Nearly 350 acres of farmland where Triple Crown champion Secretariat once roamed as a colt will remain permanently protected, preserving one of the most important landscapes in thoroughbred racing history. 

The property, known as The Cove, is bordered by the North Anna River and served as the nursery for the broodmares and foals of Meadow Stable, founded in 1936 by Christopher Chenery. Secretariat, the 1973 Triple Crown winner and still the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes record holder, spent part of his early life on the rolling pasture. 

Other racing standouts connected to The Cove include Riva Ridge, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, and Somethingroyal, the broodmare that gave birth to Secretariat. The property played a central role in establishing Meadow Stable as one of the most influential breeding operations in American racing. 

The land is now protected by a conservation easement held by the Capital Region Land Conservancy after its 2023 purchase by Kevin Engel of Engel Family Farms. 

“Purchasing The Cove and restoring it to its heyday when Secretariat was running around on it has been a dream of mine for many years,” Engel said. “It is so important for my business to secure farmland from the threats of big warehouses, solar panels, data centers and housing subdivisions but also for my grandchildren to be on land that is preserved without asphalt and concrete everywhere.” 

Kate Chenery Tweedy, daughter of Meadow Stable’s founder and Secretariat’s longtime owner, said the preservation honors the farm’s racing history. 

“Our family has highly valued conservation easements to protect lands. We are so grateful to know that Kevin is carrying forward the stewardship of this historic property and he has seen fit to put a conservation easement on it,” Tweedy said. “My mom and granddad would be so pleased by this action.” 

The Cove sits just north of The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County, once part of the original Meadow Stable operation. The park, now home of the State Fair of Virginia, includes Secretariat’s foaling shed and original barns, which are designated state and national historic landmarks. 

While the easement protects cropland and forestland, its most enduring value may be its link to racing history. The preservation ensures that the landscape tied to one of the sport’s greatest champions will remain largely unchanged for future generations of racing fans. 

“Many future generations will appreciate their generosity to conserve The Cove and preserve the home of Secretariat,” said Parker Agelasto, executive director of the Capital Region Land Conservancy.