Penny Chenery of Secretariat fame talks horse racing and more

Published May. 9, 2015 12:56 p.m. ET

foxsports

Helen "Penny" Chenery is one of the most beloved figures in the storied history of U.S. Thoroughbred racing. With her father, Christopher Chenery, ailing, and her siblings interested in selling his Meadow Stable, Penny Chenery was determined to revive the operation as long as her father was alive.

Christopher Chenery was one of the founders of the New York Racing Association, and the family's Meadow Stable had produced stars such as Hill Prince, Cicada and First Landing, but his health had deteriorated by 1968.

Penny Chenery subsequently assumed oversight of Meadow Stable and showed great business acumen in making several difficult decisions that paid off handsomely, including hiring Lucien Lauren as Meadow Stable's trainer.

Riva Ridge won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes in her family's silks in 1972, and the following year Secretariat became the first Triple Crown winner since Citation in 1948 when he won the Belmont Stakes by a remarkable 31 lengths.

Penny Chenery's determination to succeed and passion for the sport became a lasting impression from arguably the greatest U.S. Triple Crown sweep in the sport's history, which included Secretariat establishing record times in each of the three races.

Chenery went on to join Martha Gerry and Allaire du Pont as the first women to be admitted as members of The Jockey Club and bred the first New York-bred to win an Eclipse Award (Saratoga Dew, 1992 champion 3-year-old filly).

Actress Diane Lane portrayed Chenery in the 2010 Walt Disney Pictures feature film "Secretariat."

Chenery, who in 2005 received the Eclipse Award of Merit for a lifetime of outstanding achievement in the sport, took some time for a question-and-answer chat with America's Best Racing.

Name: Penny Chenery

What I do for a living: Horse breeder

How and when I was introduced to Thoroughbred racing: By my father, Christopher Chenery, when I was 12 years old and had reached my full height -- tall enough to be viewed as an adult at the racetrack.

My favorite racetrack: Belmont Park

My favorite Thoroughbred racing event: Belmont Stakes

Other sports/teams I follow: Baseball, basketball

What I would like to see more of in Thoroughbred racing: Homebreds racing for owners

What I would like to see less of in Thoroughbred racing: Agents and "advisors"

Three words that define what Thoroughbred racing means to me: Sport, friendship, style

First Thoroughbred track I ever attended was: Belmont Park

Favorite all-time Thoroughbred: Secretariat

My personal best moment in the sport of Thoroughbred racing: 1973 Triple Crown

Best racetrack food can be found at: The track kitchen

My favorite jockey: Ron Turcotte

My favorite trainer: Lucien Laurin

My heroes: Allen Jerkins, Bob Baffert

Person in Thoroughbred racing I'd like to have dinner with: Laffit Pincay Jr.

My philosophy on life: Play by the rules â be friendly and optimistic.

Favorite quote or motto: My father's words - "Don't embarrass the horse."

Favorite animal other than a horse: Jack Russell Terrier

Favorite non-Thoroughbred racing sports event I have attended: University of Kentucky basketball game

Favorite food: Spoonbread

Favorite vacation spot: Vail, Colo.

Favorite city: Lexington, Ky.

Favorite musician/band: Benny Goodman

Favorite all-time movie(s): "To Kill a Mockingbird," "African Queen," "Philadelphia Story"

Favorite TV show: NCIS

Favorite hotel: Algonquin, New York City

Websites I visit daily: Secretariat.com

What I drive: BMW

Pet peeve: People who tell me what to do

Favorite movie about horse racing: Excluding "Secretariat," it would have to be "Seabiscuit."

Which actor would play me in a movie: If not Diane Lane, I would say Katherine Hepburn