Following the foreclosure of the Virginia State Fair that bought the property.
Hope somehow, someone will take ownership who appreciates its history.
http://www.vtablog.org/2012/05/endangered-meadow-farm-to-be-auctioned.html
Such an oddity (in my view) to have this sold off like they were disposing of a 1983 John Deere plow. Although maybe it will move ‘like a tremendous machine’ 
If it’s a forclosure they may (I don’t know VA laws) HAVE to sell at public auction. And it looks like they’re trying to move the whole fair (websites and trademarks are included in the sale.) At least it appears to be going as one lot and there are enough other buildings (like the exhibition hall) someone might be interested other than developers…
Wow, what a facility! Is this where the horse was (grandson of secretariat?) or was that a horse park??
[QUOTE=summerhorse;6320427]
Wow, what a facility! Is this where the horse was (grandson of secretariat?) or was that a horse park??[/QUOTE]
Secretariat was foaled and raised here. It was Meadow Stables. And he probably has hundreds or more 'grandfoals". But other than being used in the movie I don’t think there’s been horses there full-time for a while.
[QUOTE=danceronice;6320555]
Secretariat was foaled and raised here. It was Meadow Stables. And he probably has hundreds or more 'grandfoals". But other than being used in the movie I don’t think there’s been horses there full-time for a while.[/QUOTE]
Rainaway, a Secretariat great-grandson, is the horse summerhorse is referring to:
http://www.jamesrivernews.com/2011/08/rainaway-at-meadow-event-park.html (photos at left)
Edited to add–link indicates that there was a Secretariat grandson there at some point as well. Rainaway is the only one I had heard of.
The actual Meadow Farm in Virginia was NOT used for ANY filming of ANY part of the movie.
Sold for $5.35 million plus auction fees.
Seems like a good buy considering the infrastructure that is in place and 300+ acres
The purchaser was Mark Lovell of Corodva, Tenn.-based Universal Fairs.
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/0980c10b6d104e9c95b74abb0e0d254f/VA--State-Fair-Bankruptcy/
Hope this doesn’t mean redevelopment.
I THINK I saw something in a local paper to the effect that “don’t worry, the State Fair will be back in the same place”.
Which would imply that there are no immediate plans for development.
Does anyone know if any of the horse graves have been fenced off or otherwise protected on this property? TB Heritage website indicates that Derby winner Hill Prince is buried there along with Sun Beau and Imperatrice. It would be a shame if their graves were lost.
Yes, they are fenced. They have either renovated to just preserved the barns and graves up near the house. There are a few other shed rows that are across the street now. I know I remember seeing Sun Beau’s headstone when we were there a couple of years ago. They had a big thing for Secretariat’s 40th birthday and the coming release of the book.
[QUOTE=abbydp;6340858]
Yes, they are fenced. They have either renovated to just preserved the barns and graves up near the house. There are a few other shed rows that are across the street now. I know I remember seeing Sun Beau’s headstone when we were there a couple of years ago. They had a big thing for Secretariat’s 40th birthday and the coming release of the book.[/QUOTE]
That’s good to know, thanks. Love my copy of the book and am especially glad to have it now that the property’s fate is so up in the air.
