Secretariat Horse Day Honors Virginia’s Legendary in Ashland

One day back 55 years ago became known as the day of birth for the legend that is Secretariat horse whose fame is among the most of any racehorse throughout history. He made his debut in Caroline County, Virginia, at Meadow Stable, founded by Christopher Chenery – an Ashland native. The birth of this legendary horse marked an important event in the history of the Virginia horse races, which the town of Ashland celebrates each year.

On Sunday, April 1, Ashland welcomed a throng of people to celebrate Secretariat Horse’s memorable achievements that continue to imprint the horse racing world. It is a day for many in the crowd to pay tribute to what they consider one of the greatest racehorses in history.

Vicki Neander, an impressive Secretariat Horse fanatic, shared her thoughts on the horse’s impact. “In my opinion, Secretariat Horse is one of the best racehorses of all time,” she said. Vicki and her husband, Jerry Neander, both from Chester, Virginia, grew up watching Secretariat Horse dominate the racetrack. The couple, who learned more about the horse through the movie “Secretariat,” has attended the celebrations every year since the statue was unveiled.

“We were here last year for the dedication of the statue, and we’ve always been loyal fans,” Vicki explained. The annual celebrations have become an essential way for the Neanderthals to honor the horse’s lasting legacy.

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Central to this year’s commemoration is the “Secretariat Horse Racing Into History of Virginia” monument created by sculptor Jocelyn Russell. Last year’s unveiling brings forth what soon became a landmark in Ashland. It recognizes the importance of the Secretariat Horse in the shaping of Virginia horse racing history, and its location in the center of Ashland becomes an important factor in the town’s salute to this defining racehorse.

Leeanne Ladin, President of the Secretariat Horse for Virginia, spoke about the monument’s growing popularity. “You can come any time of day or night, and there will be people taking pictures and touching the statue,” she said, as, besides being an enduring impact of Secretariat Horse on the sport and region, this has become a pride site for the community.

The monument is not only a tribute to the Secretariat Horse but also serves to shed light on the rich history of horse racing in Virginia. The area of Ashland and its surroundings has a history steeped in horse racing, which ensures that Secretariat Horse saga itself would bring the focus to its equine heritage.

The weekend celebrations commenced on Saturday, March 31, with an excursion on a tram around the Meadow, the birthplace of Secretariat. The visitors could see and learn about the birthplace of one of the best racehorses of all time and the history of Virginia that produced such a champion. After the tour, they gathered for “Big Red Bash,” a lively event further honoring Secretariat and his legacy.

According to Ladin, “We had a special tram tour through the Meadow on Saturday followed by the Big Red Bash.” Upon the event some of the fans and communities came together in celebrating the life and career of Secretariat, complete with food, music, and merry-making.

Saturday was chock-full of fun with live races and a parade, but the main event you wouldn’t want to miss was on Sunday. Secretariat Horse Day was open to the public and was entirely at no cost. The day was filled with activities and educational events designed to share the story of Secretariat Horse and his lasting influence on horse racing. For Ladin and others involved in organizing the event, it’s an important chance to reflect on the horse’s legacy.

“We’ve been planning this event since last year’s dedication,” Ladin said. “It’s an opportunity to honor this Virginia legend and educate people about his remarkable contributions to horse racing.”

While Secretariat is the main focus of the day, the event also serves to highlight the broader history of horse racing in Virginia. “Ladin added that Hanover, Goochland, and Caroline County have such a wonderful history of horse-racing persisting from colonial days that more is known on this subject.” It’s the region where the most important figures in the sport lived. It has the legacy of the Secretariat Horse, an imprint of a far greater story.

According to Ladin, Secretariat’s influence is still being felt in present times in the racing world. At the recent Virginia Derby, all ten of the horses in that race are descendants of Secretariat. That link to the past is testimony to the work of the horse and his legacy that continues to impact even today.

And the fun doesn’t stop with Secretariat Day! From April 1 to 3, special sculpting workshops are scheduled to be held in Ashland for participants who will be working with Jocelyn Russell, the artist of the monument itself. These workshops provide insight into the artistic process and the making of the monument that has now grown to be so central to Ashland.

Secretariat’s impact stretches far and beyond that astonishing racing career.Everything from Secretariat Day to ongoing educational efforts maintains the story of this Virginia-born legend alive for a following generation of fans. The pride out of his legacy rests in Ashland, as the town celebrates once more this horse that carved his name into the history of horse racing.

When the people of Ashland gather to celebrate Secretariat, it becomes apparent that the contributions of this great horse to the sport and the place will be well remembered. The occasion brings back memories of the lasting legacy that one of the greatest horse race competitors ever left behind.