Christopher T. Chenery

Biography

A native of Richmond, Virginia, and a graduate of Washington and Lee University, Christopher Chenery established the famed Meadow Stud and was one of the founders of what became the New York Racing Association.

Chenery began his involvement with racing and breeding with the purchase of a few horses in 1936. Three years later, he bought his foundation mare, Hildene, for $750. Hildene produced two of Chenery’s most important horses: Hill Prince, the 1950 Horse of the Year and a Hall of Fame member, and First Landing, champion juvenile in 1958. First Landing later sired Hall of Famer Riva Ridge, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes in 1972. Chenery also owned Hall of Famer Cicada, once the world’s leading money winner among mares.

In the mid-1950s, Chenery was one of three men appointed by The Jockey Club to restructure New York racing. Along with John W. Hanes and Harry Guggenheim, Chenery organized the non-profit Greater New York Association with the idea of funneling proceeds to benefit the state.

In 1965, Chenery entered a foal-sharing agreement with the Phipps family, which owned top sire Bold Ruler. In 1968, Chenery became ill, and his daughter, Penny, took charge of Meadow Stud. She chose Somethingroyal as one of the mares for breeding to Bold Ruler. In the fall of 1969, Penny Chenery lost the coin toss with the Phipps family, who chose a different Meadow mare’s foal. The Meadow kept Somethingroyal’s yet-to-be-born foal, Secretariat, who went on to win the 1973 Triple Crown en route to the Hall of Fame.

Overall, Chenery is credited with breeding 43 stakes winners.

Achievements

Eclipse Award for Outstanding Breeder — 1972, 1973 

Bred 43 stakes winners 

Bred six champions, including Hall of Fame members Cicada, Hill Prince, Riva Ridge, and Secretariat