- Penny Chenery: The Woman Who Saved Meadow Stable
In honor of International Womens Day we celebrate Penny Chenery and her contributions to the horse racing industry both in the Commonwealth of Viriginia and to the sport as a whole. Exceptional Horsewomen like Penny have paved the way for the modern racing industry in Virginia!
Originally posted on Americasbestracing.net.
Penny Chenery and her most famous horse, Secretariat. (Paul Schafer/BloodHorse photo)
The letters meant so much to Penny Chenery, breeder and owner of 1973 Triple Crown champion Secretariat. They were written by ambitious girls from coast to coast, telling her she served as a role model for them.
In an age when there was no emphasis ...
Read more - BLUE RIDGE HUNT INVITES ALL ON MARCH 30 FOR POINT-TO-POINT RACES AND FAMILY FUN
The Blue Ridge Hunt Point-to-point returns to Woodley Farm in Berryville, VA on Saturday, March 30th for its 75th running. For the first time, the event will feature NSA-sanctioned races! The two sanctioned races are sponsored by the VEA and will feature purses of $15,000. Gates open at 10 AM and the first post is 1 PM. For tickets and more information visit BRH | Blue Ridge Hunt.
Originally Posted on Clarkeva.com, written by Rebecca Maynard
Everyone in the community is invited on Saturday, March 30 to enjoy the running of the Blue Ridge Hunt’s 75th annual point-to-point races, held at Woodley Farm.
The ...
Read more - Aidan Turnage-Barney Wants Virginia to be for Lovers of Horse Racing
Originally posted on Harnessracingupdate.com on 3/8/2024, Written by Chris Lomon.
Aidan Turnage-Barney always treasures the moment when he sees the smiles grow wider and wider.
It is a scene he has witnessed, first-hand, dozens of times, and will no doubt view countless times in the future. While reactions are nearly identical, Turnage-Barney will never grow tired of watching them unfold.
“My biggest enjoyment is having a new fan come to the track and see them really get it,” Turnage-Barney said. “Whether it’s at Colonial , taking people to the backside where they can see the horses up close, I find ...
Read more - Rappahannock Hunt Point-to-Point Kicks off 2024 Racing Season in VA
The Rappahannock Hunt Point-to-Point (PTP) Race took place over the weekend, and it was an exciting event for equestrian enthusiasts and fans of steeplechase racing. The race took place on Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Boston, Virginia.
The Rappahannock Hunt is one of the oldest Point-to-Point races in Virginia, dating back to 1951 when the first races were held. The event attracts riders and horses from all over the region, and it has become a popular fixture in the local equestrian calendar.
The spring PTP season continues at the Airlie Racecourse March 16 with the Warrenton Hunt Point-to-Point, followed by others at ...
Read more - Secretariat Monument Groundbreaking Takes Place in Ashland on Feb. 7
Virginia horse racing fans got to celebrate a milestone event Wednesday February 7 as a ceremonial groundbreaking for the magnificent bronze Secretariat “Racing into History’ monument took place in Ashland on the outer edge of the Randolph Macon College campus. The ceremony took place under gorgeous sunny skies, and a large, appreciative crowd was on hand to celebrate Virginia’s greatest athlete — who also happens to be a hometown hero. Groundbreaking speakers included Kate Tweedy (daughter of Secretariat owner Penny Chenery Tweedy), Jocelyn Russell (sculptor of the Secretariat statue), Steve Trivett (Mayor of Ashland) and Ann Martin (President of the ...
Read more - Gray Machine Threat Poses Risks to Virginia’s Horse Racing Industry
In the last few months, the issue of Skill games in Virginia has come to a boiling point. After being deemed illegal on July 1st of this year, major players in the skill game industry have been lobbying and sending money to politicians in Virginia with the intention of bringing these machines back online. These unregulated gambling devices not only jeopardize the integrity of gaming in Virginia but also pose serious risks to economic impact of the racing industry and safety in the Commonwealth as a whole.
Key concerns regarding gray machines in Virginia:
Unregulated Gambling: Gray machines operate outside the purview ...
Read more - Stallion True Valour Moves To Virginia
The following appeared in The Racing Biz
Larry Johnson’s Legacy Farm will for the first time stand his graded stakes winner True Valour (Ire) for 2024, as well as his homebred graded stakes winner Street Magician
These decisions are designed to take advantage of the lucrative opportunities for Virginia state-sired horses in which not only are they eligible for the State-bred and State-certified stakes and overnight race bonuses offered at Colonial Downs, but also bonuses of 25% for wins at any track in the Midatlantic!
A breeder can foal a Virginia-sired horse anywhere (and be eligible for the foaling state’s bonus program) ...
Read more - Virginia 2024 Racing Schedule Includes Seven NSA Sanctioned Jump Meets & Point-to-Points
Virginia Gold Cup Adds a Grade 1 Stakes to its May 4 Date
Virginia’s horse racing event calendar for 2024 is set and in addition to dates at Colonial Downs (thoroughbred) and Shenandoah Downs (harness), seven spring Point-to-Point (PTP) meets along with seven National Steeplechase Association (NSA) sanctioned meets –- three in spring and four in fall — fill in the calendar.
The Rappahannock PTP kicks the season off March 2 at The Hill in Boston with a rain date of the following Saturday, March 9. Additional meets in March include Warrenton Hunt PTP March 16 at the Airlie Race Course, the Piedmont ...
Read more - Secretariat “Racing Into History” Monument Groundbreaking & Dedication Dates Set
The Secretariat For Virginia Committee (SECVA) of the Ashland Museum has announced the dates for the groundbreaking and dedication ceremonies for the “Secretariat Racing Into History” monument.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Reynolds Family Plaza at Randolph-Macon College, where the magnificent bronze will be permanently installed, will take place on Wednesday February 7 at the site at 11:00 am. The event is free and open to the public.
The Secretariat Monument “Racing Into History” will be installed and ready for dedication by March 30. Secretariat was born on that date in 1970 at Meadow Stable, which was founded by Christopher Chenery, formerly of ...
Read more - Virginia Breeders Share in $1,850,000 in Bonus Award Monies in 2023
Virginia’s breeders benefitted from a continued business boom in 2023 courtesy of Historical Horse Racing (HHR) revenues at seven Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums located around the state and the continued renaissance of the Colonial Downs thoroughbred meet in New Kent which is expected to grow to 40 days in 2025.
Virginia breeder’s bonus monies distributed in 2023 nearly doubled that of levels from just two years ago — $1,850,000 versus $975,000 in 2021. Up until the 2022 campaign, bonus money had been paid for the win position only from races anywhere in North America. In the last two years (and moving forward) ...
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