What is SECVA?

Secretariat, widely considered the greatest racehorse of all time, was born and trained at Meadow Stable in Caroline County, Virginia. The times of his Triple Crown races of 1973 have never been equalled, and ESPN named him one of the top athletes of the 20th century.

Sports writers called him “America’s Super Horse.” Today his descendants dominate racing, including American Pharoah and Justify, the Triple Crown winners of 2015 and 2018. 

This awe-inspiring bronze, which is 1.5 times life size, shows the powerful Thoroughbred in his full racing stride with jockey Ron Turcotte aboard. Ms. Russell, an internationally renowned sculptor, consulted with veterinarians and the jockey himself to brilliantly capture the horse’s magnificent motion. 

The monument was unveiled in Ashland, VA for the kickoff celebration of the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown. 

The Chenery family who owned and raced the legendary Thoroughbred has deep ties to Ashland. Christopher Chenery grew up in Ashland, attended Randolph-Macon College, and in 1936 founded Meadow Stable in nearby Caroline County where Secretariat was born in 1970.  His daughter, Penny Chenery, who managed Secretariat’s spectacular career, was awarded an honorary doctorate from the college in 2011. Her daughter, author/speaker Kate Chenery Tweedy, a resident of Ashland, is leading the Secretariat For Virginia group.