Secretariat: The Best Racehorse

It's been fifty years since Secretariat broke records for all three triple crown races. There has been a movie about him and plenty of books written or will be written about him. He was the first racehorse to win the Triple Crown since 1948. No horseman thought any horse would ever win the Triple Crown again. It seemed impossible for modern horses to win all three races. Some had come close but hadn't managed to snag a complete win.

Secretariat was born on March 30th, 1970 out of Bold Ruler, and SomethingRoyal. SomethingRoyal was a daughter of Princequillo.

Bold Ruler was the top American sire in the racehorse industry then.

Penny and Christopher Chenrey bred and owned him. Penny took over her father's farm when her father was sick and weakened after her mother passed. Penny won Secretariat in a coin toss with fellow racehorse owner Odgen Phipps who had an agreement with her father who had set up the coin toss agreement.

Whoever won said coin toss had the choice to pick a foal from that breeding. The coin toss would take place before the mares dropped their foals.

Odgen Phipps chose the filly out of BoldRuler's breeding with Hastey Matilda. The filly was named The Bride and never won a race in her career. Meanwhile, Secretariat was so successful that he won Horse of the Year as a two-year-old.

When Secretariat was born he managed to stand forty-five minutes after he was born and started nursing thirty minutes after that. He was named Big Red because of his size and color according to owner Penny.

However when the young horse started his racing career in 1972. he needed an official race name in the Jockey Club in order to race. Some possible names were tried and declined including Spectre, Royal Line, and Something Special. A few other names were tried but were rejected.

Elizabeth Ham. Christopher Chenery's secretary created the perfect name for the young colt. Secretariat.

Secretariat's first race was on July 4th. 1972 at the Aqueduct racetrack in New York. Secretariat broke from the gate last and was bumped around pretty hard. According to his jockey Paul Feliciano, "He would have fallen if he hadn't been so strong." Secretariat managed to stay up despite being shoved around but didn't make it through the traffic of other horses. He ended up in fourth place.

Despite his overall struggle and loss. It was the start of the young colt's career. It showed that he was capable despite struggle and was determined to run his race. Secretariat's next race was July Fifteenth. Paul Felicano. In this race. Secretariat broke last again and was seemingly lost in the back of the back again. However, by the first turn Secretariat was ahead of everyone else. As if a switch had been flipped in the colt's body. Secretariat won by six and a half lengths. Secretariat's next race was an allowance race at Saratoga race track.

By this point, Paul Feliciano had been replaced by Ron turcotte. Ron had been recovering from a fall and so Paul had taken Ron's place as Secretariat's jockey until he recovered.

The next race was the Sanford Stakes. Secretariat faced off with Linda's Chief. Apparently, Linda's Chief was the only horse to ever be favored against Secretariat. During the start of the race.

Secretariat was blocked by the horses in front of him but then made his way through "like a hawk scattering a barnyard of chickens" Then he managed to snag a three-length win.

Sportswriter Andrew Beyer covered the race for the Washington Star and wrote, "Never have I watched a lightly raced 2-year-old stamp himself so definitively as a potential great."

Just Ten days later. Secretariat went on to the Hopeful Stakes where he managed to pull off passing eight horses by 1/4 mile took the lead and won by five lengths. At the Belmont Futurity on September sixteenth. Secretariat snagged a win by a length and a half by starting to move ahead at the turn. Then at his next race at the Champagne Stakes. He started slow again and then picked up speed and managed to win. This became his way of running races. His owner Penny said that when he did that. It made her worry. But Secretariat would always catch up and pass other horses to score a win.

Secretariat also ran a few races in Canada including the Man'O war Stakes and Candian International which he won both by 5 and six and a half lengths (Before he went to stud.)

Secretariat won the Eclipse Award for champion Two-year-old male horse and won Horse of the Year for his 1972 two-year-old season.

In his three-year-old season, Secretariat was syndicated for selling 32 breeding shares worth $190,000 each for a total of $6.08 million, With help from Seth Hancock of Claiborne Farms.

Seth 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 she agreed that he would be retired at the end of the year. After his last race Secretariat would be retired to stud at Clairborne farms. Where he lived the rest of his life.

Secretariat didn't begin his third racing season until March of 1973.

Secretariat ran and won a few more races before starting to prep for the 1973 Triple Crown races. Before those races was the Wood Memorial. Secretariat lost this race due to a mouth abscess. He was beaten by fellow stablemate Angle Light.

(Another time when he lost a race due to Illness. The horse that beat him was named Onion.)

Secretariat came in third and the media began to speculate whether or not Secretariat was sound or capable enough for all three races. They believed that he didn't have the stamina because of his so-called "Blocky build."

When the day of the Derby came. Secretariat had recovered from his abscess and was determined to be healthy enough to race. While in the start box. Twice a prince reared in his stall hitting Our Native in the stall next to him. Which caused Secretariat's rival Sham to bang his head on the gate and loosen two of his teeth. Sham broke poorly from the gate, cut himself, and bumped into Navajo

Secretariat was not bothered and had no issue breaking last from the gate as normal. Ron Turcotte brought Secretariat to the rail. Shecky Green set a decent pace for the race and it gave way to Sham around the far turn. Secretariat came charging up to the stretch and ended up in a running battle with Sham on the stretch. Secretariat then broke away and won by two and a half lengths with the official time of 1:59 2⁄5, Secretariat broke the record for the fastest Derby time in history.

This was only the beginning.

At the Preakness stakes a few weeks later. Secretariat broke last again and then made a huge move from last to first in the first turn.

Ron 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." Secretariat completed the second quarter mile of the race in under 22 seconds. Or 1:55

The timing of the race was disputed However, due to damage to the in-field clock that tracked horse race times. In 2012 with help from the Maryland Racing Commission. Penny and the Racing committee changed the time from 1:55 to 1:53

After the Preakness. Secretariat was featured in Time, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated. Ron and the rest of Secretariat's team dubbed it "Hell Week." because of all the cameras, interviews, and photo shoots. Secretariat became a national celebrity helping America recover from the

At the Belmont Stakes, four horses ran against Secretariat. Sham, My Gallant, Twice a Prince, and Private Smiles. Secretariat and Sham both broke well at the starting gate and ran neck in neck for most of the race until Sham began to tire. Secretariat kept up with his speed and power. Through the rest of the race without tiring.

Ron Turcotte made Secretariat switch leads with a quick tap and the young horse went even faster opening up a huge gap between himself and the other horses behind him. According to race historians and fanatics. Secretariat was still picking up speed near the finish line and didn't tire. Secretariat won by thirty-one lengths and a time of 2;24.

CBS Television announcer Chic Anderson described the horse's pace in a famous commentary:

Secretariat is widening now! He is moving like a tremendous machine!"

Secretariat's run was the fastest 1+1⁄2 miles on dirt in history, 2:24 flat, breaking by more than two seconds.

Secretariat went on to run and win a few more races before official retirement to stud at Cairborne Farms. Including the Arlington, Invitational at the Arlington International Racetrack in Illinois. He also raced in the Whitney stakes, Marlboro Cup, and Woodward. After those final races. Secretariat never raced again. Instead, he was shipped off to Paris Kentucky, and Claiborne farms. where he went to stud and sired 600+ foals over the course of his stud career. Although he sired many foals and many thoroughbreds of today have Secretariat in their pedigrees. No horses have ever come as close to what Secretariat was. As many horse people will often say. Secretariat sired good foals but never cloned himself.

Secretariat's total number of foals comes out to 663 some of which became winners in their own right. Risen Star, lady's Secret, Kingston Rules, and Tinners Way to name a few.

Secretariat lived until the age of nineteen and had to be put to sleep due to severe laminitis. A hoof condition that is extremely painful for the horse. Movement becomes almost impossible and while treatment is an option and is given.

If improvement doesn't happen because the condition has not gotten better or become too severe.

Humane euthanization is the best option, Despite receiving the best treatment possible for over a month. It was determined that Big Red wouldn't be able to pull through. Secretariat was euthanized on October fourth, 1989. After his necropsy, it was discovered that Secretariat had a large heart. Which alongside his larger body cavity and lungs. Gave the great horse the ability to run for long periods without exhaustion. Secretariat's heart weighs a total of twenty-two pounds. Secretariat was buried and laid to rest at Clairborne Farms. Where he rests today alongside his sire BoldRuler.

Since Secretariat death. Millions of people have visited his grave to pay their respects. He has multiple statues and awards named after him. He has a Disney movie and there are fan social media pages dedicated to Big Red. Secretariat's story is something to remember. He helped America heal from the fiery embers of the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal.

This horse born on a Virginia farm and not many people thought the foal with the three white socks would become anything special. Became one of the most honored and remembered Triple Crown Winners. There's a Secretariat Day held in Paris Kentucky every year. Secretariat.Com is run by people who love the history and power of Secretariat. Secretariat.com sells merchandise of the beloved racing horse as well as Secretariat's full racing history and other fun stuff. Check them out here.

Secretariat is by far the best racehorse. Not just his speed, power, and size. But also because of what he accomplished and how his records still stand today. As well as his amazing conformation and build. This horse showed us how an underdog can become a top dog.