Secretariat’s birthplace sells for $5.35 million at auction

by | 05.22.2012 | 3:18pm
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Secretariat’s birthplace, Meadow Farm, was sold at a foreclosure auction on Tuesday. The property had been owned by the State Fair of Virginia, but the organization defaulted on close to $80 million in financing from creditors and was forced to liquidate assets. The purchaser was Mark Lovell of Corodva, Tenn.-based Universal Fairs.

The auction of the farm included a 12,900-square-foot manor house, a 76,000-square-foot exhibition hall, a 9,700-square-foot pavilion, an extensive equestrian facility, as well as Secretariat’s preserved foaling shed and yearling barn.

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  • bluegrass12

    So what does that mean for Secretariat’s birthplace?  Preserved or at risk? 

  • Donna Zumwalde

    Yes, what does this meanfor Secretariat’s birthplace…still at risk?? What happened to Rainaway his great grandson that lived at the Meadow??

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/MyBig-Red/100000980578079 MyBig Red

    I pray Mr. Lovell will preserve Secretariat’s foaling stall together with The Meadow’s barns. The Meadow is the only place of Secretariat’s I never visited & I hope to do so next spring.

  • JC

     I’d advise anyone who can go to do so.  It’s a really pretty part of Virginia; I used to live near there. 

  • Leeanne Meadows Ladin

    I was managing the narrated “Secretariat’s Meadow” tours at The Meadow and the annual Secretariat birthday there.  (I’m the Virginia-based co-author of the book “Secretariat’s Meadow” which I wrote with Kate Chenery Tweedy and Penny Chenery.) I gave Mr. Lovell a copy of our book yesterday after the auction and expressed our hope that Secretariat’s legacy would continue. I was told that he is a horse lover and appreciates the historic heritage of The Meadow.  I hope to soon discuss with his staff the prospect of resuming our narrated tours for the public and of kicking off the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown win next year at his birthplace. We have been watching this carefully and will continue to post updates on our Secretariat’s Meadow Facebook page and website.

  • Leeanne Meadows Ladin

    Rainaway is living nearby.  He was kept by someone who lived close to The Meadow when he first moved to Virginia and has gone back to live with them.

  • Leeanne Meadows Ladin

    The foaling shed, training barn, yearling barn, stallion barn and other sites originally built by Chris Chenery were all restored and preserved by the State Fair of VA when they purchased The Meadow in 2003.  They remain in good condition and we have no reason to believe at this point that the new owner would disturb them.  A historic preservation group – Preservation Virginia – recently named The Meadow to its list of “endangered sites” when its future looked so uncertain. Rest assured that many people are keeping a very watchful on this beloved piece of land.

  • bluegrass12

    Leeanne,
     Thanks for the reply and information!  It seems that the attack on everything related to horseracing continues non stop.  Can’t bear to think of losing this treasured landmark too.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/MyBig-Red/100000980578079 MyBig Red

    Thank You, Leeanne, for being the voice for Secretariat’s fans. I love the book, The Meadow, which I will always treasure :) I hope you return to Aiken, SC soon. We enjoyed meeting you & Kate.
    I WILL be there at The Meadow, God Willing, next year for the Big Celebration of Secretariat & his Triple Crown win.
    God Bless You :)

  • Donna Zumwalde

    Leeanne,

    Thank you so much for being such a strong advocate for this historical site.
    Also, thank you for your reply regarding Rainaway. It’s a relief to know he is in good hands. I loved the book Secretariat’s Meadow. Secretariat’s birthplace needs to be preserved, Big Red was such an important part of history and he is still loved. As a teenager, I remember watching the Triple Crown races on televsion in 1973 and watching the majestic Big Red horse! I was hoping the new owner would maybe consider using The Meadow as a retirement home for racehorses, so many have tragic lives after their racing days are over.

    Thanks for taking the time to answer my question re: Rainaway.

    Donna Zumwalde

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