The Winners Circle – Meadow Farm And The Pointer National

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88 – May, 2024

By Wayne Cavanaugh

The 1,833 people who live in Doswell, Virginia, are likely outnumbered by the humans and canines who roll into town in Ford Transits, Mercedes Sprinters, and RVs on weekends–not every weekend, but quite a few of them. We open our x-pens, show our dogs, and spend time doing what we love. If we have time, we head over to the charming town of Ashland for dinner.

When we’re traveling the country for dog shows, our world exists in a capsule of hotels, drive-thru windows, showgrounds, and parking areas–time doesn’t allow much exploration beyond. And that’s a shame. How many of us have been to the Doswell shows at Meadow Farm without realizing they’re hallowed grounds for those who appreciate the balance and beauty of canines and equines?

Meadow Farm is not just a popular dog show facility; it is the birthplace of one of America’s greatest athletes, the incomparable racehorse, Secretariat. The next time you’re there, take a short walk from the show building eastward up the hill. You’ll see the stately Meadow Hall Mansion, the former home of the Chenery family. Just beyond the mansion, you’ll see a beautiful, newer building about one-tenth the size of the main show building called Meadow Pavilion. It is flooded with natural light from skylights and large windows. The APC scored the pavilion for the Pointer National this year. Well done.

Just outside the pavilion, you’ll see an unassuming, old shed-row of horse stalls layered in over a half-century of fading white paint. There are small plaques on some of the stalls. Attached to one stall, no different in appearance than the others, is a plaque announcing you have arrived at Secretariat’s yearling stall. You’re free to step inside. Of course, we did.

Click here to read the complete article
88 – May, 2024

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