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Home , Belmont Stakes, Chic Anderson, Citation (horse), Claiborne Farm, Colt (horse), Eddie Sweat

SPECIAL : REPORT LIKE NO OTHER WHY WHY

SECRETARIAT STILL MATTERS 32 EQUUS 434 november 2013 SECRETARIAT: LIKE NO OTHER HORSE Combining astonishing talent with good looks and charisma, Secretariat captivated the nation in 1973. Forty years later, his star still shines bright.

he other icons of 1973 By Jennifer ---the Partridge Family, Graham Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King, eight-track tapes, bell-bottom pants---seem as distant and hoary as 40-cent- a-gallon gas. But Secretariat thunders Ton, timeless, as vibrant and relevant in death as he was in life. Earlier this year, 1,200 people turned out for a party in Virginia celebrating the anniversary of his birth. Millions of admirers have watched grainy YouTube videos of Secretariat’s thrilling stretch runs. He has been immortalized in bronze, books, film, song, even on a postage stamp. A Secretariat bobblehead commands $200 on eBay; a ticket, purchased for $2 in 1973, goes for $1,000; a nail from one of his horseshoes fetches more than $6,000. In Paris, Kentucky, red roses still arrive every month for him at WHY JIM MCCUE ; thousands KIT HOUGHTON/CORBIS SECRETARIAT STILL MATTERS november 2013 EQUUS 434 33 SPECIAL SECRETARIAT: REPORT LIKE NO OTHER HORSE

still visit his grave there every year. Forty years after he ran his last race, Secretariat still matters, and it doesn’t take too much effort to figure out why. His Triple Crown records still stand. His feats can be endlessly relived by anyone with an Internet connection through sites that showcase videos of his racing career. And, perhaps most important, Secretariat’s legacy has been managed by a smart, dynamic and telegenic busi- nesswoman, Helen “Penny” Chenery, who understood, as no one else did, what he meant to the public then---and what he still represents today. HANDSOME A NEW GENERATION BOY: Secretariat OF FANS at 6 months Secretariat was born on March already had 30, 1970, at The Meadow in Doswell, the look of a Virginia, about a half-hour from champion. Richmond. The property is now owned by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and is home to the Virginia State Fair. Christopher Chenery, Penny’s fa- ther, bred Secretariat as well as 1972 winner and many other racing champions. The Chenery family sold The Meadow in 1978, and the house was torn down in the 1980s, but the foaling shed and other barns remain, testaments BOB HART to the beginnings of a mighty cham- pion. (The story is detailed in Secretariat’s Meadow, by Kate Chenery Tweedy and Leeanne Meadows Ladin, published in 2010.) Earlier this year, and her daughter traveled back to The Meadow for a birthday celebration for Big Red. Also on hand was , the who guided Secretariat through his Triple Crown victories and most of his other races.

34 EQUUS 434 november 2013 Among the 1,200 people who turned to Secretariat’s fans. (Chenery is widely out were children whose own parents SECRETARIAT’S known to possess superpowers in her were children in 1973. “It’s been 40 ability to sign books and photographs years, but it might as well have been VITAL for hours.) yesterday,” wrote Holly Prestidge in The It turned out to be a brilliant deci- Richmond Times-Dispatch. Among the STATISTICS sion. Today, Lusky has seen the original fans were a family of six who’d made bobblehead sell for $800. And a Beanie a seven-hour drive so their 12-year- Baby issued in 2007, likewise, swiftly old daughter could meet Chenery, the Height: 16.2 hands sold out and remains a collector’s item. woman behind the horse. Weight: 1,200 Pounds Meadow Stable, Now 91 and living in a retirement Owner: BURNISHING Penny Tweedy (Chenery) home in , Chenery has become Trainer: THE RECORD almost as famous as her beloved horse. Jockey: Ron Turcotte A Kentucky native, Lusky was 12 She admits that, while much of his Groom: when Secretariat was racing and vivid- popularity was organic, part of it was Exercise riders: Jim Gaffney ly remembers watching the Belmont on the fruit of her labor. and Charlie Davis a television at a RadioShack at a mall. “We’ve worked hard to keep him Lifetime race record (1972-1973): Later, after Secretariat retired, he went in the public eye, because he fulfills a 21-16-3-1; $1,316,808 to Claiborne Farm to see him. need,” Chenery says. “All those horse- Progeny: 653, including “I was a gawker, like everyone else,” crazy teenaged girls…. We could not 57 stakes winners he says. “I’d brought my camera, and have kept his memory alive if there was Recent popular descendants: the groom brought him out. He was big, not a need for him,” she says. A.P. Indy, , , Elusive he was burly, and his head was down. I To help meet that need, a decade Quality, wasn’t sensing the greatness. But then after Secretariat’s death, Chenery I took out my camera to take a picture, partnered with Leonard Lusky, a Source: Secretariat.com and he perked up, got that faraway look, publisher in Kentucky, to produce and posed, and I said, ‘Now I get it.’ a website dedicated to the horse. “He was a ham,” Lusky laughs. “Almost every famous horse now has What started as a part-time venture an Internet presence,” Lusky says. But to help fund the life-size bronze statue Secretariat, true to form, was a stand- of the horse at the out from the beginning. in turned into a “dream job” One of the first products that for Lusky as Secretariat’s Lusky produced was a bobblehead in reach has continued Secretariat’s image. Lusky laughs to expand and the when remembering Chenery’s re- sponse when he first proposed it in 2001: “She gave me that look, and Secretariat said, ‘Don’t you think that might and his groom be a little undignified Eddie Sweat for Secretariat?’” But he convinced her that he could produce “the Rolls Royce of bobbleheads” that fans would love, in a design she approved, and that the effort would be in keeping with Chenery’s cama-

raderie with and accessibility BETTMAN/CORBIS november 2013 EQUUS 434 35 SPECIAL SECRETARIAT: REPORT LIKE NO OTHER HORSE

website grew. For a while, Chenery an- • March 30, 1970: foaled then-record $6.08 million. swered questions from fans on the site, at The Meadow, Doswell, Virginia Sports Illustrated noted but that task soon became overwhelm- • July 4, 1972: In his first that “he was syndicated ing, so new questions are no longer race, Secretariat had a poor for something like $345 an taken. An archive of previous questions start and rough trip, but he ounce,” much higher than the and answers is available, however. rallied to finish the five-and-a- price of gold, which was $86 It was Lusky who, in 2012, argued half furlong race in fourth an ounce. Penny Chenery kept on behalf of Secretariat before the place, at Aqueduct Race Course four of the $190,000 shares, Maryland Racing Commission and had in . while 28 others went to buyers his Preakness time adjusted. Lusky’s KENTUCKY DERBY • July 15, 1972: from all over the world. The 1973 presentation lasted more than three Secretariat earns his first win, syndication contract stipulated and a half hours, but it took commission

taking a six-furlong maiden race that the would retire from BETTMAN/CORBIS members just five minutes to decide that a timer had malfunctioned at the start of the race, and Secretariat’s time had, in fact, broken the record. Not that the big horse’s reputation needed fur- ther burnishing, but, as Lusky puts it, “It was fantastic, after 40 years, having

those asterisks taken away.” MILESTONES Now, it’s official: In winning the 1973 Triple Crown, Secretariat broke records in all three races, finishing the Derby in 1:59 2/5, the Preakness in 1:53, and the Belmont in 2:24. The footage of the Belmont win is one of the most inspirational video clips on YouTube, with Secretariat blow- ing past in front of a billowing as renowned broadcaster breathlessly calls the race, describing Secretariat as “a tre- mendous machine.” at Aqueduct Race Course in New racing after the end of the “Secretariat,” Lusky says, “was this BEST IS YET TO York by four lengths. 1973 season. rare confluence of time and accomplish- COME: Secretariat’s • December 1972: After • May 5, 1973: ment. It was the perfect storm of what trainer Lucien finishing the season with six Secretariat wins The Kentucky he did, the way he did it, how he looked Laurin presents additional wins, including five Derby in a record-breaking and his team. I’m not sure that will ever the colt with a stakes races, Secretariat was 1:59 2/5 minutes, gaining happen again.” birthday cake in named the champion 2-year- speed with each successive March 1973. old colt of 1972 and voted as quarter mile. The crowd of “WHAT A MIRACLE” Horse of the Year, topping his 134,476 was the largest to An orthopedic surgeon in Austin, stablemate 1972 Kentucky ever gather for a horse race Texas, Barbara Bergin, MD, didn’t even Derby winner Riva Ridge and the by that date. get interested in until she was in unbeaten . • May 19, 1973: her 40s, when she first learned to ride. • February 1973: Secretariat wins The But early on she discovered the wonders Secretariat is syndicated for a , the second of Secretariat.

36 EQUUS 434 november 2013 Bergin, who is also a competi- tive reiner, was studying the differ- ences between racehorses and reining horses when she became intrigued by Secretariat. She was soon hooked. “From my standpoint as a physician and as a person who takes care of athletes, it’s rare to come across an athlete who’s super-special like this,” KENTUCKY DERBY Bergin says. “There are a lot of good 1973 athletes out there, but every once in a leg of the Triple Crown, by third place finish in Horse of the Year while, there’s somebody who’s special 2 ½ lengths over Sham. 21 starts, with total Lady’s Secret, 1988 above and beyond what’s explainable • June 9, 1973: By an winnings of $1,316,808. Preakness and Belmont by good training and good opportunity. extraordinary 31 lengths, Secretariat is retired to stud Stakes winner , I don’t know that there will ever be

JERRY COOKE/CORBIS JERRY Secretariat wins the at Claiborne Farm in Paris, and 1990 another one like him. He was kind of a Belmont Stakes to become Kentucky. winner Rule. freak of nature.” the first Triple Crown winner • October 1977: Secretariat also became Like many Secretariat fans, Bergin since in 1948. wins known as a broodmare was thrilled when Disney, in 2010, • October 28, 1973: the Hill Futurity sire. His daughters released a movie about the horse. The Secretariat wins his in England, becoming produced many successful film, starring and John last race, the Canadian Secretariat’s first stakes racehorses including Malkovich, no doubt contributed to International at Woodbine winner. In the years that Storm Cat, Gone West a resurgence in the ’s Racetrack in , followed, his notable and A.P. Indy. popularity. It brought the story to a new Ontario, by 6 ½ lengths. His offspring included 1979 • October 4, 1989: generation and rekindled interest in final record: 16 wins; three winner Secretariat is put down due those who grew up as fans.

JIM MCCUE second-place finishes; one , 1986 to severe laminitis. “Within two weeks, I saw the movie seven, eight, nine times, and I’m not BLACK-EYED SUSANS: exaggerating. To this day, I’ve seen it Secretariat and Ron 20 to 25 times,” says Neysa Osborne of Turcotte with Penny Tweedy Dallas. “Every woman should watch this and Lucien Laurin in the movie at least once.” winner’s circle at Osborne, who saw Secretariat while . he was alive and has met Chenery, named her business Triple Crown Publishing in Big Red’s honor. Sitting in her of- fice, surrounded by Secretariat pic- tures and memo- rabilia, Osborne

quotes the film DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES WALT

november 2013 EQUUS 434 37 SPECIAL SECRETARIAT: REPORT LIKE NO OTHER HORSE from memory: “This is about life being While Chenery and her family “A KIND OF ahead of you. You run at it, because you were actively involved in the making never know how far you can go unless of the movie (Chenery was on the set for PERFECTION” The biggest reason Secretariat you run.” much of the filming, and Disney hired endures in our hearts may also be “There’s no better example of that Lusky as a consultant), she is quick to the simplest: because he was a horse, than Secretariat,” she says. “Thirty-one distinguish its fictions from its facts. not a person. We anthropomorphized lengths. What a miracle. I personally One celebrated scene, for example, him, of course; wanted him to be one hope that is never broken.” in which groom Eddie Sweat bathes of us, because so much about him Lusky says that while the website Secretariat while Chenery and others was admirable. Secretariat.com saw an uptick of traffic dance around the horse to the tune In The Horse God Built, author after the movie was released, the tens of of the gospel spiritual “O Happy Day,” Lawrence Scanlan quotes Ted McClain, thousands of visitors each year aren’t all didn’t happen; in fact, it couldn’t have once the barn foreman for Lucien the result of the film. happened: “The horse wouldn’t have Laurin, Secretariat’s trainer. “He was Many Secretariat fans are like Lynn stood still,” she says with a laugh. the biggest, strongest, most attractive Jawitz, a wedding planner from New and powerful animal you could ever lay York City, whose love for the horse your eyes on. He was a heartthrob…. was seeded in events she witnessed in real life, not a film merely “based on a true story.” Jawitz, in fact, refused to see the film • “Secretariat” was not the because she didn’t want a fictionalized first choice of names for the version to interfere with the very real chestnut colt. Penny Chenery memories she has of the horse. preferred Scepter, but that “When I was a teenager, I saw name was rejected by the Secretariat numerous times. In the Jockey Club registry, along backstretch at Belmont, I watched him with Royal Line, Something graze in his little grassy area by the Special, Game of Chance stable. My mom had a photo of me and Deo Volente. The name standing on the split-rail fence with Secretariat was suggested by Secretariat in the background,” Chenery’s father’s secretary, Jawitz says. Elizabeth Ham, who previously “When I was in college I dressed as • Secretariat’s favorite treat had worked as a secretary to a Secretariat for Halloween, with brown was carrots, but he also liked United Nations diplomat. pants, a brown shirt, and my red hair in Certs breath mints. a pony tail,” she adds. “I am such a fan • Before his 3-year-old season, KNOW? of his that I would neither see the movie KNOW? • Secretariat’s groom Eddie Secretariat was syndicated for nor read the books. I saw the real story Sweat greeted the colt by $6.08 million, a record at the unfold live and didn’t want to get an- touching his tongue in the noyed watching it get made for TV. morning. Over time, Secretariat “He was, and still is, a role model began to stick out his tongue $6.08$6.08 for excellence, he was so far superior to each morning as his beloved anybody else. It’s unbelievable that a groom approached. MILLIONMILLION horse from 1973 can inspire someone in 2013, but he still does. I just want to • The talent agency William time. Each of the 32 shares be half as good at anything as he was in Morris represented Secretariat cost $190,000. Penny Chenery while he was racing. was the major stockholder, DID YOU the Belmont. He’s what excellence is all DID YOU about,” Jawitz says.

38 EQUUS 434 november 2013 CROWD PLEASER: Secretariat won the 1973 Arlington Invitational handily—by nine lengths—but still managed to finish within a fifth of a second of the track record. SECRETARIAT.COM holding four shares. Under the syndication agreement, the colt had to be retired from racing when he finished the 1973 season.

• When Secretariat was necropsied, his heart was estimated to weigh about 22 pounds—more than double the size of an average 22 Thoroughbred’s pounds heart, nine pounds. • The market for Secretariat memorabilia But the organ was never actually continues to be strong. In 2006, a nail from a weighed. As Penny Chenery wrote • Secretariat’s jockey horseshoe he wore during the Belmont Stakes sold for on Secretariat.com, “It did not Ron Turcotte never $6,100. In 2004 a horseshoe he wore during his maiden seem right to separate Secretariat used his whip in race sold for $10,721, and in 2003 the blanket he wore from his heart.” The Preakness or after his final victory sold for $21,600. All were sold through Belmont Stakes. the official website Secretariat.com. SECRETARIAT.COM

november 2013 EQUUS 434 39 SPECIAL SECRETARIAT: REPORT LIKE NO OTHER HORSE

He was a man. He was John Wayne and all the movie stars rolled into one, the toughest athlete around.” But, of course, he wasn’t a man, and as such, he was incapable of man’s bad behavior. He kicked occasionally, and attracted (or annoyed) by a shiny ear- ring, he once nipped a visitor’s ear. This was all, of course, trifling, forgivable stuff when you looked---and ran---like PENNY CHENERY AND SECRETARIAT Big Red. “Humans are essentially fallen A creatures. Sports heroes are complex unique contribution to she would sign autographs and full of flaws and back stories,” WOMAN Secretariat’s legend. “Just for hours. says John Tweedy, Jr., the youngest son like Secretariat was the “It’s part of her appeal; of Penny Chenery. “Horses are mute, AND HER perfect hero for his era, in she has a wonderful way noble, beautiful.” many ways, Mom was, too. of connecting with fans. “And they don’t have agents,” his HORSE She is an enduring source She’s never lost the touch,” mother inserts. Both laugh, then Tweedy of inspiration, mirroring a says Tweedy, an attorney turns serious again. Secretariat fans positive story for women, and filmmaker, who runs “Secretariat represented a kind of can celebrate the 40th and that’s part of the Landlocked Films with his perfection, and he came along at a cer- anniversary of his greatest relevance of Secretariat wife, Beret Strong, tain moment in which our culture was season with a new today,” Tweedy says. in Boulder. in need of a hero. That need persists. documentary that debuted At 91, Chenery recently Though Chenery is That’s why he remains a source of inspi- in September: “Penny announced her retirement, stepping back from the ration, a source of admiration, and that and Red: The Life of and her last public event spotlight, her own legacy will continue as long as people look to Secretariat’s Owner.” was to be in September. is already assured. As heroes in sports,” Tweedy says. Produced and directed “The travel is getting one person who passed by Penny Chenery’s harder and harder, and less her recently in a hallway n 1973, Ilie Nastase was the top youngest son, John exciting for me,” she says. reverently whispered, ranked tennis player in the world Tweedy, Jr., “Penny and “It’s time.” “That’s the horse lady.” Iand Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was Red” tells the story of She says she is “proud And “the horse lady” heading toward the third of his six the 1973 Triple Crown and grateful” to have she will continue to National Basketball Association Most winner from behind the been part of Secretariat’s be. Though she doubts Valuable Player awards. Meanwhile, scenes. “She has, for a story, and that she shared there will ever be another Jack Nicklaus won his 14th major golf long time, been interested a quality with her most Secretariat, Chenery still championship, besting a longstanding in telling the story from famous horse, who loved owns a half-share of record of Bobby Jones. the inside,” says Tweedy to pose for the camera. one horse, a 2-year- However, in retrospect, it’s clear of his mother. “This was a “I’m a ham, too,” she old Thoroughbred that the greatest performer of 1973 was wonderful opportunity for says with a laugh. “I called Annie Get Secretariat. And 40 years later, his star us to get her recollections, love the attention.” Your Run. shines as brightly as ever. not just of her time with Chenery is famous “It appears she might Secretariat, but looking for her willingness to have some talent,” Chenery Jennifer Graham, a lifelong Secretariat back over her whole life.” connect with Secretariat’s says. “I’m just sorry I fan, is the author of Honey, Do You Need The film also fans, and at public events didn’t give her a more a Ride? Confessions of a Fat Runner. highlights Chenery’s over the past four decades, dignified name.” She’s at work on a new memoir, How Secretariat Taught Me to Run.

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