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Saddle Up for Secretariat Stories from a Chenery

Horse-racing fans know the name Chenery–as in Penny Chenery (Tweedy), the woman who shepherded the career of the legendary racehorse Secretariat and is the subject of the recent movie.

Washington and Lee cognoscenti know another Chenery–Penny’s father, Christopher Chenery, who graduated from W&L in 1909 and served as a trustee from 1950 to 1970. He founded The Meadow, the Virginia farm that produced Secretariat as well as Riva Ridge and other famed Thoroughbreds. Today (Friday, Nov. 2), another Chenery visits campus for the first time: Chris’ granddaughter and Penny’s daughter, Kate Chenery Tweedy.

Kate and co-author Leeanne Ladin are giving a presentation about their 2010 book, “Secretariat’s Meadow: The Land, the Family, the Legend,” a best-selling, award-winning pictorial history. Penny Chenery wrote the foreword and contributed more than 200 photos from her private collection. Kate and Leeanne will also talk about their new book, “Riva Ridge: Penny’s First Champion.”

The presentation will include thrilling videos of Secretariat’s Triple Crown races. Come re-live the excitement (or experience it for the first time, depending on how old you are) at 3 p.m. in Stackhouse Theater in Elrod Commons. Both books will be available for purchase, and Kate and Leeanne will sign them for you.

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