2010 Festival
Festival Poster Available
Sunny skies and the blustery breezes of early autumn welcomed the third annual Bourbon County Secretariat Festival at the fairgrounds in historic Paris, Kentucky on October 2, 2010.
Since its inaugural event in 2008, the Festival has grown in attendance, activities, performances as well as becoming an autograph seeker’s dream destination for the brightest luminaries in the thoroughbred and equine industries. Claiborne Farm has partnered each year with Secretariat.com to offer Big Red’s loyal fans something new to enjoy as well as staples like the Secretariat film retrospective, related merchandise booths and children’s activities area.
Attendees at this year’s Festival were offered a truly worldwide sampling of talent – both human and horse. Equine events included halter and under tack demonstrations featuring the Rocky Mountain Horse – a uniquely American breed founded in the Appalachian mountains of eastern Kentucky. These “gaited” horses are extremely versatile in both color and capabilities and were crowd favorites. Also popular was the miniature horse jumping competition, with these tiny competitors clearing fences equivalent to twelve foot standards in the regular hunter jumper classes. A plucky chestnut named Patrick won the jump off and then went on to win the racing costume class adorned as “Little Red” in full Kentucky Derby gear right down to the 1A saddle cloth and the blanket of roses.
A special highlight for fans was the parading of two-time Pacific Classic winner Tinner’s Way, a new resident of the Old Friends retirement facility in nearby Georgetown and the last colt born to Secretariat’s final foal crop. A youthful and very fit 20-year-old, the pensioned stallion did not disappoint – parading and prancing as if he were ready to step back on the track. Old Friends executive director Michael Blowen spoke of some of the other star retirees in residence and thanked the Secretariat Foundation for its contributions and efforts toward race horse retirement facilities nationwide.
Music and special guest speakers filled out the arena’s schedule, including Britain’s Blue Flamingo Jazz group and the premiere Aboriginal didgeridoo artist, Adrian Ross, who accompanied some of the jazz numbers as well as playing native Australian aboriginal music. Ross is best known for his performance during the opening ceremonies of the Sydney Summer Olympic Games in 2000.
The most popular events for fans traveling from across the country were definitely the autograph sessions with jockey legends and Hall of Famers Ron Turcotte, Eddie Maple and Pat Day (who also was also a featured speaker) as well as Seattle Slew’s star pilot, Frenchman Jean Cruget. Representing Team Secretariat were exercise rider and crowd favorite Charlie Davis as well as Kate Tweedy, Penny Chenery’s daughter and author of the well received pictorial “The Meadow,” a walk through the history of her grandfather’s famous nursery. Not to be outdone, Disney Studio’s “Secretariat” was represented by rising stars and long time jockeys Otto Thorwarth and Ireland native Tom Foley – both of whom were swarmed by admirers throughout the day. A surprise guest star was the legendary Tony Leonard, a former Broadway actor who found a second career as one of the top equine conformation photographers over the last 40 years.
Capping the day’s festivities was the latest renewal of the Secretariat Look-Alike contest, with more horses entered for a chance at the $5000 in prize money than ever before. This year’s winner was Lightening Racers Edge, who best captured the essence of Big Red in the eyes of the judges. The day ended with everyone looking forward to the Lexington charity premiere of “Secretariat,” benefiting the Secretariat Foundation the next day at the Kentucky Theater, downtown. Highlighting that event were scheduled appearances by the first lady of racing herself, Penny Chenery and the actress proud to portray her in the film, Academy Award nominee Diane Lane.
