KATE CHENERY TWEEDY
A native of Denver, Colorado, Kate Chenery Tweedy is the daughter of Secretariat’s owner-manager Penny Chenery, and granddaughter of his breeder, Christopher Chenery. She grew up visiting her grandfather’s Virginia farm, The Meadow, and watching his Thoroughbreds race at the major tracks of the northeast. In 1973, as a college student, she was at her mother’s side when Secretariat demolished the field in the Belmont Stakes and captured the Triple Crown. That same year her grandfather died and Secretariat’s success changed her family—and herself—in fundamental ways.
She took a BA at University of Texas, Austin and then a JD from University of California, Berkeley, where she practiced law for a decade. In 1991, when she moved her young family back to Denver, she shifted her focus to teaching and writing. Her varied jobs have included editing books, magazines and legal briefs as well as teaching skiing, legal writing, Spanish, and English as a Second Language.
This is her third book as co-author. The first, under her former married name of McGrath, was Trademark: Legal Care for Your Business or Product Name (Nolo Press, 1992) with Steve Elias. Her second book, The Delicate Balance, traced the spiritual odyssey of co-author Gina Fenske (Trianthus House, 2000). She and her husband, Jerry Nelson, live in Centennnial, Colorado.
For the last decade, she has accompanied her mother, Penny Chenery, to racing events all over the country. Kate and Penny both consulted on the Disney script for the 2010 movie, Secretariat and were extras in the Belmont scene. These days Kate enjoys speaking about her mother, grandfather, and their magnificent horse to audiences nationwide. Her speaking engagements have included:
- Banner Lecture at the Virginia Historical Society before 800 attendees, Richmond, VA
- Harvard Club Author’s Series in Boston, MA
- Ronald McDonald House Fundraiser in Portland, OR
- Mary Baldwin College, Fredericksburg, VA
To book Kate Tweedy for a talk, please contact publisher Wayne Dementi at dementi@aol.com
LEEANNE MEADOWS LADIN
Leeanne Meadows Ladin is an award-winning author, historian, speaker and lifelong equestrian. She developed the original Secretariat Birthplace Tour program at The Meadow and worked to obtain the national and state historic designations for the property. She lived on the historic farm for several years and conducted narrated tours, managed special Secretariat events, and took care of Groundshaker, a great-great granddaughter of Secretariat and the last racehorse owned by Penny Chenery.
Today Leeanne and her husband Gary live on their 1850-era farm in Montpelier, VA. She is a founding member of Secretariat For Virginia and helped bring the “Secretariat Racing Into History” monument permanently to Ashland. She enjoys riding her horse, working on the farm and house, and writing poetry.
WAYNE DEMENTI
Publisher Wayne Dementi is president and photographer of Dementi Milestone Publishing, whose company has released over 30 titles since its inception in 2004. The company specializes in pictorial histories which celebrate the Richmond, Virginia region. Notable among his releases are Secretariat’s Meadow – The Land. The Family. The Legend, The Queen and the U.S.A. (in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee), and Rocks Across the Pond (a family memoir about Justin Verlander, recipient of the 2011 Cy Young and AL Most Valuable Player Award.) Dementi holds a B.S. degree from the University of Richmond, and an M.B.A. from Old Dominion University. He is past president of Richmond’s well-known Dementi Studio. He and his wife Dianne live in Goochland County, Virginia. His website is www.dementibooks.com. You can email Wayne at dementi@aol.com