31 LENGTHS: THE LIVES OF SECRETARIAT and PENNY CHENERY

When the incomparable SECRETARIAT captured the imagination of racing fans in 1973, it brought one of the classiest, most distinguished women in racing annals, Penny Chenery, into the limelight as the owner of one of the sport's greatest performers.

This outstanding feature takes a look at SECRETARIAT and his admirable, caring owner which presents an in-depth interview with Chenery discussing her career - one that has extended well beyond her involvement with possibly the greatest Thoroughbred of all-time.

It began in the late 1960’s, when Chenery (then known as Penny Tweedy) assumed the reins of her father's Meadow Farm in Virginia, when he suffered lingering effects of Alzheimer's.

She turned the farm's fortunes around in short order when RIVA RIDGE won the 1972 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. Only a year later, with the world pre-occupied with the Vietnam War and Watergate, she expertly guided the career of SECRETARIAT through an unforgettable Triple Crown run that was punctuated with his astounding 31-length win in the Belmont to culminate five of the most memorable weeks in the sport's history.

A well-liked, recognizable personality, Chenery was on her way to becoming a great ambassador for the game. As an owner, she became an advocate for a wide-range of equine-related philanthropic causes and, in 1983, she became one of the first women invited to join the Jockey Club. In the process, she opened the door for many other women who aspired to join racing.

Now in her late 80’s, Chenery sat down and openly discussed her incredible journey and the state of horseracing today. "I was the first (woman) doing a lot of things and I did them because I had the opportunity. It wasn't that I wanted to accomplish this role, or that role...I felt an obligation to racing."

"She was this great leader, you know, (and) everybody liked her," offered noted track announcer, and longtime racing authority, Dave Johnson. "I mean, she was like June Cleaver. But, she was a smart June Cleaver who went to the races!"


(26 Minutes)