HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Fans gathered around the new bronze statue of Secretariat in Ashland for a dedication ceremony held on the famous racehorse’s birthday on Saturday.
On Saturday, March 30, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and dedication program was held at the Reynolds Family Plaza at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland’s downtown area to celebrate the new statue honoring the famous racehorse Secretariat.
The new monument is 21 feet long and 11.5 feet tall. It was sculpted by Jocelyn Russell and shows Secretariat running full speed ahead while being ridden by jockey Ron Turcotte.
Orrie Christopher, of Warsaw, attended the event with his father, Dave Christopher, and said Secretariat is his favorite race horse.
“He is the only horse in the history of the Triple Crown to break the track records of all three races, the Preakness, the Derby and the Belmont,” Orrie Christopher said.
Orrie Christopher described when Secretariat won the Triple Crown, which was at the Belmont Stakes, and how he hit the finish line 31 lengths ahead of the other horses.
“It’s almost impossible to believe,” Orrie Christopher said.
According to organizers, the base of the monument contains portions of sand from several notable racing tracks, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont tracks.
The event was filled with live music, food trucks, vendors, exhibits and cake as the event took place on Secretariat’s birthday.
