Thoroughbred Women to Honor Penny Chenery, Azeri

Thoroughbred Women will honor Penny Chenery and Horse of the Year Azeri at this year's Thoroughbred Women Awards Aug. 19 at Saratoga Race Course.

Helen B. (Penny) Chenery, owner of spectacular Thoroughbred champions, Secretariat and Riva Ridge, has long been considered the de facto First Lady of Racing. Chenery took the reins of Christopher Chenery's Meadow Stables in 1972, racing Riva Ridge, then Secretariat, to their respective destinies.

Chenery has lived a life devoted to Thoroughbred horseracing, setting an example of strength, fortitude and vision. Three generations of women and girls have been inspired by her single-minded goal-setting abilities, and her tenacity in seeing those goals achieved with grace, aplomb and quiet confidence.

Chenery will be represented at the breakfast by Cot and Anne Campbell.

Azeri, 2002 Horse of the Year, is the first Thoroughbred to be honored by Thoroughbred Women.

During her brilliant and record-shattering career, Azeri firmly established herself in the pantheon of all-time great equine athletes as she racked up 11 grade I wins in a row; stomped the competition for the 2002 Horse of the Year Awards; became the highest-earning female Thoroughbred ever; and received her record third Older Female Eclipse Award in January, 2005.

Azeri was the last Thoroughbred bred by the legendary Allen E. Paulson. She is owned by the Allen E. Paulson Living Trust.

Thoroughbred Women is the only organization in America dedicated to the promotion and encouragement of women's expanded roles in the Thoroughbred racing industry -- and the coming-together of women to defend and rescue horses of all breeds.