Virginia-breds have been collecting wins all over the country in early March, from nearby Charles Town to distant venues like Sunland, Turf Paradise and Fonner Park. In all, seven Commonwealth-breds have connected at six different tracks.

The month started with a win by Hot and Dangerous at Turf Paradise. The 6 year old daughter of First Samurai led by a head throughout in a modest five horse field, then pulled away in deep stretch of her six furlong sprint. Bred by DSR Limited Liability Corporation, she earned her third career triumph and has now bankrolled $84,840.

Ring Knocker continued an impressive run at Aqueduct’s winter meet, gaining her sixth straight “in the money” finish with a one length win in a $67,000 allowance race March 3rd. The 5 year old daughter of Birdstone, bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm, came four wide midway through the turn of her six furlong test, then passed four frontrunners in deep stretch. Ring Knocker has a pair of wins, three runner-ups and a third during the meet. She is out of the Black Tie Affair mare, Pearls.

Ring Knocker’s win at Aqueduct March 3rd pushed her bankroll to $269,144. Photo courtesy of Adam Coglianese.

Magicians’ Truce has improved in each of her three outings this year, and after a third and second, there was only one place else to go. Breeder/owner Larry Johnson’s charge powered her way to a 1 1/2 length triumph over Up The Power March 4th at Charles Town in a maiden claiming race. The Suzanne Dempsey trainee was best of eight entrants and finished the seven furlong event in 1:30.14. The 5 year old gelding is by Street Magician out of Broken Treaty by Chief Seattle.

Magician’s Truce broke his maiden in a seven furlong race at Charles Town March 4th. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.

American Dubai was on the Derby trail early in 2016, then after finishing eighth in the Grade 3 Pat Day Stakes  May 7th, was off the rest of the year. Fast forward to 2017 where the 4 year old E Dubai colt has found the groove at Sunland Park. He started the year with a second in an allowance test and has recorded back to back wins in allowance optional claiming company, each with a $31,400 purse. His most recent success came March 7th in track record time at the one mile distance—1:34.50. American Dubai was bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin.

American Dubai has won two straight this winter at Sunland Park. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.

This past weekend also saw wins by Moonlight Meeting (Los Alamitos), Nice Try (Charles Town) and Born Force (Fonner Park).

Since opting for the short 4 1/2 furlong distance at the Los Alamitos quarter horse session, Moonlight Meeting has a pair of wins and runner-ups in his six most recent starts. Bred by the Hart Farm, the 6 year old Malibu Moon gelding has bankrolled over $70,000.

Nice Try was winless in his first ten starts, but a recent change of scenery from Laurel, Maryland to West Virginia has changed his fortunes. He has two straight wins at Charles Town including a tight one by a neck March 10th in a $15,500 claiming race. The 4 year old Giant’s Causeway gelding was bred by the William Backer Revocable Estate.

Born Force competes in the Canterbury Park/Fonner Park circuit. After trailing a Fonner allowance race Saturday by seven at the top of the stretch, the 8 year old Political Force gelding came back to also score a tight neck triumph. That was his first start of 2017, which followed nine “top three” finishes in ten starts in ’16.  Bred by Mr. & Mrs. C.W. McNeeley, Born Force has amassed $143,061 in earnings out west.

As Leeanne Ladin looked at the calendar, planning ahead for the upcoming Virginia Horse Festival at the Meadow Event Park, she realized she had a problem. Ladin is Secretariat tourism manager at the park, which sits on the site of Penny Chenery’s Meadow Farm. As she brainstormed ways to get festival attendees to interact with the historic buildings on the property, she realized she needed help from a horse.

Secretariat’s birthplace may have ceased to be a working farm years ago, but that doesn’t mean Virginia horse lovers have forgotten about Big Red. In fact, the Park has prepared a special program to be held during the festival, which takes place the weekend before Secretariat’s birthday (this year, March 25-26). That was where Ladin’s problem came in.

Miniature horse Mia has become a companion to Groundshaker at The Meadow. Courtesy of The Paulick Report.

The park is home to Groundshaker, the last homebred of Penny Chenery and great-great granddaughter of Big Red. The 6-year-old arrived at the property to live out her retirement in 2016, and while she is used to greeting tours, Ladin needed a horse that could handle being a little more up close and personal with people, including children. And Groundshaker needed a buddy.

Then, Ladin got a call from someone who found a chestnut miniature horse abandoned at a local farm. The mare’s rescuers discovered her tied to a fence and left in the rain. Ladin was happy to take on the spunky little mare, named Mia, but not nearly as happy as Groundshaker was. The two became fast friends from the moment Mia trotted into Groundshaker’s paddock.

“They are inseparable and when they are put in their stalls (rarely except for farrier or vet), Mia will stand on her hind legs looking for Groundshaker,” said Ladin. “They both love peppermint horse treats and carrots, although Groundshaker worries that Mia will get more than she does.”

Mia stands up in her stall to look around for Groundshaker

Groundshaker and Mia make quite a pair. Groundshaker stands around 17 hands tall. Mia is just 9 hands. Mia doesn’t let her size stop her from keeping up with the daughter of Quiet American, who retired after failing to hit the board in two starts. Groundshaker seems to take care to direct her exuberant bucks away from her small friend.

During Secretariat’s birthday celebration, Mia will be decked out in a specially-sized saddle and blinkers in Meadow Stable’s colors, and will greet visitors as they tour the restored barns that once housed the 1973 Triple Crown winner. Although the broodmare barn where Secretariat and Somethingroyal lived no longer stands, the yearling barn and training barn where he grew up are still intact. Visitors to the festival will have the chance to get autographs from Kate Chenery Tweedy, daughter of Penny Chenery, Charlie Davis, Secretariat’s exercise rider, and Otto Thorwarth, who played Ron Turcotte in the Secretariat film. Virginia Horse Festival activities will include demonstrations and clinics from a number of disciplines and will also feature lectures on selecting and training off-track Thoroughbreds from Steuart Pittman of the Retired Racehorse Project.

Ladin said off-campus travels could be in Mia’s future, if it turns out she really embraces her role as an ambassador for Big Red later this month. She has a little more work to do before she’s ready to receive her public, however.

“We’re having a ‘spa day’ tomorrow to trim that bushy mane and get her ‘glammed up’ for her big debut,” Ladin said this past weekend. “As I hope this shows, Mia is well-loved and well spoiled here at The Meadow.”

Do you know a Thoroughbred whose barnyard companion should be featured in Barn Buddies? Email our features editor at natalie@paulickreport.com. All species of barn buddies welcome.

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Copyright © 2017 Paulick Report.

The Virginia Racing Commission (VRC) approved several items in regards to the May 6th Virginia Gold Cup races at its regular meeting, held March 7th in downtown Richmond.

This will be the 92nd running of the Gold Cup and the fifth consecutive edition with pari-mutuel wagering. Commissioners approved a limited license application, a slate of racing officials, and the horsemen’s agreement with the Gold Cup. The agreement will have a three year term. The Virginia HBPA will contribute $500,000 a year toward purses at the Gold Cup; in past years, that figure was $400,000.

Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA) Executive Director Jeb Hannum provided an update on recent activities. Two Off Track Betting (OTB) Centers are open in Richmond and doing healthy business. The OTB at Breakers Sports Grille handled over $1.1 million in January and $878,000 in February. The second area OTB opened at Ponies & Pints on January 16th, handled over $300,000 the rest of that month and $668,000 in February. Taking both months into account, 74% of the handle was wagered on thoroughbreds and 26% on harness.

The OTB at Ponies & Pints handled over $668,000 in the month of February.

A third OTB is being planned in Chesapeake, though there is a potential zoning issue that could cause a delay in the project. A provision was added several years ago to address the influx of internet cafes in Chesapeake, and that new language may result in the need to file an application for a conditional use permit. The VEA and  restaurant owner are moving forward with the OTB design and layout.

The VEA has begun planning the second annual fall harness meet at Shenandoah Downs. The season will begin September 16th and run five consecutive weekends, until October 15th. A meeting has already taken place with Shenandoah County and Woodstock tourism and Chamber of Commerce officials. A key discussion topic for the barn area is to move temporary stalls to higher ground this fall to avoid any potential flooding issues. With a 20 year lease already in place, another key initiative is to create a long range master plan.

Mr. Hannum reported that the VEA conducted a meeting with some HBPA and VTA  representatives in Middleburg last week to discuss both short term and long term thoroughbred racing goals since Morven Park is no longer an option moving forward. Georganne Hale from the Maryland Jockey Club was in attendance as was Dr. Charles Steger from the VRC. Attendees were encouraged to look at a macro view of the industry.

Hot Rize roared to victory in the 2014 Virginia Gold Cup. The 2017 edition is May 6th. Photo courtesy Douglas Lees.

Discussion centered around a number of topics including live racing, and the need for it to be unique, credible, and to showcase a quality product that would serve a niche. The traditional model of racing with a big grandstand isn’t practical any more given current funding available. Other topics included revenue generation, reaching new customers and options for live race venues among others.  A sub-committee was also formed to come up with ideas to expand the pool of horses eligible for awards. Virginia raised horses would be considered in addition to Virginia-breds in bonus programs.

Commissioner Van Clief suggested the all parties involved get a sense of what the industry looks like now. Is Virginia a training state, breeding state or racing state? VEA President Debbie Easter noted that trainers like Karen Dennehy have had to change their business model slightly. She is breaking as many horses as ever, but many are for out of state owners. HBPA Executive Director Frank Petramalo added the most encouraging takeaway was that the old business model is not the future of Virginia racing. There was general acceptance on a new way of doing things.

The next Virginia Racing Commission meeting is scheduled for April 26th at 10:00 AM.

The following appeared on Bloodhorse.com over the weekend.

Kaleem Shah’s Dortmund put in a strong workout on the Los Alamitos Race Course dirt March 5, but he’ll step on surface unknown to him in his next start.

In his first start for trainer Art Sherman, after eight wins and two grade 1 victories for Bob Baffert, the hulking son of Big Brown   will try grass for the first time in his 14-race career in the $400,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1T) March 11 at Santa Anita Park.

Dortmund, owned by Virginian Kaleem Shah, will compete on turf for new trainer Art Sherman. Photo by Gary Tasich

In his final timed work for the Kilroe Sunday, Dortmund covered seven furlongs in 1:25 4/5 working past the wire under exercise rider Dihigi Gladney. The massive chestnut ran splits of :24 2/5 and :48 1/5 through a half-mile, hit the wire in 1:12 3/5 and continued his work for another furlong.

“He looked really good,” said assistant trainer Alan Sherman. “The horse went really well. We train him similarly to (California) Chrome. These types of horses just want to do more, so you gallop them a little farther than others, too. He’s such a big horse, we’re just trying to get him ready.”

Kaleem Shah’s Dortmund and jockey Martin Garcia, right, hold off Firing Line and jockey Gary Stevens to win the Grade III $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes February 7, 2015 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, CA.

Gladney had to fill in Sunday for jockey Martin Garcia, who was scheduled to be aboard for the workout, but informed the Shermans in the morning that he wouldn’t make it to Los Alamitos. Instead Garcia worked horses for Baffert at Santa Anita, including Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) contender Mastery and world-beater Arrogate. Alan Sherman declined to comment on whether Garcia will ride Dortmund in the Kilroe.

As for the reasons to try turf, the Shermans’ reasoning is twofold.

The 5-year-old’s pedigree has cried out for a grass try, even though his dirt form has been more than impressive. Big Brown won his debut on turf at Saratoga Race Course, before going onto dirt glory on the Triple Crown trail, and as a sire, 11 of his 17 stakes winners have won stakes on the grass.

Dortmund’s dam, Our Josephina, came in fifth in her only turf try at Churchill Downs, but has produced a two-time turf winner from five foals to race. Joseph the Catfish (Mineshaft  ), foaled two years before Dortmund, broke his maiden on the Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort grass in 2013 and then won an allowance on the same surface in his next start.

“He’s out of a Tale of the Cat   mare and Big Brown won easy on turf,” Alan Sherman said. “Obviously they made the right choice to put him on dirt, but there’s definitely something there.”

The Shermans also hope the grass could be easier on Dortmund’s notoriously bad feet. Now with special shoes to cushion his hind feet and hopefully prevent quarter cracks, his hoofs are doing much better.

“He gets quarter cracks—more with his hind feet,” Alan Sherman said. “He’s good now—knock on wood. The cushion shoes give him some relief.”

The Shermans were considering the seven-furlong Triple Bend (G1) on the Santa Anita main track, also March 11, for Dortmund’s return, but again took the chestnut’s condition into consideration, and how racing against speedy sprinters like Masochistic might take a toll coming off a layoff. Dortmund last raced in the Nov. 4 Las Vegas Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), where he engaged Runhappy   on the front end and tired to finish fourth.

“There are some good, fast horses in that race,” Alan Sherman said of the Triple Bend. “I mean, they could be going :21 and change for that first quarter mile. On the grass going two turns should be easier on him.”

Rapid Rhythm and Sambrook Edge, both bred by the Lazy Lane Farms LLC, got to the winners circle in the final days of February.

Rapid Rhythm celebrated Fat Tuesday,(February 28th) in grand fashion by winning the 5 1/2 furlong, $75,000 Mardi Gras Stakes at Fair Grounds. The 5 year old daughter of Successful Appeal won by a neck over Wheatfield in a come from behind effort. She was sixth at the top of the stretch in a field of eight, swung seven wide shortly after and rallied on the far outside. Out of the Quiet American mare, Patriot Miss, Rapid Rhythm won $45,000 for the effort in her first start of 2017.  She has now won three straight and all have been stakes races. The first two came in the Oakley Stakes (Sept. 24) at Laurel and in the Battle of New Orleans at Fair Grounds (Dec. 3). The Michael Stidham trainee has earnings of $245,903 from 19 starts.

Rapid Rhythm, bred by the Lazy Lane Farms, LLC, won the Oakley Stakes at Laurel last fall, which kicked off her current three race win streak. Photo by Jim McCue.

Sambrook Edge is trained by Dale Romans and is a 4 year old son of Afleet Alex. He did an about face after the half to earn his first lifetime victory in the one mile, $18,000 maiden claiming race. He was seventh at the half, in last place, and crossed in front by 7 3/4 lengths over the next closest rival. Sambrook Edge, sent off as the heavy betting choice, stumbled at the start and was unhurried trailing early on. He stayed along the rail in the final turn and found an opening early in the stretch to power home. The victor, who was making his 10th start, is out of Kate C. by Mineshaft.

Street Miz and Peace of Green Rvf each picked up their second career wins in action last week. The former  connected in a 1 1/16th miles claimer at Laurel while the latter was successful in a 4 1/2 furlong claiming sprint at Charles Town.

Street Miz, bred by Larry Johnson, won her second career race Feb. 25 at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.

Street Miz, bred by Larry Johnson, beat Weatherurnot by a length but had to stage a big comeback to pull it off. The 4 year old daughter of Street Boss was 11 lengths behind at three-quarters, moved to fifth entering the stretch, then angled out and passed the frontrunners. Street Miz, who is out of Miz Magician by Mizzen Mast, has bankrolled $54,704 from 20 starts.

Peace of Green Rvf beat Hosway by three-quarters of a length in his respective six horse field. Bred by Rose Ann Howell, the 3 year old colt sat fourth at the top of the stretch, dug in and battled the runner-up to the wire. The winner, who is by The Green Monkey out of Belle Peach by Jazz Club, broke his maiden November 25th at Penn National.

The owners of both each scored a 25% bonus on top of the purse earnings courtesy of the HBPA/VTA Mid-Atlantic incentive program. Owners of Virginia-breds that win an overnite race in Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York are awarded the bonus. Street Miz is owned by Dr. Rick Katchuik and Peace of Green Rvf is owned by Riverview Farms.

Trainer Brendan Walsh says Honorable Duty has been a new horse mentally over the last few months.

Fittingly, the gelded son of Distorted Humor   called up all his improved fortitude in the stretch of the $125,000 Mineshaft Handicap (G3) Feb. 25 when he held strong over International Star splitting horses in late stretch and a stubborn Dazzling Gem to take the 1 1/16 miles test by half a length at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Watch Video

Making his first start since winning the Tenacious Stakes at Fair Grounds Dec. 17, Honorable Duty turned his 5-year-old debut into his best outing yet in earning his first graded stakes win. The late-blooming bay runner showed talent last year when he broke his maiden fifth time out last April and followed that with two more victories, but an attitude adjustment became necessary—prompting Walsh and owners DARRS Inc. to geld Honorable Duty last fall.

Honorable Duty (left) won the Grade 3 Mineshaft Handicap at Fair Grounds on Risen Star Stakes Day. Photo by Hodges Photography.

“We gelded him at the end of the fall and I think that’s helped him mentally,” Walsh said. “He’s got the mental part right now and turned into a racehorse.”

Sent off at 5-1 odds in the seven-horse Mineshaft field, Honorable Duty rated kindly under jockey Julien Leparoux in third, then fourth in the three-path down the backstretch while Rise Up opened up a clear advantage up front through an opening quarter in :23.69 and half mile in :46.79.

With Rise Up coming back to his stalkers on the far turn, Leparoux had Honorable Duty advancing on the outside, ultimately taking command at the head of the lane as Dazzling Gem tried gamely to fight back on the rail. Honorable Duty wouldn’t yield his lead, however, not even when jockey Miguel Mena sent International Star diving between the two leaders in a gutsy attempt that did earn the multiple graded stakes winner runner-up honors.

Honorable Duty is shown winning at Keeneland last April, courtesy of Coady Photography.

“I know there were some closers coming at us at the end,” Leparoux said. “But he was trying hard the whole way.”

Honorable Duty hit the wire in a final time of 1:43.03 over a fast track and paid out $12.40, $5.40, and $4.00 across the board.

Dazzling Gem held for third with Eagle getting up for fourth. December Seven, Mo Tom, and Rise Up completed the order of finish.

Bred by Juddmonte Farms, Honorable Duty is out of the A.P. Indy mare Mesmeric and was purchased by David A. Ross for $130,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. He improves his record to five wins from 11 starts with $261,276 in earnings and has only been worse than third twice, including a fifth-place effort in the 2016 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs last Oct. 1.

(This article appeared in www.bloodhorse.com)

Rain in the Southern California area over the last two months has caused several interruptions to the training schedule, impacting the comeback of G1 winner Stellar Wind, reports drf.com. The 5-year-old, Hronis Racing-owned daughter of Curlin has not raced since a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, but had been scheduled to return in the G1 Santa Margarita on March 11 at Santa Anita. Rain has delayed her 2017 debut, and trainer John Sadler is now pointing the star distaffer to Oaklawn’s G1 Apple Blossom Handicap on April 15.

Stellar Wind and Victor Espinoza, left, hold off Beholder and Gary Stevens to win the Grade I $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA.
©Benoit Photo

“I don’t want it to sound like I’m taking everything to Oaklawn, but I am,” Sadler said.

The veteran trainer will likely also send handicap horse Accelerate to the nine-furlong Oaklawn Handicap on April 16, despite his nomination to the 1 1/4-mile Santa Anita Handicap on March 11.

“I’m going to work him [Thursday or Friday], and see how the Big Cap shapes up. I’m a little hesitant of a mile and one-quarter. I don’t know if that’s his distance,” Sadler said.

This article appeared in The Paulick Report

Off to the Races on The Racing Biz Radio Network returns to talk horse racing every Saturday morning with a big lineup of guests from around the racing world every week.

The one-hour program will air at 10:00 a.m. each Saturday on Richmond’s ESPN 950 AM and Sports FM 100.5.  Additional stations will be announced as they come online.

The show will focus on Thoroughbred racing and breeding around the mid-Atlantic region and across the country.

This show is a great way for Virginia horseplayers to prepare for each Saturday’s slate of great stakes races, especially Derby preps that lead up to the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs.

We’ll update the slate of guests each week on the Virginia Horse Racing facebook page.

Virginia-bred horses have been winning the past couple weeks in every part of the country except the Mid-Atlantic region. Many have come in impressive gate to wire efforts and many as betting choices.

American Dubai, who a year ago was on the Kentucky Derby trail, earned his second career triumph on Valentine’s Day in a one mile, $26,000 allowance optional claiming event at Sunland Park. The 4 year old E Dubai colt beat six other horses in gate to wire fashion by 2 1/2 lengths. The victory pushed his career bankroll to $115,714.

American Dubai, who was on the Derby trail as a 3 year old in 2016, captured his first race of 2017 Feb. 14 at Sunland. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.

A year ago, American Dubai finished third in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn, one of the early Derby prep races for 3 year olds. He went on to compete in the Rebel, also at Oaklawn, and in the Toyota Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland. He was bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin III, is trained by Rodney Richards, and is out of the Bates Motel mare, Smash Review.

Kody With a K saw his bankroll surge into the six digit range with a victory February 12th in a $23,500 claiming race at Oaklawn. Bred by the Corner Farm and Stormy Atlantic Syndicate, the 6 year old gelding had an easy time of it, wiring the field by 5 1/2 lengths. The win, which came at six furlongs, was his first in three starts this year and fourth overall. He is by Stormy Atlantic out of Privateers Bay by Allen’s Prospect. He has earned $104,024 from 23 outings.

Kody With a K pushed his bankroll over the $100,000 mark with a victory at Oaklawn Feb. 12. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.

Lenstar had a stellar gate to wire performance in a $46,000 maiden special weight race at Gulfstream on February 5th.  The 3 year old Shackleford gelding won the six furlong sprint by 6 1/4 lengths in 1:10.71. Bred by the Lazy Lane Farms and trained by Nick Zito, Lenstar had been winless in his first five but did collect a runner-up and third from that quintet. Jockey Luis Saez guided the winning effort up top. Lenstar, who has earned $44,281, is out of Cryptos’s Best by Cryptoclearance.

Chas’s Legacy did not lead his race all the way around, but did collect win number six and pushed his earnings over the $120,000 level with a claiming triumph at Sunland February 5th. The 6 year old Bernardini gelding raced in third through most of the one mile, 70 yard race, got to the front at the top of the stretch and won by 4 3/4 lengths in 1:41.83. He was bred by the Estate of Edward Evans and has now bankrolled $122,868. Chas’s Legacy is out of the Kingmambo mare, Our Legacy.

Chas’s Legacy scored his sixth lifetime win at Sunland in a claiming race on Feb. 5th. photo courtesy of Coady Photography.

Louden’s Gray, also bred by the Estate of Edward Evans, found success in a 5 1/2 furlong claiming sprint at Santa Anita February 9th. The 6 year old Street Sense gelding saved ground stalking the pace early, went inside to gain the lead in the stretch and won by 2 1/4 lengths over six others. In for a $16,000 claiming tag, Louden’s Gray crossed in 1:03.43 and paid $9.80. A winner of $84,190, he is by Minishaft out of Mineshaft.

KD’s Cat Bird and Louise’s Legacy also scored claiming wins in the past week — the former in a one miler at Tampa Bay Downs and the latter in a six furlong race at Fair Grounds.

KD’s Cat Bird, bred by Christopher Kuhn, led from start to finish and has now won three of his last five, all at Tampa dating back to last March. He is by Courageous Cat out of Rockalady by Birdstone. Louise’s Legacy, bred by Louise McLean, also wired the field in her six furlong sprint. The 6 year old daughter of Medalist earned her second lifetime score and paid $19.20 in a race where three entrants were claimed.

Four of the above victors went off at even money odds or less. Biggest upset winner was Kody With a K, who paid $34.60.

It’s been 47 years since legendary Triple Crown winner Secretariat was born at The Meadow in Caroline County, Virginia on March 30, 1970. Today his historic birthplace is the celebration destination for legions of devoted fans who wish to remember the great racehorse and meet members of the Meadow Stable team he took on the ride of their lives. The annual Secretariat Birthday Celebration takes place March 24-26 at the Meadow Event Park in conjunction with the Virginia Horse Festival.

Secretariat’s annual birthday celebration will be at The Meadow Event Park.

Slated to join the birthday festivities are Charlie Davis, Secretariat’s entertaining exercise rider; Otto Thorwarth, professional jockey and actor who portrayed Ron Turcotte in the Disney film “Secretariat;” and Kate Chenery Tweedy, daughter of Penny Chenery and co-author of the award-winning Secretariat’s Meadow – The Land, The Family, The Legend with Leeanne Meadows Ladin.

Highlights of the weekend program include:

• Meet and greet with Groundshaker, resident Secretariat great-great granddaughter, and Covert Action, a grandson of Secretariat and “spokeshorse” for the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation at James River

• Mia, the resident miniature horse, who will be decked out like a “Little Big Red”

• “BARN APPETIT” farm-to-fork dinner designed by acclaimed chef Jason Alley of Pasture Restaurant, highlighting local artisan foods and craft beverages with a special surprise

• “Big Red on the Big Screen” – a showing of the Disney movie “Secretariat” with commentary by the Secretariat Team

• Narrated tours of Meadow Hall showcasing the Chenery Collection of rare Meadow Stable artifacts

• Ribbon-cutting ceremony for Groundshaker’s new barn with some exciting announcements for the Secretariat tour program

• Photo ops at the “World’s Largest Horseshoe,” a giant 600-lb. replica of Secretariat’s racing shoe located by his historic yearling barn

• An extensive selection of official Secretariat merchandise in the Exhibit Hall and more

The Secretariat Birthday Celebration, a collaboration with Secretariat.com of Louisville, KY, is a major highlight of the Virginia Horse Festival, which celebrates horses and riding disciplines of all types. Fans can enjoy three days of clinics and demonstrations with top clinicians such as Guy McLean; a parade of breeds; 60,000 square feet of indoor shopping for all horse lovers; and much more.

Tickets for the festival and Secretariat birthday events are now on sale. See VirginiaHorseFestival.com for complete ticket information and the full program schedule. And follow the Secretariat’s Meadow Facebook page for more updates on the birthday activities.

The Meadow Event Park is located off I-95 at exit 98 (Doswell) 1.5 miles east of King’s Dominion theme park.

Secretariat’s birthplace at The Meadow is now listed on the state and national historic registers and offers year-round narrated tours. See http://www.meadoweventpark.com/hoofprints-of-history-tour/ for more information.