Secretariat’s Pasture at “The Cove” Forever Protected

Nearly 350 acres of Virginia farmland where legendary Triple Crown winner Secretariat frolicked as a colt are now protected by a conservation easement held by the Capital Region Land Conservancy. Known as "The Cove," the low-lying pasture bordered by the North Anna River served as the nursery for the broodmares and foals of Christopher Chenery's renowned Meadow Stable, founded in 1936. The Cove's rich grasses nurtured many other celebrated Thoroughbreds, such as Riva Ridge, who won the 1972 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1); and the eminent broodmare, Somethingroyal, dam of Secretariat. In fact, The Cove was instrumental in establishing The Meadow as "an empire built on broodmares." Today, thanks to the generosity of Kevin Engel of Engel Family Farms, who purchased The Cove in 2023, the historic land will remain dedicated to agricultural use. "Purchasing The Cove and restoring it to its heyday when Secretariat was running around on it has been a dream of mine for many years," Engel said. "It is so important for my business to secure farmland from the threats of big warehouses, solar panels, data centers, and housing subdivisions, but also for my grandchildren to be on land that is preserved without asphalt and concrete everywhere." Kate Tweedy, daughter of the late Penny Chenery, celebrated Engel's efforts. "Our family has highly valued conservation easements to protect lands. We are so grateful to know that Kevin is carrying forward the stewardship of this historic property, and he has seen fit to put a conservation easement on it," Tweedy said. "My Mom and Granddad would be so pleased by this action." Executive director of the Capital Region Land Conservancy Parker C. Agelasto explained the importance of the land conservancy. "We are qualified on IRS and also in Virginia code, being a recipient of land interest to permanently protect land from future development," Agelasto said. "A land owner still owns their land, still owns all the property, and can sell their property if they want to, but what they do is grant a restrictive deed to a third party, a nonprofit Land Trust, who has the right of enforcement; and that restriction is typically to eliminate development rights. "It's basically preserving the land for continued use as agricultural property. It's an interesting one, because it has a lot of what is called prime ag soil, so it's productive in terms of what it provides, but it also has this incredible legacy as being the field where all the broodmares and foals would go." The Cove lies just north of the Meadow Event Park in Caroline County, which was also part of the original Meadow Stable. The park is the site of the State Fair of Virginia and is owned by the Virginia Farm Bureau. Secretariat's foaling shed and other original barns there are designated state and national historical landmarks. Mr. Engel's deep attachment to The Cove originated more than 40 years ago when he began his farming career working this land. He started Engel Family Farms with its central office and operations located at Cabin Hill Farm in Hanover County. It has grown to include his wife Denise and children Chris, Casey, and Savannah, who share ownership of "The Cove" and contribute to the success of the family business. Today, "The Cove" represents a fraction of the 2,167 acres owned by Engel Family Farms and an even smaller share of the 30,000 acres (37 square miles) that the company leases across 21 localities in Virginia and North Carolina, where they grow corn, soybeans, milo, maize, wheat, barley, and rye. "It just turned into a farming operation. Kevin (Engel) has been farming since the 80s," Agelasto said. With over 200 different landlords, the Engel family is accustomed to working historic properties such as farmland leased from the National Park Service as well as Henrico County at Varina Farm and Wilton. Mr. Engel joined the Board of Capital Region Land Conservancy after being introduced to the organization when it saved the 871-acre Malvern Hill Farm, where he had been farming. When he was named as a 2023 Top Producer of the Year finalist by Farm Journal, Mr. Engel expressed some regret in not having invested more in buying farmland earlier in his career. He is not alone. The United States Census of Agriculture reports that 33% of all agricultural acreage in Virginia was leased in 2022. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also reports that farm real estate values in Virginia increased 10.4% between 2023 and 2024, whereas annual rental rates were $71 per acre for non-irrigated cropland in Caroline County, as reported by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service. The conservation easement protects 156 acres of agricultural cropland, of which approximately 136 acres are prime farmland or soils of statewide significance. "The Engels came along and continued that legacy for the (previous) family (who owned the land), but for conservation easement, what that means is that primarily the public will be satisfied to know that the land will stay in its current agricultural use forever," Agelasto said. The conservation easement also protects 190 acres of forestland. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Natural Heritage Data Explorer and Virginia Conservation Lands Database identifies the forest portion of the property as lying within an ecological core area of general conservation value. "There isn't anyone more dedicated to preserving working farmland as Kevin Engel and his family, who fully understand the proverb that teaches 'We Do Not Inherit the Earth from Our Ancestors; We Borrow It from Our Children,' " Agelasto said. "Many future generations will appreciate their generosity to conserve The Cove and preserve the home of Secretariat."