Jocelyn Russell’s equine masterpiece will be making a pit stop at Shenandoah Downs on Saturday, May 13th for fans to enjoy up close and take pictures. The larger-than-life statue of “Big Red’ will be available for one day to the public in the Shenandoah Valley and nearby residents of Northwest Virginia. The statue will stop in Woodstock on its way from the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY to the Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, MD, for the Preakness Stakes, second leg of the Triple Crown.
The statues tour is in honor of Secretariat’s iconic Triple Crown victory. This historic moment in horse racing was defined by Secretariat setting records for all three races that still stand to this day.
To celebrate that historic and memorable feat, and his significance to Virginia, a life-size statue was commissioned to be placed at one site in Virginia so his greatness can be appreciated for generations to come. The statue had been based in Ashland — just minutes from his birthplace — since late March. A fundraising campaign is currently in progress to make that site his permanent home, but only after a nationwide tour is conducted this spring and summer at select racetracks around the country so fans at races like the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont can enjoy the statue up close and personal during the 50th anniversary celebration.
That’s right — Secretariat will be available to fans that live in the Shenandoah Valley and other nearby cities on Saturday May 13 from 12-5 PM at the Shenandoah Downs harness track. Fans can experience “Big Red” up close and take pictures — and enjoy an afternoon of pari-mutuel harness racing! Jocelyn will be on hand as well to talk about the incredible process of sculpting this masterpiece.
Admission to Shenandoah Downs is free. The track is located at the Shenandoah County Fairgrounds in Woodstock, Virginia, halfway between Harrisonburg and Winchester off I-81 at Exit 283. For more information, visit shenandoahdowns.com and secretariatforvirginia.com.
