Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

Grande Fan — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 22:24:26 GMT

To the Secretariat followers, my friends, the November 2013 issue of Equuas magazine features Secretariat on the cover and a series of "Big Red" articles. Extensive research into what made "the tremendous machine" are examined in-depth. More facts to support Secretariat's unique qualifications as a superior creation and athlete. Enjoy!

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

Landlocked Films — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 02:37:23 GMT

Thanks to all who commented here. For those in the Colorado area, "Penny & Red" has just been selected to screen at the Boulder International Film Festival, to be held February 13-16. More festival and event screenings are forthcoming -- see you there! John Tweedy

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

52baby — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 19:05:49 GMT

Allaire duPont owned and raced Kelso. Marion DuPont Scott owned and raced Battleship, Annapolis and Mongo.

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

mz — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 22:43:58 GMT

Hey Ted, considering the fact that they are legislating against the use of doorknobs (as opposed to those pull / lever thingies which apparently are easier for older ... er, more mature hands to manipulate), soon doorknobs will be worth their weight in platinum and emeralds (hint, hint)!

To Livewire: whaddayamean "failed miserably"? The Greatest Cdn was first in the Derby and first in the Preakness and third in the Belmont -- with some question Bout the ride -- and that ain't miserable in my book!

Anyways, Happy Thanksgiving to y'all and safe trips to all travellers.

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

RajahsMom — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 21:52:58 GMT

'The heart of a stallion is passed on thru his daughter....' Ms. Penney owes no one an apology nor explanation for the choices she made in her life. As we get older in life, we tend to want to leave behind a true legacy of who we are and not what we want others to think we are. I understand and applaud Ms. Penney for having the courage and the strength to open up her 'jewel box' and share with us who she was and is and will be as a woman in a male-dominated field of tb racing ownership. Several yell and cry how dare she have an affair, but not only that, say it was only one of those things that happened. Maybe it was, men do it every day and no one says a word and some even pat him on the back. Another thing some forget is, Riva and Red belonged to her, she had to sell all of her father's racing stock to pay the taxes; they were born after this was done. She was the one who did the coin toss, not her father nor her brother. When she took over and had to start over again, all she had was a couple of broodmares and rights to breed in a shared agreement left her by her father. Riva and Red wasn't even bred yet, and if her brother/husband had had their way there wouldn't have been a Riva or Secretariat. Yes, she had to be tough and put on her big boys pants or her father's beloved farm would have been a whisper in the wind. The legacy she built and endowed the future of the tb sport was a dream she shared with her father. Taking nothing away from, Ms. Dupont, Whitney, or Wolfson, these women had the financial support of husbands and inheritance, Penney did not. They could have stepped forward into prominence of the Kentucky Elite, but they chose to stay behind the scene, Penney didn't have that luxury. Her father's legacy depended on her being in front and being heard, and the only one to give her a chance was Bull Hancock, then his son. No other woman in the history of horse racing has achieved was she has, and I don't think no one will in my lifetime. She was blessed to breed two champion racehorses that saved her father's legacy, and no one can take that away from her and that is what she leaves to the future of thoroughbred horseracing. And if you look all over the world, you will find Secretariat's bloodline running thru the veins of champions. That's why she deserves to be remembered and honored, without her stepping to the forefront, there would be no Secretariat. And if what she did was so easy or given away on a silver platter, why hasn't there been anymore Triple Crown winners since Affirmed?

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

livewire — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 18:10:37 GMT

True, Secretariat is no Northern Dancer but then again Northern Dancer is no Secretariat either. Northern Dancer failed miserably in his triple crown effort. He had offset knees whereas Secretariat had flawless conformation. One thing they both shared is an excellent pedigree. Northern Dancers lasting influence on the breed, both negative and positive, tail male and female side is indisputable. Secretariat's influence on the breed and just as lasting it would appear will be limited to the female side.

One thing the thoroughbred will always have more so than any other breed (to some extent Arabians and Quarter Horses) is performance on the racetrack to evaluate the results of a stallions success. Other breeds have to rely on horse show results which is subjective at best.

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

Ted from LA — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 16:26:36 GMT

I really don't think it's appropriate to discuss the size of the ring, but when I showed it to Bob from Boston he inquired, "You bought her a doorknob?"

Is there a worse bet on the planet then betting on the Derby winner tomorrow? Happy Thanksgiving to Paula, mz, Jean from Chicago, Dr. D, trackjack, Alex's Big Fan, Steve, Barbara, Whoopi, Jenny and Sherri. And to all you other degenerate gamblers, you're like family to me.

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

Linda in Texas — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 16:24:15 GMT

Steve, your article has prompted comments from just about every angle. Some are good, truthful, sordid, sarcastic. But in the grand scheme of it all Secretariat made his mark and left it upon many famous racehorses and broodmares that some forget.

Re: Mrs. Chenery, I never critique someone who had large shoes to fill and did it even though they were female.

Affairs of the heart or emotions occur unsolicited if i may use a tawdry word and they go. So anyone guilty of same should not be calling the kettle black.

Why I have had some affairs of both right here on this blog and i don't see that ceasing either! :)

Maybe we need a horse named 'Lust' or 'Innocence' to sum it all up.

And it took two to make an affair but for some reason the male in the equation has been conveniently overlooked. Hmmmm? And here I thought women had finally earned equality. Well back to the kitchen to thaw the 23 pound Turkey i go.

Especially liked the comments of steve from st louis, Paula, Karen In Indiana, AllWin, Windolin, Mz, Ted from LA with a super 50 cent word MISOGYNISTIC which i had to look up, good one Ted from LA, Old Old Cat and wherever the special Dr. D is i know an opinion is being prepared for distribution so hopefully he will give us his version soon.

And to the ladies here who had a strong dad as i did, i can only imagine the pressure put upon Penny to make The Meadow work at any expense, a tall order to complete.

To those belittling Secretariat go back and watch the You Tubes of Secretariat's biggest race. It will bring you back to reality and maybe cut out the criticism. We are all grownups, some just a little more than other's because of our own life experiences.

Thank you Steve and sending best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

And warning to The East of The Mississippi'rs ya'll best get ready for some cold weather, we send it to you with love. It came to Texas from New Mexico,racetrack home of Mine That Bird and Pepper's Pride!

Linda

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

Fran Loszynski — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 16:20:09 GMT

I really don't care what anything is said about Ms. Chenery. The last moments when she said goodbye to her "Big Red" when he was ill from laminitis must have been the most heartbreaking for her. Without Ms. Chenery's spunk Secretariat would not have won for anyone else but her. Ride on Ms. Chenery. I hope you see Secretariat in your dreams and are forever happy in that place. You are a great horse woman. Fran

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

mz — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 15:32:51 GMT

Paula, I believe I am simply the front man (front woman?) for the old TedPride of ladies: you, me, the Karens, Linda, etc. He just refers to me because I have the shortest and easiest tag line of us all. You know that they never learned to type.

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

Uncle Smiley — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 04:07:07 GMT

Steve,

You can get a pot boiling, even when it tangentially deals with horse racing.

Penny and Lucien... Who will care a hundred years from then, even less from now?

Thoroughbreds have better breeding than humans by definition.

Great read...

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

mz — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 01:01:38 GMT

Yes Smoking Baby. Dancing Rain is up for sale in the UK. She would be a fine wedding present for me and Ted so start chipping in you guys! Let's save Dr. Drunkinbum!

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

Paula Higgins — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 00:55:31 GMT

TED FROM LA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So good to see you. We have missed you here, big time. But alas, I think it is only the wonderful mz you have missed. mz, a girl after my own heart! How big is the ring LOL!!

Where is Dr Drunkinbum??

Anyone have any thoughts on L-thyroxine in Bob Bafferts barn? As a R.N. I really don't understand why you would give it to EVERY horse. You certainly wouldn't give it to every human and it would be carefully administered based on blood levels if needed as replacement therapy. I would think it would hold true for horses to pretty much the same degree. Is that right?

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

Old Old Cat — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 00:05:25 GMT

secretariat was a great horse. He graced the covers of time, SI, and other top flight publications. Penny Cherney was the one responsible for keeping her father's farm afloat, and handling the great Secretariat.

Why are some people disputing greatness?? If we point out little flaws, then there is no greatness. Everyone is flawed.

I could not beleive the range of responses to your article, but somehow you manage to provoke a lot of different thoughts when you write.

This time I feel that many of the responders are way off base, but that's their opinions.

Thank you for not having this article on discus, so that we can all reply.

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

Smoking Baby — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 20:49:47 GMT

mz. Worse yet, I'd hate to see Dr. Drunkinbum shipped off to shipped off to South Korea or Turkey. We simply MUST start a grassroots effort to get him some better mares so we can keep him stateside and commenting.

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

Smoking Baby — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 20:46:18 GMT

mz. No, I didn't think you were dissing Secretariat at all. I was just worried I was coming across as coming down on you. And no, Secretariat is certainly no Northern Dancer but as you know, few are.

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

Soldier Course — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 20:24:35 GMT

Alex'sBigFan:

I too hope for a movie about Secretariat that does justice to him. At least two things are needed: the right cast, and a moment in the film where the audience makes an emotional connection to the horse. My dream team for the movie would be Laura Linney as Penny, Michael Kitchen as Lucien, and Ron Howard directing. Establishing the emotional connection is tricky. The best example I can point to is the popsicle scene with Dakota Fanning and her mare in the movie "Dreamer". At that moment I was with the mare and her connections all the way to the end of the movie and beyond. I still reflect on the power and beauty of that scene.

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

mz — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 19:57:17 GMT

Ted, honey: aren't all Pennies more than slightly attractive? According to this blog, at least to former Quebecois trainers.

More importantly, how big would the engagement ring be?

Re: Dr. Drunkinbum, how many crops has he had? Has he been tried in a regional market? I would hate to see him gelded and trained for jumping or dressage -- although I am certain that he would be of Olympic caliber, right?

p.p.s. I miss you and Paula and all the former JasonBloggers. I find it less interesting to comment on a blog where the horses are referred to only by their post position numbers and odds. I like to bond with my thoroughbreds.

(Smoking Baby: I hope you understood that I never meant to diss Secretariat. I just am not ept enough to find the sarcastic emoticon when I make my comments.)(although -- at the sake of starting another argument ... er, discussion going) I have to say that Secretariat is no Northern Dancer!)

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

Ted from LA — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 04:41:10 GMT

Too many sexist and misogynistic comments. Dr. Drunkinbum was not successful at stud, but we all still love him, correct? mz, please watch the sky over Oaks Day. I'm sending up a "mz, will you marry me?" banner. I'm spending a slightly attractive penny, so please see and respond.

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

AllWin — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 02:57:33 GMT

I agree with the issues of equality, or rather, the lack of equality. There has never been real equality for women. I am now in my forties, consider myself a REAL feminist. However I was too young to be involved in the actions at the time. I am so thrilled to know that Secretariat, from all accounts, loved women. I LOVE Secretariat. It is very disturbing that those alleged "fans" of Secretariat lack knowledge. There will NEVER be a second Secretariat. NEVER. And I for one take great comfort in the fact that Secretariat was the ancestor of such good horses. The Sire of Broodmares IS SIGNIFICANT.

Secretariat has a LEGACY that most humans would never best. And, no horse, past, present, future, has had, will have, all the other verbages, best This Champion of All Champions.

And to all those fortunate to have talked with, and touched, Secretariat: I greatly "envy" that.

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

Windolin — Sat, 23 Nov 2013 21:59:22 GMT

The affair was a shock, but then those things do happen, no one is perfect. Does not take away from my admiration of Penny Tweedy and what she accomplished and what she has given back to the industry.

I for one liked the Disney movie about Secretariat and only wish it focused more on him. Rare is the movie today that does not have crude language, sex, drugs and violence.

As to Secretariats legacy as a stallion, anyone who follows racing and bloodlines knows that the blood of the immortal Secretariat flows in hundreds of champion race horses almost three decades after his death. His progeny are at the top of the sire lists. There is even an article on this site about Bernardini's success as turf sire in Australia. And Wise Dan, Will Take Charge...they not only look like Secretariat, they run like he did. He was in my opinion, the greatest race horse that has ever lived. He had almost perfect conformation, he was smart, he was durable and he could race on turf and dirt and win. Many of his records still stand today, 40 years later. He was a once in a lifetime horse who passed his greatness along as a broodmare sire. Some of you seem to forget that not all the credit for a champion horse goes to the stallion, you are not giving credit to the broodmare. Also, you are seemingly forgetting Risen Star and Storm Cat. There was something special about Secretariat that just has not come along since. It just infuriates me when some people take it upon themselves to bash him because he did not produce dozens of Secretariat Juniors. Some of you need to understand there is a thing called legacy that goes beyond the first generation of progeny. Genetics in horses are just like people. Sometimes mother nature goes back generations to collect a gene that makes for greatness.

Secretariat and Penny Tweedy, Lucien Lauren, Eddie Sweat and Ron Turcotte was a magical alignment of the stars that most likely will not happen again for several generations.

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

Smoking Baby — Sat, 23 Nov 2013 16:50:36 GMT

mz. I agree with you that most of the comments about Secretariat's stud career are about the lack of a lasting male line.

I have never heard that Alydar was a disappointment at stud. Where's his enduring male line? Please don't take this as a comment against you. I'm just saying I think Secretariat gets a bad rap when others get a pass.

I always like Penney Chenery and her moxy. I do wish she would've kept her opinions to herself when I'll Have Another was on the verge of his own triple crown. I thought that was uncool.

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

Paula Higgins — Sat, 23 Nov 2013 02:31:38 GMT

ofelia, sometimes the genius of a person is holding the line to keep the family business going long enough to survive, turn a profit and recognize the exceptional talents of its horses i.e. Riva Ridge, Secretariat. For some of you to say she shared no credit for keeping the family business going and the career of Secretariat, is just nonsense. She could have folded her cards and sold everything off. She didn't. She held her ground. Yes, she had a high profile and she liked the attention, but so did alot of people in the racing world. It doesn't make her the 1970's version of Kim Kardashian.

lunar spook, I certainly won't argue your point about Affirmed. He was a great horse. Some people believe the #3 spot goes to Citation or Spectacular Bid or John Henry etc. Any one of these horses could have a credible case made for them. I even read an article a while back that had the good Dr. as #1. What is certain is that we were blessed with some great equine talent in the 20th century.

mz, well said. Have we seen an male owner criticized like this? I don't think so.

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

Alex'sBigFan — Sat, 23 Nov 2013 01:13:20 GMT

Soldier Course,

Hi, great to see you here! Yes I agree revealing the affair in a sense for the historical background of Secretariat. I disagree if Lucien's wife, Juliette I believe now in her late 80's who survived Lucien, was never aware of it and had to find it out this way. That would be devastating for her and her family.

I guess I have not missed anything not seeing the Secretariat movie, thanks for enlightening me. If that is the case then say it's time they do the real Secretariat movie now, just redo the whole thing and honor Big Red better.

re: Penny Chenery Bares All in New Documentary

Soldier Course — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 21:45:40 GMT

Alex'sBigFan:

I am glad that Ms. Chenery revealed her affair with Lucien Laurin, for the sake of Secretariat's history. All of it. As I wrote in a previous comment here, I am disappointed only in her louche choice of words in characterizing the affair.

I haven't seen this mentioned, but Ms. Chenery may have revealed her story while she is alive to do so, instead of wondering if some sensational version of it would leak from uncertain or unreliable sources after she passes away.

Disney's "Secretariat" is a bad movie about a great horse. The less we see of it the better, especially since it has done little or nothing to engender a love of racing in the young generation. Thank God for YouTube.