Ron Turcotte, jockey, and Charlie Davis, exercise rider.

You can read more about Riva and order copies of “Riva Ridge – Penny’s First Champion” through our website at www.secretariatsmeadow.com.

In the meantime, here is a great photo of Penny with Charlie Davis at the Secretariat Festival.

And here is a photo of Penny with Ron Turcotte at the Thoroughbred Club dinner held in her honor on Sept. 30 at Keeneland.

By Leeanne Meadows Ladin

co-author of “Secretariat’s Meadow – The Land, The Family, The Legend” and “Riva Ridge – Penny’s First Champion” with Kate Chenery Tweedy

Secretariat's Meadow

Tag Archives: Charlie Davis

Secretariat Birthday Celebration at The Meadow

Riva Ridge in Spotlight at Secretariat Festival