Secretariat in 1973 became the first U.S. Triple Crown champion in 25 years, setting new race records in two of the three events in the Series—the Kentucky Derby (1:592⁄5), and the Belmont Stakes (2:24)—records that still stand today
Penny Chenery is the owner of Triple Crown winner Secretariat, arguably the most famous horse in the 20th century. Helen “Penny” Chenery is responsible for making the right decisions to lead to his storied success.
A graduate of Columbia Business School, Chenery combined her business savvy with her passion for thoroughbreds. Her love for horses came from her father who founded Meadow Stable, a thoroughbred racing and horse breeding facility. Upon her father’s death, she wanted to fulfill his dream of breeding a horse to win the Kentucky Derby, and she took over the management of Meadow Stable. She hired Lucien Laurin to train and guide the horses, and in 1972 their colt Riva Ridge won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. The next year, the duo made history with Secretariat. The three-year old thoroughbred captured the heart of Americans by winning the Triple Crown in 1973 – the first horse to do so in twenty-five years.
A trailblazer throughout her career, Penny Chenery was the first woman elected as a member of The Jockey Club in 1983. She also was honored in 2003 when the Arlington Park track established the annual “Peggy Chenery Distinguished Woman in Racing Award” inspiring women to achieve greatness in the sport.
Remember When
Earl The Pearl Is Traded to the Knicks in 1971
Earl “The Pearl” Monroe was a flamboyant and popular player with the Baltimore Bullets during his first 4 seasons in the NBA. He was the 2nd pick overall in the 1967 NBA draft by the Bullets, won the Rookie of the Year, was a 2-time All-Star, and averaged over 21 points per game in each of his first 4 seasons with the Bullets. Teaming with Wes Unseld, the Bullets were one of the league’s top teams. But on November 10, 1971, the unthinkable happened. The Pearl was traded to the Bullets’ Eastern Conference rivals, the New York Knicks. With the Knicks, Monroe would be teamed in the same backcourt as another legendary player, and his personal rival, Walt Frazier. Many doubted that the two could co-exist in the same backcourt. But, they did much more than co-exist. Monroe and Frazier, along with Willis Reed, Bill Bradley, and others, led the Knicks to the 1973 NBA title. Monroe would play the rest of his career with the Knicks. Monroe is a member of the NBA Hall of Fame, and has his number retired by both franchises he played for in his career.