The World’s Largest Horseshoe, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records, is coming to the State Fair of Virginia at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County.
The record-breaking shoe is an exact oversized replica of a racing plate worn by the legendary Triple Crown champion Secretariat, who was born at The Meadow. The giant horseshoe is 6 feet 11.8 inches tall by 6 feet 9.1 inches wide and weighs 610 pounds. Louisville-based Eagle Sign & Design Inc. cast the enormous replica using aircraft aluminum contributed by original Secretariat racing plate manufacturer Thoro’bred Inc., which provided shoes for the Meadow Stable colt during his racing career.
The horseshoe is currently located at the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville. It is coming to Virginia through the assistance of Secretariat.com, which oversees the development and management of all official Secretariat-related merchandise and events.
The shoe will be on display in front of the yearling barn where Secretariat lived as a colt. The exhibit is included in the price of admission to the state fair, which runs Sept. 23 through Oct. 2. The horseshoe will remain on exclusive display at The Meadow until spring 2017 as part of the ongoing Secretariat tourism program.
“The enormity of this shoe symbolizes the impact of Secretariat on Thoroughbred racing and horse lovers everywhere,” said Penny Chenery, Secretariat’s owner. “I am delighted that the World’s Largest Horseshoe will be on display at Secretariat’s birthplace in Virginia during the 80th anniversary of Meadow Stable.” Chenery’s father, Christopher T. Chenery, founded Meadow Stable in 1936.
The horseshoe will be the centerpiece of the fair’s annual “Salute to Secretariat.” The festivities include meet and greets with local Secretariat descendants Sept. 24-25 and Oct. 1-2, as well as tours of Meadow Hall with its historic galleries and exhibits during those two weekends. Every day at the fair fans can enjoy the Secretariat booth with its extensive selection of merchandise; take “Selfies with Secretariat” by a life-size poster of the famous champion; view the original barns which are listed on the state and national historic registers; and have books signed by author/historian Leeanne Meadows Ladin.
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