Shirley Bennett Anderson
Photos from 1979 to current
Penny Chenery believed that her horse had what it took to win the Triple Crown and she never gave up, even against all odds. She believed when others didn't, including her own family. She went up against the "Big Boys" and won. Penny pursued her father's life-long Kentucky Derby dream. She made it her dream and that dream came true beyond her wildest imaginations.
Penny's dream spawned a new dream for Shirley. Shirley met Penny and her daughter, Kate at her first Kentucky Derby in 2011 just 2 1/2 weeks before Secretariat's Glory was born. She recalls the thrill of meeting her, "I told her that I owned a daughter from his last crop and asked her to autograph a picture of Secretariat's Fire. Penny then asked who she was in foal to, and her eyes widened when I said Midnight Lute. Her response was, "That ought to be a real good one...keep me posted". Penny knew the name Midnight Lute because he is a fourth generation Secretariat progeny.
She made it her dream and that dream came true beyond her wildest imaginations. As Eclipse Champion he won the Breeder's Cup Sprint two years in a row, setting new records for speed and distance-won-by records. His his sire, Real Quiet added to the championship gene pool he missed the Triple Crown by a photo-finish".
Later that fall, Penny met Secretariat's Glory when he was four months old at the third annual Secretariat's Festival in Paris, Kentucky. Shirley feels that is an extra-special time for her because Glory is in training for his first race later this fall during his grandfather's 40th anniversary year of his 1973 Triple Crown Victory. To her knowledge, there's only one other grandson in the United States who will able to run at this time in history, so 2013 marks a time to celebrate and what better way to honor Secretariat than with the racing debut of his closest family members. Glory's pasture mate, My Storm Trooper, who is a great-great-grandson of Secretariat is also in training and will also go the his first race this year. Shirley has thirteen Secretariat descendants to follow in their "hoof-steps" over the next several years, including yearlings by Majestic Warrior and Munnings, and another grandchild due this spring by Leroidesanimaux (sire of 2011 Kentucky Derby/2013 Dudai World Cup winner, Animal Kingdom). Other foals due this spring are sired by General Quarters (Sky Mesa) & American Lion (Tiznow). Next year's crop are sired by City Place (Storm Cat), Cowtown Cat (Distorted Humor), & Telling (A.P.Indy).
My personal goal is to open the door to the world of racing to other women who love thoroughbred horses and want to participate in a team effort to support other women who want to share their dream of competing in the top races in America and eventually around the world. I have joined forces with Penny Morrell as the base foundation from which to build an International Secretariat Sisterhood team. The membership program will have several participation levels from which to choose.