THE aptly-named Victorious Colt won top honors in the Philippine Racing Commission’s 2nd leg Juvenile Fillies and Colts stakes race held Oct. 8 at the Metro Manila Turf Club in Malvar, Batangas.
The colt guided by Jesse B. Guce won wire-to-wire by six lengths. Despite being flanked by Facing Dixie for about a third of the race, Victorious Colt did not face stiff opposition but still came home with a few strokes of the whip down the stretch.
2nd Aphrodisiac, 3rd Bridgeofdriverkwai, 4th Miss American Pie, 5th Facing Dixie. Time: 1:24.4 (13-21’-23-27) for 1,400 meters.
Victorious Colt (Zap x Boogie to Seattle), a 2YO bay colt, is owned by EC de la Cruz and trained by DR de la Cruz.
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“If you’re going to do something, make the most of it.”
These wise words were spoken by Penny Chenery, famed owner of the legendary racehorse Secretariat. She certainly lived those words.
Chenery passed away last Sept. 16 aged 95, after cementing the reputation of her Meadow Stable/Meadow Stud racing and breeding operation, inherited from her father Christopher Chenery, with the success of her racehorses Secretariat and Riva Ridge. Both horses were inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. These accomplishments also put trainer Lucien Laurin’s name in history books.
In 1972, the then-3YO Riva Ridge won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes while 2YO Secretariat won American Horse of the Year honors. In 1973, Secretariat became the first Triple Crown winner in a quarter of a century.
Thanks to Penny’s decision to breed her mare Something royal to Bold Ruler, the world enjoyed the exploits of the mightiest prince of racing—Secretariat—the sport has ever known.
A magnificent chestnut with a heart larger than normal, “Big Red,” as he was also called, is most remembered for his record-breaking 31-length win in the 1973 Belmont Stakes. His time for those 1-1/2 miles, 2:24 flat, broke the record by over two seconds and still stands as an American record on dirt. In that year’s Kentucky Derby, he ran each quarter faster than the last and set a still-standing track record at 1:59-2/5.
Penny Chenery did not stand on her laurels as owner and breeder of two of the greatest racehorses in history. She advanced the role of women in racing, in 1983 becoming among the first women to be admitted as members of the Jockey Club. She served as president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders’ Association from 1976 to 1984. She also helped found the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation which saves retired horses from possible abuse, neglect, and slaughter.
In view of these and other accomplishments, Arlington Park racetrack established in 2003 the annual “Penny Chenery Distinguished Woman in Racing Award.”
Peace and farewell to an iconic personality of racing. May her service to the racing community serve as an example and inspiration to other horsepeople.
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Dr. Ortuoste is a California-based writer and researcher. Facebook: Gogirl Racing and Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @gogirlracing and @jennyortuoste
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Jenny Ortuoste, Ph.D.
