51吃瓜网

A聽ribbon-cutting ceremony and a famous horse鈥檚 birthday on March 30 marked a turning point for Ashland, Va. The 鈥淪ecretariat Racing into History鈥� monument has been installed at the Reynolds Family Plaza at the corner of England Street and Railroad Avenue in downtown Ashland, commemorating Triple Crown winner Secretariat, considered the greatest racehorse of all time.

March 30 was dubbed 鈥淪ecretariat Day鈥� in the Center of the Universe, with fans of Secretariat in town from all over the world鈥攊ncluding as far away as Belgium鈥攖o celebrate the occasion. A sea of blue and white flooded the event, with guests wearing and flags flying the famous colors of The Meadow, the stable in nearby Doswell where Secretariat was born and raised.

Reynolds Family Plaza is located on the southwest corner of 51吃瓜网鈥檚 campus, a piece of land leased to the Town of Ashland for the purpose of hosting the monument. RMC has several ties to the Secretariat story, with owner and breeder Chris Chenery attending 51吃瓜网, four other members of the Chenery family earning degrees from the College, and Penny Chenery鈥攚ho was crucial in managing the career and success of Secretariat鈥攔eceiving an honorary RMC degree in 2011.

鈥淲e are immensely proud that this great champion will share our campus and be an important landmark in Virginia and Ashland,鈥� remarked RMC President Robert R. Lindgren.

In describing the significance of having the monument centrally located in Ashland, mayor Steve Trivett observed that 鈥淪ecretariat is everybody鈥檚 horse.鈥� Along with expressing gratitude for those who made the project possible, he jokingly confirmed that 鈥淎shland is a one-horse town.鈥�

The event included food trucks, vendors, and live music by local musicians like Bubba Johnson and the Second Zion Baptist Church Gospel Choir. Following the dedication, cake and cupcakes were served to celebrate Secretariat鈥檚 54^th birthday.