June 5, 2024

We, the family of Penny Chenery, strongly protest the grossly inaccurate speculation recently posted by Jason Kelce about Secretariat racing while being “juiced.”  Kelce later admitted that he knows nothing about Secretariat and bases his opinions entirely on the fact that Secretariat belonged to an era when drug use in athletes was rampant.

The fact is Secretariat was never given performance enhancing drugs. Indeed, both our mother Penny Chenery, who managed Secretariat, and our grandfather Christopher Chenery, who bred him, were morally committed to the rule that horses should only be given healthy feed, water and such medical treatment as is required to maintain health. It was a well-known rule among our trainers and handlers. The fact that in 1973 drugs were less regulated just underscores the exceptionality of Secretariat’s performance — given that he was NOT under the influence of steroids or any other drugs now banned.

What does explain his unrivaled speed and stamina is well known, if only Kelce had cared to find out before making his comments. It was the size of his heart—at 22 pounds, over twice the size of the average equine heart. It was not chemically or pathologically enlarged, -- just a genetic gift of nature that enabled him to run farther and faster than any horse in the last century. This large-heart trait has been researched by equine geneticists who have documented its occurrence in the bloodlines of both Secretariat’s forbears and his descendants.  It has zero to do with steroids or any other drugs.  If Secretariathad needed drugs to set those records in the 1973 Triple Crown races -- records that still stand 50 years later -- how does one explain the fact that the top three finishers in this year’s Kentucky Derby were all Secretariat descendants, as were 15 others in that same race? Or that in all major races today at least half if not ¾ of the entrants are Secretariat descendants?

As a pro athlete, Kelce has a national platform which places on him the responsibility not to assert facts he has no information about.

We, as the inheritors of Secretariat’s proud legacy of unrivaled excellence, urge anyone who wants to discuss him on a public platform to do their homework first.