Secretariat (March 30, 1970 – October 4, 1989), also known as Big Red, was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who was the ninth winner of the American 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 the Belmont Stakes, which he won by 31 lengths, is often considered the greatest race ever run by a thoroughbred racehorse. During his racing career, he won five Eclipse Awards, including Horse of the Year honors at ages two and three. Widely regarded as one of the greatest racehorses of all time, he was nominated to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1974. In the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century, Secretariat was second to Man o' War.
At age two, Secretariat finished fourth in his 1972 debut in a maiden race, but then won seven of his remaining eight starts, including five stakes victories. His only loss during this period was in the Champagne Stakes, where he finished first but was disqualified to second for interference. He received the Eclipse Award for champion two-year-old colt, and also was the 1972 Horse 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 the Kentucky Derby still stands as the Churchill Downs track record for miles, and his time in the Belmont Stakes stands as the American record for miles on the dirt. In 2012, his actual time of 1:53 in the Preakness Stakes was recognized as a stakes record after an official review.
Secretariat's win in the Gotham Stakes tied the track record for 1 mile, he set a world record in the Marlboro Cup at miles and further proved his versatility by winning two major stakes races on turf. He lost three times that year: in the Wood Memorial, Whitney, and Woodward 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 for champion three-year-old colt and champion turf horse.
At the beginning of his three-year-old year, Secretariat was syndicated for a record-breaking $6.08 million (equivalent to $ million in ), 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 the leading broodmare sire in North America in 1992. His daughters produced several notable sires, including Storm Cat, A.P. Indy, Gone West, Dehere, Summer Squall, and Chief's Crown, and through them Secretariat appears in the pedigree of many modern champions. Secretariat died in 1989 as a result of laminitis at age 19.
Background
Secretariat was officially bred by Christopher Chenery's Meadow Stud, Owned by the Phipps family, Bold Ruler possessed both speed and stamina, having won the Preakness Stakes and Horse of the Year honors in 1957, and American Champion Sprint Horse honors in 1958. Bold Ruler was retired to stud at Claiborne Farm, but the Phipps family owned most of the mares to which Bold Ruler was bred, and few of his offspring were sold at public auction.
To bring new blood into their breeding program, the Phipps family sometimes negotiated a foal-sharing agreement with other mare owners: Instead of charging a stud 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 a coin toss determining who received first pick.
Under such an arrangement, Chenery sent two mares to be bred to Bold Ruler in 1968, Hasty Matelda and Somethingroyal. She then sent Cicada 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, a colt and filly 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, which was held in the fall of 1969 in the office of New York Racing Association Chairman Alfred G. Vanderbilt II, with Arthur "Bull" Hancock of Claiborne Farm as witness. Ogden Phipps won the toss and took the 1969 weanling filly out of Somethingroyal. The filly was named The Bride and never won a race, though she did later become a stakes producer. Chenery received the Hasty Matelda colt in 1969 and the as-yet-unborn 1970 foal of Somethingroyal, which turned out to be Secretariat.
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Secretariat's Birthplace
Located in Doswell, Caroline County, Virginia, Meadow Stable was also called The Meadow. On Easter Monday, March 30, 1970, at 12:10 a.m. at the Meadow Stable, Somethingroyal foaled a bright-red chestnut colt with three white socks and a star 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." 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." Sometime later, Chenery got her first look at the foal and made a one-word entry in her notebook - "Wow!"
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 the secretariat of the League of Nations (predecessor of the United Nations). Ham had worked for diplomat Norman Davis sometime between 1920 and 1946, maybe around the time of his appointment in 1924.
Appearance and conformation
thumb|upright=1.5|Diagram of [[equine anatomy]]
Secretariat grew into a massive, powerful horse said to resemble his sire's damsire, Discovery. He stood when fully grown. He was noted for being exceptionally well-balanced, described as having "nearly perfect" conformation and stride biomechanics. His chest was so large that he required a custom-made girth, 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." Secretariat's hindquarters were the main source of his power, with a sloped croup that extended the length of his femur. When in full stride, his hind legs were able to reach far under himself, increasing his drive. 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:
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Secretariat's length of stride was considered large even after taking into account his large frame and strong build. 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.
Seth Hancock of Claiborne Farm once said,
The time for the race was not only a track record, it was the fastest miles on dirt in history, 2:24 flat, breaking by more than two seconds the track and stakes record of 2:26 set 16 years earlier by Gallant Man. If the Beyer 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.
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; When it was clear that Secretariat would win, the sound reportedly made the grandstand shake. 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."
The race is widely considered the greatest performance by a North American racehorse. Secretariat became the ninth Triple Crown winner in history, and the first since Citation in 1948, a gap of 25 years. 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).
Arlington Invitational
Three weeks after his win at Belmont, Secretariat was shipped to Arlington Park for the June 30th Arlington 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 at 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 a minus pool of $17,941.
Mayor Richard 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, just off the track record set by Damascus.
The July 10, 1973 New 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.
Whitney Stakes
Secretariat next went to Saratoga, popularly nicknamed "the graveyard of champions," in preparation for the Whitney 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 the Allen Jerkens-trained Onion, a four-year-old gelding that had set a track record at furlongs in his previous start. The track 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. A record crowd of more than 30,000 witnessed what was described as an "astonishing" upset.
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."
Secretariat lost his appetite and acted sluggish for several days. Entries included 1972 turf champion and top California stakes winner Cougar II, Canadian champion Kennedy Road, 1972 American champion three-year-old colt Key to the Mint, Travers winner Annihilate 'Em (the only other three-year-old in the race), and Onion. Riva Ridge was assigned top weight of 127 pounds (one pound over the weight-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.
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, completing miles in 1:45 , 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." 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.
Woodward Stakes
After the Marlboro Cup, the original plan was to enter Riva Ridge in the mile Woodward 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-old Prove Out, who pulled clear to win by lengths despite carrying seven more pounds than Secretariat under the weight-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. Prove Out went on to beat Riva Ridge in that year's Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Man o' War Stakes
On October 8, just nine days after the Woodward, Secretariat was moved to turf for the Man O' War Stakes at a distance of miles. He faced Tentam, who had set a world record for 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 2:24. After the race, Turcotte explained that "when Tentam came up to him in the backstretch I just chirped to him and he pulled away."
Canadian International Stakes
The syndication deal for Secretariat precluded the horse racing past age three. Accordingly, Secretariat's last race was against older horses in the Canadian International Stakes over one and five-eighths miles on the turf at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on October 28, 1973. The race was chosen in part because of long-time ties between E. P. Taylor and the Chenery family, and partly to honor Secretariat's Canadian connections, Laurin and Turcotte. Turcotte missed the race with a five-day suspension: Eddie Maple got the mount.
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", he rounded the far turn with a 12-length lead before gearing down in the final furlong, ultimately winning by lengths. Instead of the name Secretariat, his nickname "Big Red" was printed on the betting tickets. Once again, many winning tickets went uncashed by souvenir collectors.
Altogether, Secretariat won 16 of his 21 career races, with three seconds and one third, and total earnings of $1,316,808.
Retirement
Stud career
When Secretariat first retired to Claiborne Farm, his sperm showed some signs of immaturity,
Secretariat's first official foal crop, arriving in 1975, consisted of 28 foals, the best of which was Dactylographer, who won the William Hill Futurity in October 1977. The first crop also included Canadian Bound, who at the 1976 Keeneland 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, and for several years, the value of Secretariat's offspring declined considerably, especially given the rising popularity of Northern Dancer's offspring in the sales ring.
Secretariat eventually sired a number of major stakes winners, including:
- Lady's Secret, 1986 Horse of the Year.
- Risen Star, 1988 Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner.
- Kingston Rule, 1990 Melbourne Cup winner, breaking the course record.
- Tinners Way, born in 1990 to Secretariat's last crop, winner of the 1994 and 1995 Pacific Classic.
Ultimately, Secretariat officially sired 663 named foals, including 341 winners (51.4%) and 54 stakes winners (8.1%). 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 the leading broodmare sire in North America. Overall, Secretariat's daughters produced 24 Grade/Group 1 winners.
- Terlingua, a stakes winner and dam of leading sire Storm Cat.
- Secrettame, a stakes winner and dam of important sire Gone West, whose descendants include Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Smarty Jones.
- Six Crowns, dam of champion two-year-old and sire Chief's Crown.
- Sister Dot, dam of champion two-year-old and sire Dehere.
- Celtic Assembly, dam of Volksraad, leading sire in New Zealand.
- Betty's Secret, dam of Secreto, winner of The Derby, and Istabraq, three-time winner of the Champion Hurdle.
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 Year Mineshaft and 2007 Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches. He has also established a successful sire-line that leads to Kentucky Derby winners Orb and California Chrome. A.P. Indy's leading sire-line descendant is Tapit, who led the sire list in 2014–2015 and is the sire of Belmont Stakes winners Tonalist and Creator. Terlingua's son Storm Cat is also a two time leading sire, whose offspring include Giant's Causeway, three-time leading sire in North America. Storm Cat also sired Yankee Gentleman, who is the broodmare sire of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Both Storm Cat and A.P. Indy appear in the pedigree of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify.
Inbreeding to Secretariat has also proven successful, as exemplified by numerous graded stakes winners, including two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan, sprint champion Speightstown, and 2025 Saudi Cup and Breeders' Cup Classic winner Forever Young.
All of the horse racers in the 2025 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.
Secretariat's paddock at Claiborne Farm bordered three other stallions: Drone, Sir Ivor, and Hall of Fame inductee Spectacular 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.
Death
In the fall of 1989, Secretariat became afflicted with laminitis—a painful and debilitating hoof condition. When his condition failed to improve after a month of treatment, he was euthanized on October 4 at the age of 19. given the rare honor of being buried whole (traditionally only the head, heart, and hooves of a winning race horse are buried).
At the time of Secretariat's death, the veterinarian who performed the necropsy, 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." The x-factor can be traced to the historic racehorse Eclipse, 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 , almost twice the normal weight. Eclipse is believed to have passed the trait on via his daughters, and pedigree research verified that Secretariat traces his dam line to a daughter of Eclipse. Secretariat's success as a broodmare sire has been linked by some to this large heart theory.<!--worth keeping because if we take it out, someone will put it back in anyway-->
Honors, recognition, and legacy
thumb|The life-size Secretariat statue by [[John Skeaping at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York]]
Following his Triple Crown victory in 1973, Secretariat was nominated for Sports Illustrated<nowiki/>'s Sportsman of the Year. During the week of June 10, 1973, he also became the first athlete to appear on the covers of Time, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated in the same week. In 1974, he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. In 1999, ESPN listed him 35th of the 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). Secretariat ranked second behind Man o' War in The Blood-Horses List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century. He was also ranked second behind Man o' War by both a six-member panel of experts assembled by the Associated Press, and a Sports Illustrated panel of seven experts.
Postage Stamp in 1999
In 1999, the U.S. Postal Service honored Secretariat with a 33-cent U.S. postage stamp entitled "Secretariat Wins Triple Crown" in the Celebrate the Century (1970s) series. The national unveiling ceremony was held in the winner's circle at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, 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." The painted image looks like an exact copy of the painting on the cover of the June 11, 1973 (Vol. 101, No. 24) issue of TIME Magazine. The stamp was in a collection called Celebrate 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 in ESPN Classic's show Who's No. 1? in the episode "Greatest Sports Performances." He was the only nonhuman on the list, with his run at Belmont ranking second behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game. On May 2, 2007, Secretariat was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, marking the first time an animal received this honor. In 2013, Secretariat was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in honor of his victory in the Canadian International 40 years earlier. In March 2016, Secretariat's Triple Crown victory was rated #13 in the Sports Illustrated listing of the 100 Greatest Moments in Sports History.
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. 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. In 2010, Chenery developed the Secretariat 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." The consideration of the racing fan's engagement is what distinguishes the Vox Populi award from others. The first honoree in 2010 was Zenyatta, that year's Horse of the Year, while the second award went to Rapid Redux, a former claimer who went on to win 22 consecutive races at smaller racetracks. Paynter received the 2012 award for his battle with laminitis, 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." In Illinois, the Secretariat Stakes was created in 1974 to honor his appearance at Arlington Park in 1973. In honor of Secretariat and Kentucky's horse racing history, the University of Kentucky football uniforms incorporate blue-and-white checkers reminiscent of the silks of Meadow Stable.
Honors in Virginia
Historic Secretariat's Birthplace
Meadow Stable and farm in Doswell, Virginia, Secretariat's birthplace and the stable where he was foaled, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was also called "The Meadow", and is now known as The Meadow Historic District.
"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.
50th anniversary bourbon
In 2023, the Virginia ABC honored 50th Anniversary of Secretariat's Triple Crown win by making Ragged Branch Secretariat Reserve bourbon. 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.
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. 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.
The Kentucky legislature has honored him in many ways including with memorials, statues, and periodical proclamations.
Statues
thumb|left|The replica Secretariat statue at Belmont Park is draped in white carnations each year for the Belmont Stakes
In 1974, Paul Mellon commissioned a bronze statue, sometimes known as Secretariat in Full Stride, from John 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. The original is now located at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
The Kentucky Horse Park has two other life-sized statues of Secretariat. The first, created by Jim 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.
In 2015, a statue of Secretariat and Ron Turcotte crossing the finish line at the Belmont Stakes was unveiled in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, Turcotte's hometown.
On October 12, 2019, a new monument was unveiled during the Secretariat Festival at Keeneland 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.
Media
Louisville's Churchill Downs was a set location for several racing scenes in the 2010 film, Secretariat. The film, starring Diane Lane as Penny Chenery, John Malkovich as Lucien Laurin, and Otto Thorwarth as Ron Turcotte, was written by Mike Rich, directed by Randall Wallace, and produced by Walt Disney Pictures.
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, he is 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)"
Racing statistics
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! scope="col" style="background:#c9def5;" | Track
! scope="col" style="background:#c9def5;" | Odds
! scope="col" style="background:#c9def5;" | Field
! scope="col" style="background:#c9def5;" | Finish
! scope="col" style="background:#c9def5;" | Time
! scope="col" style="background:#c9def5;" | Margin
! scope="col" style="background:#c9def5;" | Jockey
! scope="col" style="background:#c9def5;" | Ref
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" |
| 2
| furlongs
| Maiden Special Weight
| Aqueduct
| 3.10
| 12
| 4
| 1:05
| () lengths
| Paul Feliciano
|
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" |
| 2
| 6 furlongs
| Maiden Special Weight
| Aqueduct
| 1.30
| 11
| 1
| 1:10
| 6 lengths
| Paul Feliciano
|
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" |
| 3
| 7 furlongs
| Bay Shore Stakes
| Aqueduct
| 0.20
| 6
| 1
| 1:23
| lengths
| Ron Turcotte
|
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" |
| 3
| miles
| Preakness Stakes
| Pimlico
| 0.30
| 6
| 1
| 1:53, not 1:54
| lengths
| Ron Turcotte
|
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" |
| 3
| miles
| Belmont Stakes
| Belmont
| 0.10
| 5
| 1
| 2:24
| lengths
| Ron Turcotte
|
|-
|1973
|3
|12
|9
|2
|1
|align="right"|860,404 However, even before Secretariat, Bold Ruler actually had sired 11 stakes winners of races at 10 furlongs or more. Ultimately, seven of the ten Kentucky Derby winners in the 1970s can be traced directly to Bold Ruler in their lines, including Secretariat and fellow Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew.
Secretariat's dam was Somethingroyal, the 1973 Kentucky 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. Her dam Imperatrice 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 included Epsom Derby winner Sir Ivor.
Besides Secretariat, one of Somethingroyal's most important foals included Straight Flush (1975) sired by Riva Ridge. Through his dam, Riva Ridge is descended from Man 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 sire Nasrullah 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.
See also
- List of racehorses
Notes
References
Sources
External links
- Secretariat's Meadow: The Birthplace of Big Red!
- The official Secretariat website
- Sports Illustrated Top 100 Moments in Sports – short video on Secretariat's Triple Crown (#13 on list)
- Classic Photos of Secretariat from Sports Illustrated
- ESPN Sports Century – # 35 – Secretariat
- Kentucky Derby.com – Secretariat – 1973
- Pure Heart: The Thrilling Life and Emotional Death of Secretariat
- ESPN Classic – story on 1973 Belmont – November 19, 2003