November 10, 2011                                                        CONTACT:    Sean Brickell, APR
                                                                                                                 757.463.4500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:        

SECRETARIAT
FIRST IN VIRGINIA LEGENDS WALK BALLOTS
But Doesn’t Achieve 50% Of Votes Required For Induction

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. –Secretariat, the most famous thoroughbred in history, ran another winning race by leading all nominations for induction into Virginia Legends Walk in 2011.  However, he did not achieve the minimum requirement of being chosen on 50 percent of all returned judges’ ballots.

“Secretariat was chosen on 48.5 percent of ballots, missing induction by a nose,” said Nemo Larimore of KPMG, the independent firm that collects and tabulates all ballots.

Secretariat was born in Doswell, Virginia in 1970.

Secretariat’s legacy includes the Triple Crown of horse racing, winning the Kentucky Derby (track record), the Preakness (track record) and the Belmont (world record) in times that remain unbroken since 1973.  He is the only individual to appear on the covers of Time, Newsweek and Sports illustrated.  He appeared on a U.S.P.S. stamp in 1999.

Sports Illustrated ranked Secretariat third of the Top 50 Virginia athletes of the 20th Century, behind Arthur Ashe and Lawrence Taylor.

ESPN named Secretariat the 35th of the 100 top athletes of the 20th Century, the highest non-human of just three.  His victory at Belmont was ranked second on the list of “Greatest Sports Performances,” only behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game.

Secretariat was among 61 eligible Virginians qualified this year for Virginia Legends Walk.  Hundreds of nominations from around the world were submitted.  Ballots were sent to a statewide network of over 400 judges, including college and university presidents, heads of historical societies and museums, history professors, librarians and news media representatives.

All voting went directly to the auditing firm of KPMG, Virginia Beach, for independent tally.

            The Top Five runners-up in this year’s election included Grammy winning musician Bruce Hornsby (43.9 percent); country music legends The Statler Brothers (43.9 percent); Revolutionary War hero “Light Horse” Harry Lee (42.4 percent); father of modern oceanography Matthew Fontaine Maury (42.4 percent); and Academy Award winning actor George C. Scott (42.4 percent).

Rounding out the Top Ten were civil rights champion Nat Turner (40.9 percent); champion golfer Sam Snead (34.8 percent); Civil War hero “Jeb Stuart (34.8 percent); father of bluegrass Dr. Ralph Stanley (33.3 percent); media visionary and philanthropist Frank Batten and rock musician Clarence Clemons (each 31.8 percent).

Virginia Beach officials estimate that millions of resort visitors and area residents have toured Virginia Legends Walk since its introduction.  The Walk was created as a permanent living monument to honor great Virginians and is located one block from the Virginia Beach oceanfront at 13th Street.

            Virginia Legends Walk has eight U.S. Presidents (from George Washington to Woodrow Wilson), five celebrated generals, nine internationally known musicians, and other key historical figures from the Commonwealth.

            A complete list and bios of those honored can be found online at va-legends.com.  Nominations are now being accepted for the 2012 candidates by completing the online application (also at va-legends.com) or by calling 800.333.6397.

            Virginia Legends Walk honors Virginians by birth or residence who have made significant contributions to the nation and the world.