Secretariat’s Birthplace

Jill's Journal: There’s so much history here in Richmond that I barely know where to start. So today I decided to start with what I know best: horse racing. The great Secretariat, the one name in racing the whole world knows, was born in Doswell, Virginia, in 1970. His unbelievable 31-length victory in the Belmont Stakes in 1973 capped a rare Triple Crown victory and still sends goosebumps down the spine of even casual racing fans.

When I saw Doswell was only about 10 miles away from where we’re staying, I knew I had to find the spot. I just assumed it would be well-marked and tourists could visit because this IS Secretariat we’re talking about! Not so.

Meadow Stud is no more and the Virginia State Fair is now on the land. But I was on a mission. It didn’t seem anyone was around, but I must have poked around a little too much because a man soon came out to let me know I was trespassing. Oops. I told him what I was looking for and he sighed, saying they get several people each week asking the same thing and always send them away (clearly they underestimate the tourist draw they have!). I apologized profusely and must have looked pathetic, because he took pity on me.

He hopped in my car (I am definitely not in the habit of letting strange men in my car, especially with three young children – but this IS Secretariat we’re talking about)!! He said the site is closed except during the State Fair in September, but he brought me over to a small, unceremonious barn – more like a shed – and showed me where the great champion was foaled. He then brought me over to another part of the property to show me the yearling barn where “Big Red” spent the early part of his life. Sweet.

We parted with a handshake (I was so excited I would have preferred to hug him!) and he told me to tell all my “Kentucky friends what you’ve seen in Virginia. Just tell them not to do what you did.” Funny guy.

Craig’s List, eBay, and Purging…Oh My

Jill's Journal: No one can say I’m not taking downsizing seriously. A little more than two months ago, I started cutting down on stuff. Probably 99.9% of people in this country have more things than they could ever need and we’re no exception. I’ve always hated clutter and always liked living minimalistically, but that doesn’t mean we’re down to the bare bones, by any means. Not yet, anyway.

My first big foray into cleansing the “stuff” palate was finding new homes for all my horse racing videos. We’re talking videotapes of every Breeders’ Cup race since its inception (1984), all Triple Crown races from the last 20 years, and literally thousands of other races and racing industry events.

This was a big step. This collection of videos held a very special place in my heart. For Pete’s sake, we moved to Kentucky for horse racing and this wonderful game puts food on our table and is our sole source of income. To say we’d be lost without racing is an understatement. It’s more than a passion…it’s a way of life and a major love.

I knew after saying goodbye to these videos that everything else would be relatively easy, so that’s why I started with them. I’m pleased to say I found good racing homes for all of them and they promise to be loved and cherished. :-) It was bittersweet to part with them, but I did it.

And then I delved into Craig’s List. It’s not my favorite thing, as I hate having to meet people to exchange an item for money, but it’s working out well. I’ve already sold several larger items – mostly baby stuff – and gotten cold, hard cash in exchange for them. It feels good!

And now tonight, I just closed on my first eBay sale – it was just a few dollars for some scrapbooking scissors, but it was a start. I had dabbled in eBay 10 years ago and I certainly had to jump through a few hoops to reactive my seller’s account, but I couldn’t be more excited. It’s such a thrill to start parting with things and get some money for them! Every item sold represents another step closer to our adventure of a lifetime.