Secretariat (March 30, 1970 – October 4, 1989), also known asBig Red, was a champion Americanthoroughbredracehorse who was the ninth winner of theAmerican Triple Crown, setting and still holding the fastest time record in all three of its constituent races. He became the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and his record-breaking victory in theBelmont Stakes, which he won by 31lengths, is often considered the greatest race ever run by a thoroughbred racehorse. During his racing career, he won fiveEclipse Awards, includingHorse of the Year honors at ages two and three. Widely regarded as one of the greatest racehorses of all time, he was nominated to theNational Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1974. In theBlood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century, Secretariat was second toMan o' War.
At age two, Secretariat finished fourth in his 1972 debut in amaiden race, but then won seven of his remaining eight starts, including five stakes victories. His only loss during this period was in theChampagne Stakes, where he finished first but was disqualified to second for interference. He received theEclipse Award forchampion two-year-old colt, and also was the 1972Horse of the Year, a rare honor for a horse so young.
At age three, Secretariat not only won the Triple Crown, but he also set speed records in all three races. His time in theKentucky Derby still stands as theChurchill Downs track record for1+1⁄4 miles, and his time in the Belmont Stakes stands as the American record for1+1⁄2 miles on the dirt. In 2012, his actual time of 1:53 in thePreakness Stakes was recognized as a stakes record after an official review.[3][4][5][6][7]
Secretariat's win in theGotham Stakes tied the track record for 1 mile, he set a world record in theMarlboro Cup at1+1⁄8 miles and further proved his versatility by winning two major stakes races onturf. He lost three times that year: in theWood Memorial,Whitney, andWoodward Stakes, but the brilliance of his nine wins made him an American icon. He won his second Horse of the Year title, plus Eclipse Awards forchampion three-year-old colt andchampion turf horse.
At the beginning of his three-year-old year, Secretariat wassyndicated for a record-breaking $6.08 million (equivalent to $43.1 million in 2024), on the condition that he be retired from racing by the end of the year. Although he sired several successful racehorses, he ultimately was most influential through his daughters' offspring, becoming theleading broodmare sire in North America in 1992. His daughters produced several notablesires, includingStorm Cat,A.P. Indy,Gone West,Dehere,Summer Squall, andChief's Crown, and through them Secretariat appears in the pedigree of many modern champions. Secretariat died in 1989 as a result oflaminitis at age 19.
Secretariat was officially bred byChristopher Chenery'sMeadow Stud,[1] but the breeding was actually arranged byPenny Chenery (then known as Penny Tweedy), who had taken over the running of the stable in 1968 when her father became ill.[8] Secretariat was sired byBold Ruler and his dam wasSomethingroyal, a daughter ofPrincequillo. Bold Ruler was theleading sire in North America from 1963 to 1969 and again in 1973.[9] Owned by thePhipps family, Bold Ruler possessed both speed and stamina, having won thePreakness Stakes and Horse of the Year honors in 1957, andAmerican Champion Sprint Horse honors in 1958.[10] Bold Ruler was retired tostud atClaiborne Farm, but the Phipps family owned most of themares to which Bold Ruler was bred, and few of his offspring were sold at public auction.[11]
To bring new blood into their breeding program, the Phipps family sometimes negotiated a foal-sharing agreement with other mare owners:[12] Instead of charging astud fee for Bold Ruler, they would arrange for multiple matings with Bold Ruler, either with two mares in one year or one mare over a two-year period. Assuming two foals were produced, the Phipps family would keep one and the mare's owner would keep the other, with acoin toss determining who received first pick.[8][13]
Under such an arrangement, Chenery sent two mares to be bred to Bold Ruler in 1968, Hasty Matelda and Somethingroyal. She then sentCicada and Somethingroyal in 1969. The foal-sharing agreement stated that the winner of the coin toss would get first pick of the foals produced in 1969, while the loser of the toss would get first pick of the foals due in 1970. In the spring of 1969, acolt andfilly were produced. In the 1969 breeding season, Cicada did not conceive, leaving only one foal due in the spring of 1970. Thus, the winner of the coin toss would get only one foal (the first pick from 1969), and the loser would get two (the second pick from 1969 and the only foal from 1970). Chenery later said that both owners hoped they would lose the coin toss,[14] which was held in the fall of 1969 in the office ofNew York Racing Association ChairmanAlfred G. Vanderbilt II, withArthur "Bull" Hancock of Claiborne Farm as witness.Ogden Phipps won the toss and took the 1969weanling filly out of Somethingroyal.[8][15] The filly was named The Bride and never won a race, though she did later become a stakes producer.[16][17] Chenery received the Hasty Matelda colt in 1969 and the as-yet-unborn 1970 foal of Somethingroyal, which turned out to be Secretariat.[18][8]
'A foal is born at midnight
And in the frosty morn
The horseman eyes him fondly,
And a secret hope is born.
But breathe it not, nor whisper
For fear of a neighbor's scorn.
He's a chestnut colt, and he's got a star.
He may be another Man o' War.
Nay, say it aloud—be shameless.
Dream and hope and yearn,
For there's never a man among you
But waits for his return.
Secretariat's Birthplace
Located inDoswell,Caroline County, Virginia,Meadow Stable was also called The Meadow. OnEaster Monday, March 30, 1970, at 12:10 a.m. at the Meadow Stable, Somethingroyal foaled a bright-red chestnut colt with three whitesocks and astar with a narrow stripe. The foal stood when he was 45 minutes old and nursed 30 minutes later. Howard Gentry, the manager of Meadow Stable, was at the foaling and later said, "He was a very well-made foal. He was as perfect a foal that I ever delivered."[22] The colt soon distinguished himself from the others. "He was always the leader in the crowd," said Gentry's nephew, Robert, who also worked at the farm. "To us, he was Big Red, and he had a personality. He was a clown and was always cutting up, always into some devilment."[23] Sometime later, Chenery got her first look at the foal and made a one-word entry in her notebook - "Wow!"[24]
That fall, Chenery and Elizabeth Ham, the Meadow's longtime secretary, worked together to name the newly weaned colt. The first set of names submitted to the Jockey Club (Sceptre, Royal Line, and Something Special) played on the names of his sire and dam but were rejected. The second set, submitted in January 1971, were Games of Chance, Deo Volente ("God Willing"), and Secretariat. Ham suggested naming the colt Secretariat after her former job in thesecretariat of theLeague of Nations (predecessor of theUnited Nations). Ham had worked for diplomatNorman Davis sometime between 1920–1946, maybe around the time of his appointment in 1924.[16][25][26]
Secretariat grew into a massive, powerful horse said to resemble his sire's damsire,Discovery. He stood 16.2 hands (66 inches, 168 cm) when fully grown.[27] He was noted for being exceptionally well-balanced, described as having "nearly perfect"conformation and stridebiomechanics.[28] Hischest was so large that he required a custom-madegirth, and he was noted for his large, powerful, well-muscled hindquarters. An Australian trainer said of him, "He is incredible, an absolutely perfect horse. I never saw anything like him."[29]
Secretariat's absence of major conformation flaws was important, as horses with well formedlimbs and feet are less likely to become injured.[30] Secretariat's hindquarters were the main source of his power, with a slopedcroup that extended the length of his femur.[31] When in full stride, his hind legs were able to reach far under himself, increasing his drive.[32] His ample girth, long back and well-made neck all contributed to his heart-lung efficiency.[31][32]
The manner in which Secretariat's body parts fit together determined the efficiency of his stride, which affected his acceleration and endurance. Even very small differences in the length and angles of bones can have a major effect on performance.[33] Secretariat was well put together even as a two-year-old, and by the time he was three, he had further matured in body and smoothed out his gait. The New York Racing Association's Dr. M. A. Gilman, a veterinarian who routinely measured leading thoroughbreds with a goal of applying science to create better ways to breed and evaluate racehorses, measured Secretariat's development from two to three as follows:[29][34]
| Measurement | October at age of 2 | October at age of 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Height (atwithers) | 16 3⁄4 hands (64.75 inches, 164 cm) | 16.1 1⁄2 hands (65.5 inches, 166 cm) |
| Point of shoulder to point of shoulder (chest width) | 16 inches (41 cm) | 16.5 inches (42 cm) |
| Girth (aroundcenter of gravity) | 74 inches (188 cm) | 76 inches (193 cm) |
| Withers to point of shoulder | 28 inches (71 cm) | 28.5 inches (72 cm) |
| Elbow to ground (length of leg) | 37.5 inches (95 cm) | 38.5 inches (98 cm) |
| Point of shoulder to point of hip | 46 inches (117 cm) | 49 inches (124 cm) |
| Point of hip to point of hip | 25 inches (64 cm) | 26 inches (66 cm) |
| Point of hip tohock | 40 inches (100 cm) | 40 inches (100 cm) |
| Point of hip to buttock | 24 inches (61 cm) | 24 inches (61 cm) |
| Poll to withers (neck length) | 40 inches (100 cm) | 40 inches (100 cm) |
| Buttock (croup) to ground (height in rear) | 53.5 inches (136 cm) | 55.5 inches (141 cm) |
| Point of shoulder to point of buttock (body length) | 68 inches (173 cm) | 69.5 inches (177 cm) |
| Circumference ofcannon under knee | 8.25 inches (21.0 cm) | 8.5 inches (22 cm) |
Secretariat's length of stride was considered large even after taking into account his large frame and strong build.[28] While training for the Preakness Stakes, his stride was measured as 24 feet, 11 inches.[35] His powerful hindquarters allowed him to unleash "devastating" speed and because he was so well-muscled and had significant cardiac capacity, he could simply out-gallop competitors at nearly any point in a race.[28]
His weight before the Gotham Stakes in April 1973 was 1,155 pounds (524 kg).[36] After completing the gruelling Triple Crown, his weight on June 15 had dropped only 24 pounds, to 1,131 pounds (513 kg).[29] Secretariat was known for his appetite — during his three-year-old campaign, he ate 15 U.S. quarts (14 liters) of oats a day — and to keep his muscles in good condition, he needed fast workouts that could have won many a stakes race.[37]
Seth Hancock ofClaiborne Farm once said,
"You want to know who Secretariat is in human terms? Just imagine the greatest athlete in the world. The greatest. Now make him six-foot-three, the perfect height. Make him real intelligent and kind. And on top of that, make him the best-lookin' guy ever to come down the pike. He was all those things as a horse."[38]
Secretariat raced in Meadow Stable's memorable blue-and-white-checkered colors. He never raced intrack bandages, but typically wore ablinker hood, mostly to help him focus, but also because he had a tendency to run in toward the rail during races.[29] In January 1972, he joined trainerLucien Laurin's winter stable atHialeah. Secretariat gained a reputation as a kind horse, likeable and unruffled in crowds or by the bumping that occurs between young horses. He had the physique of a runner but at first was awkward and clumsy. He was frequently outpaced by more precocious stable mates, running a quarter-mile in 26 seconds compared to 23 seconds by his peers.[39] His regular exercise riders were Jim Gaffney and Charlie Davis. Davis was not initially impressed. "He was a big fat sucker," Davis said. "I mean, he was big. He wasn't in a hurry to do nothin'. He took his time. The quality was there, but he didn't show it until he wanted to."[40] Gaffney though recalled his first ride on Secretariat in early 1972 as "having this big red machine under me, and from that very first day I knew he had a power of strength that I have never felt before" It was Gaffney who nicknamed the horse, "Big Red".[41][42]
GroomEddie Sweat was another important member of the Secretariat team, providing most of the daily hands-on care. Sweat once told a reporter, "I guess a groom gets closer to a horse than anyone. The owner, the trainer, they maybe see him once a day. But I lived with him, worked with him."[43]
Laurin sent Chenery regular updates on Secretariat's progress, saying that the colt was still learning to run, or that he still needed to lose his baby fat.[39][44] Chenery recalled that when Secretariat was in training, Lucien once said: "Your big Bold Ruler colt don't show me nothin'. He can't outrun a fat man."[45] But Secretariat made steady progress over the spring. On June 6, he wore blinkers for the first time to keep his attention focused and responded with a half-mile workout in a solid 473⁄5 seconds. On June 24, he ran a "bullet," the fastest workout of the day, at 6 furlongs in 1:124⁄5 on a sloppy track. Laurin called Chenery at her Colorado home and advised her that Secretariat was ready to race.[46]
For his first start on July 4, 1972, atAqueduct Racetrack, Secretariat was made the lukewarm favorite at 3–1. At the start, a horse named Quebec cut in front of the field, causing a chain reaction that resulted in Secretariat being bumped hard. According to jockey Paul Feliciano, he would have fallen if he hadn't been so strong. Secretariat recovered, only to run into traffic on the backstretch. In tenth position at the top of the stretch, he closed ground rapidly and finished fourth, beaten by only1+1⁄4lengths.[38][47] In many of his subsequent races, Secretariat hung back at the start, which Laurin later attributed to the bumping he received in his debut.[48]
With Feliciano again up, Secretariat returned to the track on July 15 as the 6–5 favorite. He broke poorly, but then rushed past the field on the turn to win by six lengths.[49] On July 31 in an allowance race atSaratoga, Feliciano was replaced byRon Turcotte, the regular jockey for Meadow Stable. Turcotte had ridden the colt in several morning workouts but had missed his first two starts while recovering from a fall. Secretariat's commanding win as the 2–5 favorite[50] caught the attention of veteran sportswriter,Charles Hatton. He later reported, "You carry an ideal around in your head, and boy, I thought, 'This is it.' I never saw perfection before. I absolutely could not fault him in any way. And neither could the rest of them and that was the amazing thing about it. The body and the head and the eye and the general attitude. It was just incredible. I couldn't believe my eyes, frankly."[44]
In August, Secretariat entered theSanford Stakes, facing off with highly regarded Linda's Chief, the only horse ever to be favored against Secretariat in any of his races. Entering the stretch, Secretariat was blocked by the horses in front of him but then made his way through "like a hawk scattering a barnyard of chickens"[32] on his way to a three-length win. SportswriterAndrew Beyer covered the race for theWashington Star and later wrote, "Never have I watched a lightly raced 2-year-old stamp himself so definitively as a potential great."[51]
Ten days later in theHopeful Stakes, Secretariat made a "dazzling" move, passing eight horses within1⁄4 mile to take the lead then drawing off to win by five lengths.[52] His time of 1:161⁄5 for6+1⁄2 furlongs was only3⁄5 of a second off the track record.[53] Returning to Belmont Park on September 16, he won theBelmont Futurity by a length and a half after starting his move on the turn. He then ran in theChampagne Stakes at Belmont on October 14 as the 7–10 favorite.[49] As had become his custom, he started slowly and then made a big move around the turn, blowing past his rivals to win by two lengths. However, following an inquiry by the racecourse stewards, Secretariat was disqualified and placed second for bearing in and interfering withStop the Music, who was declared the winner.[54]
Secretariat then took theLaurel Futurity on October 28, winning by eight lengths over Stop the Music. His time on a sloppy track was just1⁄5 of a second off the track record.[55] He completed his season in theGarden State Futurity on November 18, dropping back early and making a powerful move around the turn to win by3+1⁄2 lengths at 1–10 odds. Laurin said, "In all his races, he has taken the worst of it by coming from behind, usually circling his field. A colt has to be a real runner to do this consistently and get away with it."[56]
Secretariat won theEclipse Award forAmerican Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse and, in a rare occurrence, two two-year-olds topped the balloting for 1972American Horse of the Year honors, with Secretariat edging out the undefeated filly,La Prevoyante. Secretariat received the votes of theThoroughbred Racing Associations of North America and theDaily Racing Form, while La Prevoyante was chosen by theNational Turf Writers Association.[57][58] Only one horse since then,Favorite Trick in 1997, has won that award as a two-year-old.[59]
In January 1973, Christopher Chenery, the founder of Meadow Stable, died and the taxes on his estate forced his daughter Penny to consider selling Secretariat. Together with Claiborne Farm, she instead managed tosyndicate the horse, selling 32 shares worth $190,000 each for a total of $6.08 million, a world syndication record at the time, surpassing the previous record forNijinsky who was syndicated for $5.44 million in 1970.[60] Hancock said the sale was easy, citing Secretariat's two-year-old performance, breeding, and appearance. "He's, well, he's a hell of a horse." Chenery retained four shares in the horse and would have complete control over his three-year-old racing campaign, but agreed that he would be retired at the end of the year.[48]
Secretariat wintered in Florida but did not race until March 17, 1973, in theBay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct, where he went off as the heavy favorite. As the trainer of one of his opponents put it, "The only chance we have is if he falls down."[48] Racing boxed in by horses on each side, Turcotte decided to go through a narrow gap between horses rather than try to circle the field. Secretariat broke free and won easily, but one of the other jockeys claimed that Secretariat had committed a foul going through the hole. The stewards reviewed photos from the race and determined that Secretariat was actually on the receiving end of a bump, so let the result stand.[61] The Bay Shore established that Secretariat had improved over the winter and that he could also handle adversity.[62]
In theGotham Stakes on April 7, Laurin decided to experiment with Secretariat's running style. With no speed horses entered in the race, Secretariat would be allowed to set his own pace. Accordingly, Turcotte hustled Secretariat from thestarting gate and they led easily. Down the stretch though, Champagne Charlie came running and at theeighth pole was almost even. Turcotte tapped Secretariat once on each side with the whip and Secretariat drew away to win by three lengths. He ran the first 3/4 mile in 1:083⁄5 and finished the one-mile race in 1:332⁄5, matching the track record.[36]
His final preparatory race for the Kentucky Derby was theWood Memorial, where he finished a surprising third toAngle Light andSanta Anita Derby winnerSham. Laurin was crushed, even though he had trained the winner, Angle Light, who set a slow pace and "stole" the race.[62] Secretariat's loss was later attributed to a large abscess in his mouth, which made him sensitive to the bit.[38] Before and after the race, there was some ill feeling between Laurin and the trainer of Sham,Pancho Martin, fanned by comments in the press. The dispute concerned the use of coupled entries[b] as Martin had entered two horses in addition to Sham, all with the same owner. There was fear that an entry could be used tactically to gang up on another horse. Stung by such insinuations, Martin wound up scratching the two horses that he had originally entered with Sham, and asked Laurin to do the same, but Laurin could not follow suit as Secretariat and Angle Light had different owners.[64]
Because of the Wood Memorial results, Secretariat's chances in the Kentucky Derby became the subject of much speculation in the media.[65] Some questioned his stamina: in part because of his "blocky" build, more typical of a sprinter, and in part because of Bold Ruler's reputation as a sire of precocious sprinters.[66] Rumors circulated that Secretariat was unsound.[38]
The1973 Kentucky Derby on May 5 attracted a crowd of 134,476 toChurchill Downs, then the largest crowd in North American racing history.[67] The bettors made the entry of Secretariat and Angle Light the 3–2 favorite, withSham the second choice at 5–2. The start was marred when Twice a Prince reared in his stall, hitting Our Native, positioned next to him, and causing Sham to bang his head against the gate, loosening two teeth. Sham then broke poorly and cut himself, also bumping into Navajo. Secretariat avoided problems by breaking last frompost position 10, then cut over to the rail. Early leader Shecky Greene set a reasonable pace, then gave way to Sham around the far turn. Secretariat came charging as they entered the stretch and battled with Sham down the stretch, finally pulling away to win by2+1⁄2 lengths. Our Native finished eight lengths farther back in third.[68][69]
On his way to a still-standing track record of 1:592⁄5,[70] Secretariat ran each quarter-mile segment faster than the one before it. The successive quarter-mile times were :251⁄5, :24, :234⁄5, :232⁄5, and :23.[38] This means he was still accelerating as of the final quarter-mile of the race.[27] No other horse had won the Derby in less than 2 minutes before, and it would not be accomplished again untilMonarchos ran the race in 1:59.97 in 2001.[71]
Sportswriter Mike Sullivan later said:
I was at Secretariat's Derby, in '73 ... That was ... just beauty, you know? He started in last place, which he tended to do. I was covering the second-place horse, which wound up being Sham. It looked like Sham's race going into the last turn, I think. The thing you have to understand is that Sham was fast, a beautiful horse.He would have had the Triple Crown in another year. And it just didn't seem like there couldbe anything faster than that. Everybody was watching him. It was over, more or less. And all of a sudden there was this, like, just a disruption in the corner of your eye, in your peripheral vision. And then before you could make out what it was, here Secretariat came. And then Secretariat had passed him. No one had ever seen anything run like that — a lot of the old guys said the same thing. It was like he was some other animal out there.[72]
In the1973 Preakness Stakes on May 19, Secretariat broke last, but then made a huge, last-to-first move on the first turn. Raymond Woolfe, a photographer for theDaily Racing Form, captured Secretariat launching the move with a leaping stride in the air. This was later used as the basis for the statue byJohn Skeaping that stands in the Belmont Park paddock.[73] Turcotte later said that he was proudest of this win because of the split-second decision he made going into the turn: "I let my horse drop back, when I went to drop in, they started backing up into me. I said, 'I don't want to get trapped here.' So I just breezed by them."[74] Secretariat completed the second quarter mile of the race in under 22 seconds.[37] After reaching the lead with5+1⁄2 furlongs to go, Secretariat was never challenged, and won by2+1⁄2 lengths, with Sham again finishing second and Our Native in third, a further eight lengths back. It was the first time in history that the top three finishers in the Derby and Preakness were the same; the distance between each of the horses was also the same.[75]
The time of the race was disputed. The infield teletimer displayed a time of 1:55 but it had malfunctioned because of damage caused by people crossing the track to reach the infield. ThePimlico Race Course clocker E.T. McLean Jr. announced a hand time of 1:542⁄5, but twoDaily Racing Form clockers claimed the time was 1:532⁄5, which would have broken the track record of 1:54 set byCañonero II. Tapes of Secretariat and Cañonero II were played side by side by CBS, and Secretariat got to the finish line first on tape, though this was not a reliable method of timing a horse race at the time. The Maryland Jockey Club, which managed the Pimlico racetrack and is responsible for maintaining Preakness records, discarded both the electronic andDaily Racing Form times and recognized the clocker's 1:542⁄5 as the official time; however, theDaily Racing Form, for the first time in history, printed its own clocking of 1:532⁄5 underneath the official time in the chart of the race.[7][6][5][4][73][75][76][77]
On June 19, 2012, a special meeting of the Maryland Racing Commission was convened atLaurel Park at the request of Penny Chenery, who hired companies to conduct a forensic review of the videotapes of the race. After over two hours of testimony, the commission unanimously voted to change the time of Secretariat's win from 1:542⁄5 to 1:53, establishing a new stakes record. TheDaily Racing Form announced that it would honor the commission's ruling with regard to the running time.[76][78] With the revised time, Sham also would have broken the old stakes record.[73]
As Secretariat prepared for theBelmont Stakes, he appeared on the covers of three national magazines:Time,Newsweek, andSports Illustrated. He had become a national celebrity.[52] William Nack wrote: "Secretariat suddenly transcended horse racing and became a cultural phenomenon, a sort of undeclared national holiday from the tortures ofWatergate and theVietnam War."[38] Chenery needed a secretary to handle all the fan mail and hired theWilliam Morris Agency to manage public engagements.[22] Secretariat responded to his fame by learning to pose for the camera.[79][80]
Only four horses ran against Secretariat for the June 9Belmont Stakes, including Sham and three other horses thought to have little chance by the bettors: Twice A Prince, My Gallant, and Private Smiles. With so few horses in the race, and Secretariat expected to win, no "show" bets were taken. Secretariat was sent off as a 1–10 favorite[81] before a crowd of 69,138, then the second largest attendance in Belmont history.[82] The race was televised by CBS and was watched by over 15 million households, anaudience share of 52%.[83]
His only point of reference is himself.[84]
On race day, the track was fast, and the weather was warm and sunny.[81] Secretariat broke well on the rail and Sham rushed up beside him. The two ran the first quarter in a quick :233⁄5 and the next quarter in a swift :223⁄5, completing the fastest opening half mile in the history of the race and opening ten lengths on the rest of the field. After the six-furlong mark, Sham began to tire, ultimately finishing last.[c] Secretariat continued the fast pace and opened up a larger and larger margin on the field. His time for the mile was 1:341⁄5, over a second faster than the next fastest Belmont mile fraction in history, set by his sire Bold Ruler, who had eventually tired and finished third. Secretariat, however, did not falter. Turcotte later said, "This horse really paced himself. He is smart: I think he knew he was going1+1⁄2 miles, I never pushed him."[86] In the stretch, Secretariat opened a lead of almost1⁄16 of a mile on the rest of the field. At the finish, he won by 31 lengths, breaking the margin-of-victory record set by Triple Crown winnerCount Fleet in 1943 of 25 lengths.[84]CBS Television announcerChic Anderson described the horse's pace in a famous commentary:
Secretariat is widening now! He is moving like a tremendous machine![87][84]
The time for the race was not only a track record, it was the fastest1+1⁄2 miles on dirt in history, 2:24 flat, breaking by more than two seconds the track and stakes record of 2:263⁄5 set 16 years earlier byGallant Man.[84] Secretariat's record still stands as an American record on the dirt.[88] If theBeyer Speed Figure calculation had been developed during that time, Andrew Beyer calculated that Secretariat would have earned a figure of 139, the highest he has ever assigned.[51][89]
A large crowd had started gathering around the paddock hours before the Belmont, many missing the races run earlier in the day for a chance to see the horses up close. Secretariat and Chenery were greeted with an enthusiasm that Chenery responded to with a wave or smile;[90] Secretariat was imperturbable. A large cheer went up at the break, but as the race went on, the two most commonly reported reactions were disbelief and fear that Secretariat had gone too fast.[38][90][91][92] When it was clear that Secretariat would win, the sound reportedly made the grandstand shake.[79]The Blood-Horse magazine editor Kent Hollingsworth described the impact: "Two twenty-four flat! I don't believe it. Impossible. But I saw it. I can't breathe. He won by a sixteenth of a mile! I saw it. I have to believe it."[90]
The race is widely considered the greatest performance by a North American racehorse.[91][93][94] Secretariat became the ninth Triple Crown winner in history, and the first sinceCitation in 1948, a gap of 25 years.[95] Bettors holding 5,427 winning parimutuel tickets on Secretariat never redeemed them, presumably keeping them as souvenirs (and because the tickets would have paid only $2.20 on a $2 bet).[96]
Three weeks after his win at Belmont, Secretariat was shipped toArlington Park for the June 30thArlington Invitational. Laurin explained: "Even before the Belmont, you remember, I said I really didn't know how I could give this horse a rest. He's so strong and full of energy. Well, this is only a week and a half after the Belmont, and believe me when I tell you, if I don't run this horse he's going to hurt himself in his stall. So we decided it would be nice to race him in Chicago to let the people in the Midwest have a chance to see him run." The race was run at1+1⁄8 miles with a purse of $125,000. The challengers were grouped as a single betting entry at 6–1: Secretariat was 1–20 (the legal minimum) and created aminus pool of $17,941.[97]
MayorRichard Daley of Chicago declared that the Saturday of the race was Secretariat Day. A crowd of 41,223 (the largest at Arlington in three decades) greeted his arrival on the track with sustained applause. Secretariat broke poorly but soon went to the lead, setting slow early fractions. He gathered momentum on the final turn and eventually won by nine lengths in 1:47 flat, just1⁄5 off the track record set byDamascus.[97]George Plimpton commented, "With a better start, a horse to press him and less bow to his turns, Secretariat might have posted a time that would have stood a century."[98]
The July 10, 1973New York Times reported that a number of Chicago fans in attendance did as their New York counterparts had in the Belmont Stakes and $11,170 worth of winning tickets on Secretariat had not been cashed.[99]
Secretariat next went to Saratoga, popularly nicknamed "the graveyard of champions," in preparation for theWhitney Stakes on August 4, where he would face older horses for the first time. On July 27, he put in a stunning workout of 1:34 for a mile on a sloppy track, a time that would have broken Saratoga's track record. On race day though, he was beaten by theAllen Jerkens-trainedOnion, a four-year-oldgelding that had set a track record at6+1⁄2 furlongs in his previous start. Thetrack condition for the Whitney was labelled fast but was running slow, especially along the inside rail. Secretariat broke poorly and Onion led from the start, setting a slow pace running well off the rail. Down the backstretch, Turcotte chose to make his move along the rail rather than sweeping wide. Secretariat responded more sluggishly than usual and Turcotte went to the whip. Secretariat closed to within a head on the final turn before Onion pulled ahead in the straight to win by a length.[100] A record crowd of more than 30,000 witnessed what was described as an "astonishing" upset.[101]
Despite Jerkens's reputation as the "Giant Killer," Secretariat's stunning loss can possibly be attributed to a viral infection, which caused a low-grade fever and diarrhea. "I was learning then that anything could happen in horse racing," said Chenery. "We knew he had a low-grade infection. But we decided he was strong enough to win anyway, and we were wrong."[102]
Secretariat lost his appetite and acted sluggish for several days.[103] Charles Hatton wrote: "He seemed distressingly ill walking off, and he missed the Travers. Returned to Belmont to point for the $250,000 Marlboro, the sport's pin-up horse looked bloody awful, rather like one of those sick paintings which betoken an inner theatre of the macabre. It required supernatural recuperative powers to recover as he did. He was subjected to four severe preps in two weeks. Astonishingly, he gained weight and blossomed with every trial."[29]
On September 15, Secretariat returned to Belmont Park in the inauguralMarlboro Cup, which was originally intended to be a match race with stablemateRiva Ridge, the 1972 Derby and Belmont Stakes winner. After Secretariat's loss in the Whitney, the field was expanded to invite top horses from across the country.[104] Entries included 1972turf champion and top California stakes winnerCougar II,Canadian championKennedy Road, 1972American champion three-year-old coltKey to the Mint,Travers winnerAnnihilate 'Em (the only other three-year-old in the race), and Onion. Riva Ridge was assigned top weight of 127 pounds (one pound over theweight-for-age scale), Key to the Mint and Cougar II were at 126 pounds, scale weight, while Secretariat was at 124, three pounds over scale for his age. The field included five champions, and the seven starters had won 63 stakes races between them.[105]
It rained the night before, but the track dried out by race time. Secretariat stalked a fast pace in fifth, while Riva Ridge rated just behind Onion and Kennedy Road. Around the turn, Secretariat raced wide and started to make up ground. Coming into the stretch, Secretariat overtook Riva Ridge, while the other early leaders dropped back. Secretariat drew away to win, completing1+1⁄8 miles in 1:45 2⁄5, then a world record on the dirt for the distance. Riva Ridge ran second with Cougar II in third and Onion in fourth. Turcotte said, "Today he was the old Secretariat and he did it on his own."[106] The purse for the Marlboro Cup was $250,000, then the highest prize money offered: the win made Secretariat the 13th thoroughbred millionaire in history.[107][108]
After the Marlboro Cup, the original plan was to enter Riva Ridge in the1+1⁄2 mileWoodward Stakes, just two weeks later, while Secretariat put in some slow workouts on the turf in preparation for the Man o' War Stakes in October. It rained before the Woodward and the track was sloppy, which Riva Ridge could not handle, so Secretariat was entered in his place. Secretariat led into the straight but was overtaken by the Allen Jerkens-trained four-year-oldProve Out, who pulled clear to win by4+1⁄2 lengths despite carrying seven more pounds than Secretariat under theweight-for-age conditions of the race. Prove Out ran the race of his life that day: his time was the second-fastest mile-and-a-half on the dirt in Belmont Park's history despite the sloppy conditions.[103][109] Prove Out went on to beat Riva Ridge in that year's Jockey Club Gold Cup.[110]
On October 8, just nine days after the Woodward, Secretariat was moved to turf for theMan O' War Stakes at a distance of1+1⁄2 miles. He facedTentam, who had set a world record for1+1⁄8 miles on the turf earlier that summer, and five others. Secretariat went to the lead early, followed by Tentam, who gradually closed the gap down the backstretch. Tentam got to within a half-length before Secretariat responded, pulling away by three lengths. Tentam made another run around the far turn, but Secretariat again drew away, eventually winning by five lengths over Tentam, with Big Spruce seven and a half lengths further back in third. Secretariat set a course record time of 2:244⁄5. After the race,Turcotte explained that "when Tentam came up to him in the backstretch I just chirped to him and he pulled away."[111]
The syndication deal for Secretariat precluded the horse racing past age three. Accordingly, Secretariat's last race was against older horses in theCanadian International Stakes over one and five-eighths miles on the turf atWoodbine Racetrack inToronto, Ontario, Canada on October 28, 1973. The race was chosen in part because of long-time ties betweenE. P. Taylor and the Chenery family,[112] and partly to honor Secretariat's Canadian connections, Laurin and Turcotte.[113] Turcotte missed the race with a five-day suspension:Eddie Maple got the mount.[114]
The day of the race was cold, windy and wet, but the Marshall turf course was firm. Despite the weather, some 35,000 people turned out to greet Secretariat in a "virtual hysteria". His biggest opponents were Kennedy Road, whom he had beaten in the Marlboro Cup, and Big Spruce, who had finished third in the Man o' War. Kennedy Road went to the early lead, while Secretariat moved to second after breaking from an outside post. On the backstretch, Secretariat made his move and forged to the lead. "Snorting steam in the raw twilight",[115] he rounded the far turn with a 12-length lead before gearing down in the final furlong, ultimately winning by6+1⁄2 lengths.[116] Instead of the name Secretariat, his nickname "Big Red" was printed on the betting tickets.[117][118] Once again, many winning tickets went uncashed by souvenir collectors.[113]
After the race, Secretariat was brought to Aqueduct Racetrack where he was paraded with Turcotte dressed in the Meadow silks before a crowd of 32,990 in his final public appearance. "It's a sad day, and yet it's a great day," said Laurin. "I certainly wish he could run as a 4-year-old. He's a great horse and he loves to run."[119]
Altogether, Secretariat won 16 of his 21 career races, with three seconds and one third, and total earnings of $1,316,808.[1]
For 1973, Secretariat was again named Horse of the Year and also won Eclipse Awards as theAmerican Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse and theAmerican Champion Male Turf Horse.[120]
When Secretariat first retired to Claiborne Farm, his sperm showed some signs of immaturity,[29] so he was bred to three non-thoroughbred mares in December 1973 to test his fertility. One of these, anAppaloosa named Leola, produced Secretariat's first foal in November 1974. Named First Secretary, the foal was a chestnut like his sire, but spotted like his dam.[121]
Secretariat's first official foal crop, arriving in 1975, consisted of 28 foals, the best of which wasDactylographer, who won theWilliam Hill Futurity in October 1977.[122] The first crop also includedCanadian Bound, who at the 1976Keeneland July sale was the first yearling to break the $1 million barrier, selling for $1.5 million. Canadian Bound, however, was a complete failure in racing,[123] and for several years, the value of Secretariat's offspring declined considerably, especially given the rising popularity ofNorthern Dancer's offspring in the sales ring.[124]
Secretariat eventually sired a number of major stakes winners, including:[27]
Ultimately, Secretariat officially sired 663 named foals, including 341 winners (51.4%) and 54 stakes winners (8.1%).[131] There has been some criticism of Secretariat as a stallion, mainly because he did not produce male offspring of his own ability and did not leave a leading sire son behind, but his legacy is assured through the quality of his daughters, several of whom were excellent racers and even more of whom were excellent producers. In 1992, Secretariat was theleading broodmare sire in North America. Overall, Secretariat's daughters produced 24 Grade/Group 1 winners.[122] As a broodmare sire, Secretariat's most notable progeny were:[27][122]
Through Weekend Surprise and Terlingua alone, Secretariat appears in the pedigree of numerous champions. Weekend Surprises's son A.P. Indy was the leading sire in North America in 2003 and 2006, and is the sire of 2003 Horse of the YearMineshaft and 2007 Belmont Stakes winnerRags to Riches. He has also established a successful sire-line that leads to Kentucky Derby winnersOrb andCalifornia Chrome.[139] A.P. Indy's leading sire-line descendant isTapit, who led the sire list in 2014–2015 and is the sire of Belmont Stakes winnersTonalist andCreator.[140] Terlingua's sonStorm Cat is also a two time leading sire, whose offspring includeGiant's Causeway, three-time leading sire in North America.[141] Storm Cat also siredYankee Gentleman, who is the broodmare sire of 2015 Triple Crown winnerAmerican Pharoah.[142] Both Storm Cat and A.P. Indy appear in the pedigree of 2018 Triple Crown winnerJustify.[143]
Inbreeding to Secretariat has also proven successful, as exemplified by numerousgraded stakes winners, including two-time Horse of the YearWise Dan,sprint championSpeightstown, and 2025Saudi Cup winnerForever Young.[144][145]
All of the horse racers in the2025 Kentucky Derby are related to Secretariat. Each of the 19 horses that ran in the 2025 Kentucky Derby is a direct descendant of Secretariat. He has more than 600 registered foals.[146]
Secretariat's paddock at Claiborne Farm bordered three other stallions:Drone,Sir Ivor, and Hall of Fame inducteeSpectacular Bid. Secretariat did not pay much attention to Drone or Sir Ivor, but he and Spectacular Bid became friendly and occasionally raced each other along the fence line between their paddocks.[147][148]
In the fall of 1989, Secretariat became afflicted withlaminitis—a painful and debilitating hoof condition. When his condition failed to improve after a month of treatment, he waseuthanized on October 4 at the age of 19.[38] Secretariat was buried atClaiborne Farm,[149] given the rare honor of being buried whole (traditionally only the head, heart, and hooves of a winning race horse are buried).[45]
At the time of Secretariat's death, the veterinarian who performed thenecropsy, Thomas Swerczek, head pathologist at the University of Kentucky, did not weigh Secretariat's heart, but stated, "We just stood there in stunned silence. We couldn't believe it. The heart was perfect. There were no problems with it. It was just this huge engine."[38] Later, Swerczek also performed a necropsy on Sham, who died in 1993. Swerczek did weigh Sham's heart, and it was 18 pounds (8.2 kg). Based on Sham's measurement, and having necropsied both horses, he estimated Secretariat's heart probably weighed 22 pounds (10.0 kg), or about 2.5 times that of the average horse (8.5 pounds (3.9 kg)).[150]
An extremely large heart is a trait that occasionally occurs in thoroughbreds, hypothesized to be linked to a genetic condition, called the "x-factor" passed down in specific inheritance patterns.[150][151][152] The x-factor can be traced to the historic racehorseEclipse, who was necropsied after his death in 1789. Because Eclipse's heart appeared to be much larger than the hearts of other horses, it was weighed, and found to be 14 pounds (6.4 kg), almost twice the normal weight. Eclipse is believed to have passed the trait on via his daughters, and pedigree research verified that Secretariat traces hisdam line to a daughter of Eclipse. Secretariat's success as a broodmare sire has been linked by some to this large heart theory.[150] However, it has not been proven whether the x-factor exists, let alone if it contributes to athletic ability.[153][154]
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Following his Triple Crown victory in 1973, Secretariat was nominated forSports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year.[155] During the week of June 10, 1973, he also became the first athlete to appear on the covers ofTime,Newsweek, andSports Illustrated in the same week.[156] In 1974, he was inducted into theNational Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.[157] In 1994,Sports Illustrated ranked Secretariat #17 in their list of the 40 greatest sports figures of the past 40 years.[37] In 1999,ESPN listed him 35th ofthe 100 greatest North American athletes of the 20th century, the highest of three non-humans on the list (the other two were also racehorses:Man o' War at 84th and Citation at 97th).[158] Secretariat ranked second behind Man o' War inThe Blood-Horse'sList of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century.[2][159] He was also ranked second behind Man o' War by both a six-member panel of experts assembled by theAssociated Press,[160] and aSports Illustrated panel of seven experts.[161]
Postage Stamp in 1999
In 1999, theU.S. Postal Service honored Secretariat with a 33-cent U.S.postage stamp entitled "Secretariat Wins Triple Crown" in theCelebrate the Century (1970s) series.[162] The national unveiling ceremony was held in the winner's circle atKeeneland Race Course inLexington, Kentucky on Saturday, October 16, 1999. On Thursday, November 18, 1999, the First Day of Issue ceremony was held at the Postage Stamp Mega-event at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, New York. The stamp was issued to celebrate Secretariat and his iconic 1973 Triple Crown victory. The following text is in the packet: “Secretariat Wins Triple Crown" – In 1972, two-year-old Secretariat was named Horse of the Year. In 1973, he won the coveted Triple Crown, including the only less-than-two-minute Kentucky Derby victory and a 31-length Belmont Stakes triumph."
The stamp is among those listed in the Smithsonian Institution's record of exhibitions called, "Trailblazers and Trendsetters: Art of the Stamp: Sports." The description about the Secretariat stamp reads as follows: “Affectionately known as "Big Red," Secretariat was a sturdy, chestnut-colored thoroughbred who made his racing debut on July 4, 1972. He won five contests that year and was named Horse of the Year. In 1973, Secretariat became the first horse in 25 years to win the coveted Triple Crown. In May of that year, he ran the Kentucky Derby in less than two minutes, the fastest finish ever recorded at the prestigious race. The colt then went on to win the Preakness Stakes and, in June, the Belmont Stakes, which he won by a triumphant 31 lengths.” The description includes this information about the artwork: “Artist: Kazuhiko Sano; Art Director: Howard Paine; Medium: Acrylic on Gesso Board; and Year of Issue: 1999.”[163] The painted image looks like an exact copy of the painting on the cover of the June 11, 1973 (Vol. 101, No. 24) issue ofTIME Magazine.[164][165][166][167] The stamp was in a collection calledCelebrate the Century (1970). Issued on November 18, 1999, the Secretariat stamp is on the left side of the third row of the sheet of 15 stamps celebrating the 1970s entitled:Bicentennial, Watergate, and Earth Day.
More Honors
In 2005, Secretariat was featured inESPN Classic's showWho's No. 1? in the episode "Greatest Sports Performances." He was the only nonhuman on the list, with his run at Belmont ranking second behindWilt Chamberlain's 100-point game.[168] On May 2, 2007, Secretariat was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, marking the first time an animal received this honor.[169] In 2013, Secretariat was inducted into theCanadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in honor of his victory in the Canadian International 40 years earlier.[112] Secretariat was also the focus of a 2013 segment of60 Minutes Sports.[93] In March 2016, Secretariat's Triple Crown victory was rated #13 in theSports Illustrated listing of the 100 Greatest Moments in Sports History.[170]
Vox Populi Award and Healing Horses
Due to Secretariat's enduring popularity, Chenery remained a prominent figure in racing and a powerful advocate for thoroughbred aftercare and veterinary research until her death in 2017.[171][172] In 2004, the Maker's Mark Secretariat Center, dedicated to reschooling former racehorses and matching them to new homes, opened at the Kentucky Horse Park.[173] In 2010, Chenery developed theSecretariat Vox Populi ("voice of the people") Award, which is voted for by racing fans. It is intended to acknowledge "the horse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the American public and gained recognition for thoroughbred racing."[174] The consideration of the racing fan's engagement is what distinguishes the Vox Populi award from others. The first honoree in 2010 wasZenyatta, that year's Horse of the Year, while the second award went toRapid Redux, a former claimer who went on to win 22 consecutive races at smaller racetracks.[175] Paynter received the 2012 award for his battle withlaminitis, the same condition that led to Secretariat's death. "Paynter's popularity stems from his ability to battle and exceed expectations, making him the perfect choice as the recipient of this year's Vox Populi Award," said Chenery. "After seeing firsthand the devastating effects of this disease, I am even more convinced that the industry must continue to diligently fight laminitis. The progress we have made to date clearly benefited Paynter—a beautiful colt with a tremendous spirit."[174]
More Memorials
Various states and localities have also honored Secretariat. According to ESPN, 263 roads in the United States are named after him, more than any other athlete. Secretariat Drive is the most common option.[176] In Illinois, the Secretariat Stakes was created in 1974 to honor his appearance at Arlington Park in 1973.[177] In honor of Secretariat and Kentucky's horse racing history, theUniversity of Kentuckyfootball uniforms incorporate blue-and-white checkers reminiscent of the silks of Meadow Stable.[178]
Historic Secretariat's Birthplace
Meadow Stable and farm in Doswell, Virginia, Secretariat's birthplace and the stable where he was foaled, are listed on theNational Register of Historic Places. It was also called "The Meadow", and is now known asThe Meadow Historic District.[179]
"The Meadow Event Park," formerly Meadow Stable, is the site where Secretariat was born (foaled), raised and first trained. The foaling shed where Secretariat was born was moved to the south side of the property from its original location on the north side, and is the same structure that is listed on the state and national historic registers. Secretariat’s training barn where he stayed when he was in training at the Meadow training track in the fall of 1971 is also there. A plaque marks the stall where he first wore a saddle and bridle and had a jockey on his back. Other points of interest include the original yearling and stallion barns built in the 1930s, the stall in the yearling barn where Secretariat stayed as a colt in 1971, the Cove where the Meadow mares and foals grazed, Secretariat stride markers showing his enormous 25-foot racing stride, Meadow Hall mansion with galleries of framed photos depicting the history of the farm and Secretariat’s Triple Crown races, Meadow Stable memorabilia, and the riding outfits of Penny Chenery and her father Christopher Chenery.[180]
Horses buried in Meadow Stable horse cemetery include Imperatrice, Hill Prince and Sun Beau. The historic cemetery on the front lawn of the mansion is marked with a memorial plaque about the Morris family who founded the Meadow in 1805. Their descendant, Christopher Chenery established Meadow Stable in 1936 here at his ancestral home.[180]
50th anniversary bourbon
In 2023, theVirginia ABC honored 50th Anniversary of Secretariat's Triple Crown win by making Ragged Branch Secretariat Reserve bourbon.[181] There were also special drinks at the three Triple Crown races in 2023.
Along with others celebrating the historic Triple Crown anniversary in 2023, the Kentucky Derby Museum sold commemorative "Secretariat Bottles" of Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby 149th Secretariat / 50th Anniversary Straight Bourbon Whiskey. It was is the only Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Personal Selection pick of 2022. The bottle was custom-labeled with Kentucky Derby Museum, and Secretariat’s Kentucky Derby record-breaking time of 1:59 2/5, a record that still stands today.[182]
The Kentucky legislature has honored him in many ways including with memorials, statues, and periodical proclamations.
50TH ANNIVERSARY PROCLAMATION
Secretariat has been honored multiple times by Virginia's General Assembly with various anniversary proclamations. “House Joint Resolution No. 479 Commemorating the 50th anniversary of Secretariat's Triple Crown victory” had two patrons in the House of Delegates – chief patron, Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr. (R) of Caroline County, and the co-patron, Paul E. Krizek (D) of Mount Vernon.[183][184] They offered the bill on January 11, 2023. It was agreed to by the Virginia House of Delegates on January 16, 2023, and then by the Virginia Senate and enrolled on January 19, 2023. In 2023, Caroline County received a proclamation by the General Assembly to honor the 50th anniversary of Secretariat's record-setting Triple Crown-win.[185][186][187][188]
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of Secretariat's Triple Crown victory
WHEREAS, Secretariat, one of the best-known thoroughbred racehorses in the history of the sport,
was born on March 30, 1970, at Meadow Farm, in Caroline County; and
WHEREAS, Secretariat, a strapping chestnut colt, was unanimously voted America's Horse of the
Year as a two-year-old in 1972, the first juvenile ever so honored; and
WHEREAS, as a three-year-old in 1973, Secretariat became the first thoroughbred in 25 years to win
racing's coveted Triple Crown––the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore,
and the Belmont Stakes in New York––in the brief span of five weeks; and
WHEREAS, Secretariat accomplished the unprecedented feat of breaking the stakes' record in all
three Triple Crown races, including the one and one-quarter mile Kentucky Derby in one minute and 59
and two-fifths seconds, the one and three-sixteenths mile Preakness Stakes in one minute and 53
seconds, and the one and one-half mile Belmont Stakes in two minutes and 24 seconds flat; and
WHEREAS, Secretariat's astonishing 31-length victory in the Belmont Stakes is widely perceived as
the single greatest performance in the history of the ancient sport of kings; and
WHEREAS, Secretariat was again voted America's Horse of the Year at the conclusion of the 1973
season; and
WHEREAS, as a breeding stallion, Secretariat had a lasting impact on the thoroughbred breed,
especially through his daughters from whom additional champions have been issued; and
WHEREAS, Secretariat, who died in 1989, is today considered by many equestrians to be the
greatest thoroughbred in the modern history of American horse racing, and is the standard of excellence
against which all other racehorses have been measured for a half of a century; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby
commemorate Secretariat's Triple Crown victory on the 50th anniversary of the races in 2023; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution
for presentation to the Caroline County Board of Supervisors, representing the citizens of Caroline
County, as an expression of the esteem in which the memory of Secretariat, among the finest athletes
ever born in the Commonwealth, is held by the members of the General Assembly.
In 1974,Paul Mellon commissioned a bronze statue, sometimes known asSecretariat in Full Stride, fromJohn Skeaping. The life-size statue remained in the center of the walking ring at Belmont Park until 1988 when it was replaced by a replica.[189] The original is now located at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.[190]
TheKentucky Horse Park has two other life-sized statues of Secretariat. The first, created byJim Reno in 1992, shows Secretariat as an older sire, while the second, completed by Edwin Bogucki in 2004, shows him being led into the winner's circle after the Kentucky Derby.[191]
In 2015, a statue of Secretariat and Ron Turcotte crossing the finish line at the Belmont Stakes was unveiled inGrand Falls, New Brunswick, Turcotte's hometown.[192]
On October 12, 2019, a new monument was unveiled during the Secretariat Festival atKeeneland in Lexington. The two and a half times life-size bronze statue by Jocelyn Russell shows Secretariat and Turcotte winning the Kentucky Derby. After the Festival, it was permanently relocated to the center of the traffic circle at Old Frankfort Pike and Alexandria Drive. A duplicate statue by Russell began a tour in Ashland, Virginia in March 2023.[193]
Louisville's Churchill Downs was a set location for several racing scenes in the 2010 film,Secretariat. The film, starringDiane Lane asPenny Chenery,John Malkovich asLucien Laurin, and Otto Thorwarth asRon Turcotte, was written byMike Rich, directed byRandall Wallace, and produced byWalt Disney Pictures.[194]
The name of Secretariat is not found in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary either as himself, nor under the word “secretariat,” an office for which he was named. However, heis mentioned under the definition of the word “foal” as an example of its use. The entry used as an example is: “Fifty years ago, Secretariat,foaled in 1970, became the ninth Triple Crown winner, setting new track records in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes while setting the world record of 2:24 on a 1 1/2 dirt track in the Belmont Stakes. (The Courier-Journal, 24 Apr. 2023)”[195][196]
| Furlongs | Miles | Meters |
|---|---|---|
| 5+1⁄2 | 11⁄16 | 1,106 |
| 6 | 3⁄4 | 1,207 |
| 6+1⁄2 | 13⁄16 | 1,308 |
| 7 | 7⁄8 | 1,408 |
| 8 | 1 | 1,609 |
| 8+1⁄2 | 1+1⁄16 | 1,710 |
| 9 | 1+1⁄8 | 1,811 |
| 9+1⁄2 | 1+3⁄16 | 1,911 |
| 10 | 1+1⁄4 | 2,012 |
| 12 | 1+1⁄2 | 2,414 |
| 13 | 1+5⁄8 | 2,615 |
| Year | Age | Starts | Win (1st) | Place (2nd) | Show (3rd) | Earnings ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 1 | — | 456,404[203] |
| 1973 | 3 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 860,404[203] |
| Total | 21 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 1,316,808[1] | |
Secretariat's earnings in 1973 were, at the time, a single-season record.[29]
Secretariat was sired byBold Ruler, who led the North America sire list eight times, more than any other stallion in the 20th century. He also led the juvenile (two-year-old) sire list a record six times. Before Secretariat's Triple Crown run, Bold Ruler was often categorized as a sire of precocious juveniles that lacked stamina or did not train on past age two.[204] However, even before Secretariat, Bold Ruler actually had sired 11 stakes winners of races at 10 furlongs or more.[205] Ultimately, seven of the ten Kentucky Derby winners in the 1970s can be traced directly to Bold Ruler in theirtail-male lines, including Secretariat and fellow Triple Crown winnerSeattle Slew.[206]
Secretariat's dam wasSomethingroyal, the 1973Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. Although Somethingroyal was unplaced in her only start, she had an excellent pedigree. Her sire Princequillo was the leading broodmare sire from 1966 to 1970 and was noted as a source of stamina and soundness.[207] Her damImperatrice was a stakes winner who was purchased by Christopher Chenery at a dispersal sale in 1947 for $30,000. Imperatrice produced several stakes winners and stakes producers for the Meadow. Prior to foaling Secretariat at age 18, Somethingroyal had already produced three stakes winners:Sir Gaylord, First Family and Syrian Sea, the latter a full sister to Secretariat. Sir Gaylord became an important sire, whose offspring includedEpsom Derby winner Sir Ivor.[208][209]
Besides Secretariat, one of Somethingroyal’s most important foals included Straight Flush (1975) sired byRiva Ridge. Through his dam, Riva Ridge is descended fromMan o' War.
Breeders speak of a "nick" occurring when a sire or grandsire produces significantly better offspring from the daughters of one particular sire than with mares from other bloodlines. The breeding of Bold Ruler with Somethingroyal is an example of a famous nick between Bold Ruler's sireNasrullah and daughters of Princequillo. The goal was to balance the speed, precocity, and fiery temperament provided by the Nasrullah side of the pedigree with Princequillo's stamina, soundness, and sensible temperament.[210]
| Sire Bold Ruler dkb/br. 1954 | Nasrullah b. 1940 | Nearco b. 1932 | Pharos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nogara | |||
| Mumtaz Begum | Blenheim | ||
| Mumtaz Mahal | |||
| Miss Disco b. 1944 | Discovery | Display | |
| Ariadne | |||
| Outdone | Pompey | ||
| Sweep Out | |||
| Dam Somethingroyal b. 1952 | Princequillo b. 1940 | Prince Rose | Rose Prince |
| Indolence | |||
| Cosquilla | Papyrus | ||
| Quick Thought | |||
| Imperatrice dkb/br. 1938 | Caruso | Polymelian | |
| Sweet Music | |||
| Cinquepace | Brown Bud | ||
| Assignation (Family 2-s)[212] |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
