The sixth annual Bourbon County Secretariat Festival will be held Sept. 20-21 in Paris, Ky, the Secretariat Foundation announced. The event marks the 40th anniversary of Secretariat's Triple Crown victory and will include appearances of legends from both horse racing and baseball, as well the world premiere of Landlocked Films' "Penny & Red: The Life of Secretariat's Owner."
Many of the festivities Sept. 20 will take place at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds, with free admission. Highlighting the day will be appearances and autograph signings by Mrs. Chenery, jockey Ron Turcotte, exercise rider Charlie Davis, and Secretariat author Bill Nack.
Also scheduled to meet with festival goers are Walt Disney Pictures' "Secretariat" star Otto Thorwarth, who played Turcotte in the feature film. There will also be an exceptional assembly of racing's greatest jockeys on hand, including Jose Santos, Pat Day, Jean Cruguet, Chris McCarron, Eddie Maple, Jacinto Vasquez, Jorge Velasquez, and Mike Manganello.
Additionally, MAB Celebrity Services will present appearances and signings by Major League Baseball stars Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, and Tony Perez from Cincinnati Reds' "Big Red Machine" of the 1970s.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Sept. 20
• World Premier of "Penny & Red: The Life of Secretariat's Owner" at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion in Lexington, 6 p.m.
• Paris Artwalk, downtown Paris, 5-9 p.m.
• Artwalk After-Party and Four Roses Bourbon tasting at Oasis Event Hall, 718 Main St., 9 p.m.
Sept. 21 - Bourbon County Fairgrounds
5k Big Red Run/Walk, Adena Springs Farm; registration 8 a.m., race starts at 9 a.m.
Claiborne Farm tours where Secretariat stood at stud and is buried; departing every half hour from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Official Secretariat merchandise and memorabilia store; celebrity autograph signing by: Penny Chenery, Ron Turcotte, Bill Nack, Charlie Davis, Otto Thorwarth, Eddie Maple, Jean Cruguet, Pat Day Chris McCarron, Mike Manganello, Laffit Pincay, Jorge Velasquez, Jacinto Vasquez, and Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Johnny Bench, and Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds.
Local & Regional Art & Crafts
Secretariat Archive Silent Auction, with rare memorabilia from the Secretariat archives
Children's activities including "Ride Like a Jockey" on the North American Riding Academy Mechanical Horse Simulator
Food, entertainment, and live music featuring Dale Pyatt and the Chicken Grease Band
Registration for Saturday's 5K Big Red Run/Walk and Claiborne Farm Tour reservations as well as more information about the Festival events and celebrity signings are available at www.Secretariat.com and the Secretariat Festival Facebook page.
Directions to Bourbon County Fairgrounds
Driving east or west on I-75/64, take Paris Pike exit 113 heading north on Highway 27/68 approximately 18 miles. Pass through the second stoplight at the Paris Bypass intersection, and continue straight through downtown Paris on Main St. Continue north under overpass and across Stoner Creek, turning left onto Legion Rd. to enter the Bourbon County Fairgrounds.
The Secretariat Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization created by Penny Chenery to assist the Thoroughbred industry in the areas of research, rehabilitation, retirement, and recognition. For more information about Secretariat or the foundation, visit www.Secretariat.com.