Welcome home Big Red!  Secretariat Turns for Home,
will arrive in Middleburg, Virginia on August 8 as he
wraps up a 50^th anniversary tour of his 1973 Triple Crown journey 

For immediate release:  July 7, 2023

Contact:  Laura Smith

571-331-7709, lsmith@ltrf.org

For immediate release:

(Middleburg, VA)  Secretariat in the form of 3,500-pound bronze monument called Secretariat Racing Into History will be returning to his home state of Virginia on August 8^th .  This homecoming will conclude a 50^th anniversary tour that began in April and included stops on Secretariat’s historic Triple Crown trail.  His astonishing track records in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont remain unbroken to this day.

Originating near Secretariat’s birthplace in Ashland, VA, the sculpture, its creator Jocelyn Russell, along with her husband have traveled to Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY, Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, MD and Belmont Park in Elmont, NY and to Saratoga Racecourse, National Museum of Racing in Saratoga Springs, NY.  The sculpture is 21 feet long and 11.5 feet tall.  It is the largest monument of Secretariat in existence, dramatically illustrating the Virginia-born champion’s larger-than-life presence as an equine athlete and American icon.  Secretariat is the crowning achievement of Virginia agriculture and thoroughbred breeding.  Secretariat is a hero, an icon that raised the bar of horse racing to a level it has not been able to achieve since.  To see his victory in the Belmont Stakes by an astounding 31-lenths made the impossible seem possible.

To celebrate Secretariat’s homecoming to Virginia, there are several events planned.

A welcome reception will be held at Middleburg Community Center on August 8^th from 5:00 –7:00 pm.  This event will be hosted by Loudoun Therapeutic Riding and Greenhill Winery.   Artist Jocelyn Russell and Kate Tweedy (daughter of Secretariat’s owner Penny Tweedy) will be on hand for a “Toast to the G.O.A.T.”  Tickets and sponsorship information available at https://secretariat_welcome_reception.eventbrite.com

In addition, the Middleburg Community Center along with Loudoun Therapeutic Riding ltrf.org will host a free showing of the Disney film “Secretariat” on August 8^th at 7:00 pm, https://secretariat8923.eventbrite.com/.  Kate Tweedy, who was in the film with her mother, will share her behind-the-scenes experience on the movie set.  Copies of Secretariat’s Meadow, written by Kate Tweedy and Leeanne Ladin will be available for purchase to benefit Loudoun Therapeutic Riding.  Contributions toward the building and installation of the Secretariat sculpture can be made at www.SecretariatForVirginia.com.

The sculpture will be parked in front of the National Sporting Library and Museum (NSLM).  The NSLM will be hosting lectures presented by the sculptor Jocelyn Russell and Kate Tweedy on August 9 from 5-8 pm.  Please visit their website for additional information.  Nationalsporting.org