Secretariat's Annus Mirabilis

 

Secretariat’s Annus Mirabilis

Joseph Di Rienzi

 

(bloodhorse.com)

This year marks the 50^th anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown triumph. Half a century away as if it was yesterday. In previous posts (The Secretariat Triple Crown, Parts I, II, and III), I recounted the preparation and performance of this magnificent horse leading up to and through his epoch making American Triple Crown sweep. In this final piece, I will follow his campaign through the rest of 1973.

Although that year had many stellar racehorses, the real excitement in the thoroughbred world was the racing career of Secretariat, now, after his momentous Triple Crown odyssey, a media idol. The sculpted chestnut horse’s connections, not unlike what they did with Riva Ridge, their double classic winner of the previous year, chose to race rather than rest their hero. Secretariat appeared in the Meadow Stable blue and white checkerboard silks at Arlington Park, just outside Chicago, Illinois in a special crafted raced called the Arlington Invitational at 9 furlongs just three weeks after the Belmont Stakes. Only three horses entered against him including two previous rivals, Our Native and My Gallant. The fourth entry was rank longshot Blue Chip Dan. In the special conditions for the race, Secretariat carried 126 lb., the others 120 lb.  Secretariat, reverting to his previous style, broke slowly, but gained command quickly around the clubhouse turn and won easily by 9 lengths, nearly breaking Damascus’ track record. My Gallant finished a neck ahead of Our Native for the place award.

Next, Secretariat returned to hallowed Saratoga Racetrack, the scene of his coming out party in the previous year’s Hopeful Stakes. Trainer Lucien Laurin chose the Whitney Stakes against older horses as Secretariat’s prep for the hallowed Travers Stakes. However, Saratoga has also a reputation as “the graveyard of favorites”, and Secretariat met his “Upset” in the personage of Hobeau Farm’s Onion, previously a good sprinting allowance horse, trained by the “Giant Killer”, Allen Jerkens.  Having placed in stakes races such as the Paumonok, Roseben, and Carter Handicaps early in the year, Onion, was very sharp in winning an allowance race at Saratoga earlier in the week of the Whitney in track record time. The truth is Onion did not win the Whitney; Secretariat lost it. He was trapped on the rail the entire race, and never had the opportunity to extend his stride losing by a length to his older foe. In the aftermath of the Whitney, Secretariat was declared to have a fever that would force him to miss the Travers.

In an effort to capitalize on the national attention given to Secretariat, the Marlboro Tobacco Company initiated a race that would bring together all the major horses racing in 1973 for a large purse that would serve as a “championship” race. Run at Belmont Park in September at 9 furlongs, the Marlboro Cup Handicap, as the race was called, was a precursor to the Breeders’ Cup Classic. On previous occasions these “invented” races fail to attract a competitive field, but the initial running of this race, exceeded beyond any expectations. The entries, by invitation only (with assigned weights), were Secretariat (124 lb.) who had not raced since his loss in the Whitney, Riva Ridge (127 lb.) who had tuned up with two allowance races at Saratoga (a second and a first), last year’s three-year-old champion Key to the Mint (126 lb.) who had not raced since his victory in the time honored Suburban Handicap, Cougar II (126 lb.), last seen winning the Sunset Handicap at Hollywood Park, Kennedy Road (121 lb.), who came in to the race with victories at Del Mar Racetrack in the San Diego and Cabrillo Handicaps, Annihilate’Em (116 lb.), the Travers Stakes winner, and Onion (116 lb.). Key riding assignments saw Ron Turcotte aboard Secretariat, Eddie Maple on Riva Ridge, Bill Shoemaker was on Cougar II while Donald Pierce was the rider of Kennedy Road.

In the build up to the Marlboro Cup questions swirled around Secretariat after his loss in the Whitney. However, he trained very well for the Marlboro, his last work being a sparkling 5 furlong breeze. I recall going to Belmont that day to find the track sloppy, but conditions improved as the races were conducted. The betting public made the Secretariat – Riva Ridge entry the overwhelming favorite. (Is it any wonder, as combined they represented horses who had been awarded three championships and had won five classics?) As the race enfolded, Secretariat, had the benefit of perhaps, the most illustrious “rabbit” in racing history, namely Riva Ridge. His Meadow Stable entry mate challenged both Onion and Kennedy Road for the lead down the backstretch forcing a torrid pace as Secretariat was poised in fifth place on the outside. Riva Ridge deposed of his rivals around the final turn as Secretariat ranged up on the outside. In the stretch, Secretariat casually pulled away from Riva Ridge much as he did to Sham in the Kentucky Derby. At the finish Secretariat was 3½ lengths in front of Riva Ridge who had two lengths on Cougar II who closed strongly from last place. Onion was fourth, Annihilate’Em fifth, Kennedy Road, sixth and Key to the Mint, not himself finished seventh and last. The time of the 9 furlong race was a new American dirt record, and the result gave the public what they came to watch - a great horse triumphant. 

Secretariat winning the 1973 Marlboro Cup Handicap
(secretariat.com)

Unlike today’s era of protecting a horse’s breeding value, owners in those days raced their best. Secretariat was back in action soon, quicker than planned. The 1½ mile Woodward Stakes saw both Riva Ridge and Secretariat in the entries, two weeks after the Marlboro. Riva Ridge was the intended starter if the track was fast, whereas Secretariat’s connections were planning to race him on turf for the remainder of his career. However, the Belmont track came up sloppy on Woodward Day and Riva Ridge was scratched. Secretariat, who had not been trained vigorously, represented the stable in the race. He faced Cougar II, top class filly Summer Guest and Prove Out, a King Ranch Stable castoff recently purchased by Hobeau Farm. By Graustark out of a legendary King Ranch family that traced back to Triple Crown winner Assault, Prove Out had showed flashes of brilliance, but was inconsistent, probably due to unsoundness. In his first races for trainer Allen Jerkens, he was impressive in winning allowance races, but prior to the Woodward he finished seventh with an excuse in the Chesapeake Handicap at Bowie Racecourse in Maryland. In the Woodward Stakes, Prove Out took the lead early, relinquished it to Secretariat down the backstretch, but to everyone’s surprise regained it in the stretch and drew out to a shocking, but impressive win. Secretariat was second, 4½ lengths behind Prove Out’s wake, but 11 lengths in front of Cougar II. Summer Guest finished fifth and last. (Note, all Secretariats’ losses in 1973 were in races that began with a “W” (Wood, Whitney, and Woodward).

Not dwelling on another defeat, Lucien Laurin proceeded in his plan to try Secretariat on turf and entered him in the 1½ mile Man o’War Stakes 9 days after the Woodward. In the field were grass stalwarts Big Spruce and London Company who had just won the Manhattan Handicap, but the main threat was Tentam, who was having an outstanding year. After winning the Metropolitan Handicap, finishing second in the Haskell Handicap, and third in the Brooklyn Handicap, Tentam won a division of the Bernard Baruch Handicap on grass at Saratoga, setting a new world record. He then returned to dirt and won the Governor Stakes by 2 lengths at Belmont at 9 furlongs. Purchased after the Governor by Windfields Farm primarily for stud duty, Tentam’s trainer, Mack Miller, shipped him to Atlantic City Racecourse, where he was a 4 length winner of the U. N. Handicap at 9½ furlongs on the turf.

Prior to the Man o’War Stakes, Secretariat had another of those workouts that just amazed everyone. A 5 furlong blowout on grass three days that made clockers check their watches to see if they were still working properly. In the paddock, I remember marveling how the big horse’s coat shined like bronze in the autumn sun. In the race, Secretariat, relishing the turf, broke with the field and was in front by the clubhouse turn. Along the backstretch, Tentam became his closest pursuer and made two concerted efforts to close the gap, getting within a length of Secretariat around the final turn. However, as they straightened out in the stretch, Secretariat was in his pendulum-like stride and drew away without any encouragement from Turcotte, winning by 5 lengths, and in the process setting a new Belmont track record for the distance on that surface. Big Spruce checked in third, 7½ lengths behind the valiant Tentam. It was not lost on observers the appropriateness of the horse often referred to as “Big Red” winning the race named after the original “Big Red”. 

Secretariat would face the starting gate one more time in his fabled career, and his connections decided it would be the Canadian International Championship at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto on October 28, 1973. The reasoning behind this was to share this great horse beyond the borders of the U. S., but also in homage to Canadian born Laurin and Turcotte. (An irony in that Ron Turcotte was under a suspension on the day of the Canadian race and could not ride Secretariat. His place was taken by Eddie Maple, born in Ohio.) The race at 13 furlongs drew a field of twelve and included Big Spruce and Canadian champion, Kennedy Road. Again, prior to the Canadian International, Secretariat had a brilliant workout on the Woodbine turf, a sure signal he was ready to show his best. The race was run in near darkness as a steady rain that had fallen throughout the day increased as the horses went to post. Kennedy Road rushed to the front, with Secretariat second as they went by the stands the first time around far ahead of the rest of the field. Along the backstretch, Secretariat moved on the outside to challenge Kennedy Road, who put up some resistance, before capitulating as they headed for the far turn. Secretariat drew away dramatically to an insurmountable lead to the delight of the crowd which he held in the stretch run finishing 6½ lengths in front of Big Spruce who had 1½ lengths on Golden Don. Kennedy Road finished a tired ninth.

Thus, ended the racing career of the horse with the most ability I have ever seen. Secretariat was retired to Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky to begin his stallion career in 1974. By any measure, other than not producing a horse of his caliber (as if anyone could), Secretariat was a success as a stallion. He sired double classic winner and champion Risen Star, champion filly or mare and Horse of the Year, Lady’s Secret, major winner General Assembly, brilliant filly Terlingua, and Australian Melbourne Cup winner Kingston Rule. Secretariat was also very influential as a broodmare sire, such as siring the dams of important stakes winners and influential stallions A. P. Indy, Gone West, and Storm Cat.

He died in 1989 at age 19, the result of severe laminitis.

The Travers and the Triple Crown (Updated)

 

The Travers and the Triple Crown (updated)

Joseph Di Rienzi
August 21, 2023

 

The Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, renewed for the 154^th time on August 26, 2023, has been called “The Mid-Summer Derby” in that it is the most significant prize for classic aged horses (three years-old) after the spring Triple Crown series of races (Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes). Over the years, horses that have triumphed in one or more of the classics have confirmed their top form in the Travers. Racing exemplars such as Man O’War, Whirlaway, Native Dancer, Damascus, Arts and Letters and Easy Goer have all won the Travers after capturing one of more of the Triple Crown races. However, in the last 80 years, there has been a curious oddity that when the Travers field includes winners of all three classics (note, this can be one, two or three horses), none of them are able to win the Travers Stakes.

I chronicled all this in a blog post of 14 August 2017, the last time this situation in the Travers present itself. The following chart summarizes its content.

Winners

Date	Kentucky Derby	Preakness Stakes	Belmont Stakes	Travers Stakes
1963	Chateaugay	Candy Spots	Chateaugay	Crewman
1978	Affirmed	Affirmed	Affirmed	Alydar*
1981	Pleasant Colony	Pleasant Colony	Summing	Willow Hour
1982	Gato Del Sol	Aloma’s Ruler	Conquistador Cielo	Runaway Groom
1987	Alysheba	Alysheba	Bet Twice	Java Gold
1991	Strike the Gold	Hansel	Hansel	Corporate Report
2015	American Pharoah	American Pharoah	American Pharoah	Keen Ice

*Affirmed finished first but was disqualified for interference.

Here is what happened in the 2017 edition of the Travers:

West Coast winning the 2017 Travers Stakes
(BloodHorse)

In that a separate colt won each of the three Triple Crown races, the male sophomore leadership was unsettled in 2017. The classic victors (Always Dreaming, Cloud Computing and Tapwrit) all targeted the Travers Stakes making this race a championship event. The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners, Always Dreaming and Cloud Computing, respectively, made the Jim Dandy Stakes their first race since the Preakness. Always Dreaming and Cloud Computing were racing in first and second, respectively, until deep stretch when they were challenged by the race’s other three runners. The winner, Good Samaritan was making his first start on dirt after being a successful stakes performer on turf. At the finish, the son of Harlan’s Holiday, trained by Bill Mott, was 4¾ lengths in front of longshot Giuseppe the Great who was, himself, a ½ length in front of Always Dreaming. Recent maiden winner Pavel was a head back in fourth, but a head in front of Cloud Computing. Unlike the other two classic winners, Belmont Stakes victor Tapwrit was brought up to the Travers on works alone.

There were twelve runners in the 148^th running of the Mid-Summer Derby. In addition to the classic heroes, there were the first two finishes in the aforementioned Jim Dandy, as well Girvin and McCracken, who finished, respectively, noses apart in the Haskell Invitational Stakes. Trainer Bob Baffert had an entry in Mary and Gary West’s West Coast. The burly son of Flatter from the champion mare Caressing was following a similar path that the previous year’s Travers victor, Arrogate, forged. Unraced as a juvenile, West Coast broke his maiden in his second start at Santa Anita, then was narrowly beaten in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. After an allowance victory back at Santa Anita, he shipped east to Belmont Park and won the Easy Goer Stakes on Belmont Stakes Day. Returned again back to California, West Coast was an impressive winner of the Los Alamitos Derby. With Mike Smith aboard for the Travers, all the signs were pointing for a Baffert/Smith repeat.

Just as he did with Arrogate, Smith took advantage of an inside post (no. 3) to send West Coast to the lead, and, in the run to the clubhouse turn, he was chased by the three classic winners. That was as close as they came to West Coast as Smith set a measured pace. In the stretch, first Irap and then Gunnevera mounted challenges, but West Coast under Smith’s cajoling was able to repel their bids. At the finish, the Baffert trainee was 3¼ lengths in front of Gunnevera, who in turn, was 2¼ lengths ahead of Irap. This year’s Triple Crown victors finished fourth (Tapwrit), eighth (Cloud Computing) and ninth (Always Dreaming). The combined defeat by these three horses continued a curious oddity that is the subject of this piece.

So the anomaly still holds that when winners of all three classics are entered in the Travers Stakes, none of them are victorious. However, since the opportunity has only presented itself eight times in eighty years, this is not a statistically valid conclusion. This year Mage (Kentucky Derby winner), National Treasure (Preakness victor) and Arcangelo (Belmont Stakes hero) are all entered in the 2023 Travers Stakes and are opposed by the previous year’s two-year-old champion Forte. If they do all meet, this will be a further test of this anomaly.

 

The Secretariat Triple Crown - Part III. The Stuff of Legends

 

The Secretariat Triple Crown – Part III.

The Stuff of Legends

Joseph Di Rienzi

  

This is the last of three pieces I have written to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Secretariat’s sweep of the North American Triple Crown series. Part I. – Leading to Louisville, examined the preparation given to Secretariat in the leadup to the 1973 Kentucky Derby. Part II. – Roses in May, focused on the Kentucky Derby itself and Secretariat’s track record breaking performance. In this final essay, I will recall his unique victories in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. Each was a masterpiece that underscored the greatness of this extraordinary animal.

1973 Preakness Stakes
(Sports Illustrated)

The 1973 Preakness Stakes, run traditionally in Baltimore two weeks after the Kentucky Derby had a field much reduced from its Louisville counterpart. The first three finishes in the Kentucky Derby - Secretariat, Sham and Our Native were entered with three longshots – Deadly Dream, Ecole Etage and Torsion all of whom had not contested the Derby. Secretariat had a brilliant workout at Pimlico Racetrack the Sunday before the race and appeared to be coming into the Preakness in peak condition. Sham also seemed to be holding his form, so there was great anticipation they would continue their rivalry that began in the Wood Memorial Stakes. The Meadow Stable team was confident, but cautious, remembering Riva Ridge’s shocking defeat in the Preakness the previous year after also winning the Derby impressively. The charisma of Secretariat was becoming infectious and that brought a record Preakness crowd which officials at Pimlico were unable to adequately control (especially during the race). 

Ecole Etage, as expected, was sent to the lead. Secretariat again breaking slowly, dropped back to sixth (last place), but instead of steering him to the inside as he did in the Derby, Ron Turcotte wheeled the big chestnut colt outside of horses on the clubhouse turn. In doing so, Secretariat made a sudden move that took him quickly from last to first, surprising everyone. Laffit Pincay Jr. riding Sham, who was tracking in fourth, wheeled his colt out in pursuit of Secretariat. Down the backstretch Secretariat had a daylight lead with Sham in second place tracking. Around the far turn, Sham was roused to close the gap, but Turcotte on Secretariat was just letting his horse lope along. My most lasting memory of the stretch run was Turcotte sitting still on Secretariat while Pincay was flailing away on Sham in futile pursuit. At the finish, Secretariat maintained a 2½ length margin on Sham with Our Native 8 lengths back, exactly the finish and margins as in the Derby. The most controversial aspect of the race was the final time. The official clocking by Pimlico was decidedly slower than handheld times, which registered a new track record. After many years of discussion and reviewing race videos, the Maryland Racing Commission in 2012 recognized the discrepancy and credited Secretariat with a time that broke the existing track record. More importantly this horse was now on the verge of horse racing immortality. As Penny Tweedy declared in the Preakness winner’s circle, “there is one more river to cross.”

1973 Belmont Stakes
(Getty Images)

As the Belmont Stakes approached there was incredible exposure and publicity. Secretariat appeared on the cover of three national magazines: Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated.  Most iconic was his bright chestnut face in the blue and white chessboard Meadow Stable blinkers adorning the June 11 issue of Time with the words “Super Horse”. He had truly become a national idol. His preparation for the race was impeccable. He had worked a mile eight days before the Belmont in a time that faster than most such races are run at Belmont Park.  However, Sham was still to be overcome, and Pancho Martin was undaunted by his losses in the Derby and the Preakness. Martin also entered Knightly Dawn who had just won the Jersey Derby but scratched him on Belmont Day, thinking Sham would set his own pace. There were three other horses entered: My Gallant, Twice a Prince and Pvt. Smiles.

On a very hot day, the Belmont Park racetrack dirt surface was extremely fast. The race prior to the Belmont Stakes was at 8½ furlongs and featured Forego and Angle Light who were deemed not quite up to the 1½ mile distance of the final classic. It was a “coming out party” for the Lazy F. Ranch gelding as Forego demolished the field by 9 lengths, nearly equaling the track record. It was an impressive performance and set the stage for what would come.

I stated in Part II. of this series that Secretariat’s Kentucky Derby win was the best performance I have ever seen in the Derby. I can say un-categorically his Belmont Stakes victory was the greatest performance by a thoroughbred ever on an American racetrack. It almost defies explication. Here was a great horse at the peak of his power, putting all his pedigree, training and spirit into one performance that will be remembered forever.

Secretariat, who ran each of his Triple Crown races differently, broke from the starting gate from the rail position in the Belmont better than he had done previously. Rather than drop back, Ron Turcotte encouraged his mount to contest the lead so that when the field headed into the clubhouse turn it was Secretariat on the inside of Sham vying for the lead. This looked like the makings of a match race with the copper coated muscular Secretariat, stride for stride with the dark hued, taller Sham. Racegoers reacted in shock as the dueling pair set interior fractions incredibly fast for a 1½ mile race. Surely both horses will crack under this pace. Down the backstretch, Secretariat asserted himself, first gradually, then spectacularly, drawing away from Sham and the others. By the time he went around the far turn he was 15 lengths ahead. Rather than slow down as might be expected after the torrid pace, Secretariat widened his lead and entered the stretch full of run. The Belmont crowd and the vast TV audience would have settled for this horse just hanging on to win, completing the elusive Triple Crown. But no, Secretariat was giving them something they had no reference point for. He was so far in front of the field that it did not look like a horse race anymore. The Belmont crowd was delirious and began throwing their Daily Racing Forms in the air, substituting for confetti. The final time 2 minute and 24 sec, smashed Gallant Man’s record set in 1957 by 2 and 3/5 seconds, thereby establishing a new American record for a 1½ mile race on dirt. The final margin was an unimaginable 31 lengths (about 1/16 of a mile). Twice a Prince rallied to be second, a ½ length ahead of My Gallant. Sham, tired from his efforts challenging Secretariat, finished fifth and last. (Sadly, Sham would not race again, after a hairline fracture was discovered in the summer when he was preparing to race at Saratoga.)

The winner’s circle was a momentous celebration for not only the connections of Secretariat, but racing in general. The long 25 year wait for a Triple Crown winner was over and, in Secretariat, the thoroughbred racing world had a champion for the ages.

A couple of footnotes are in order. First, I feel a little sorry for Riva Ridge who in 1972 was an impressive winner of the Belmont for the exact same Meadow Stable team, his performance nearly totally eclipsed by his younger barn mate. Second, I still have admiration for Meadow Stable (Mrs. Penny Tweedy and family), Lucien Laurin and Ron Turcotte who stood up to all the scrutiny, criticism and the pressure of the Triple Crown campaign.

It’s been half a century since Secretariat blazed across the thoroughbred racing landscape, and there have been now four more Triple Crown winners (Seattle Slew (in 1977), Affirmed (1978), American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018)). However, Secretariat’s performances in the series remain the standard and benchmark for the highest achievement the breed can hope to produce. 

The Secretariat Triple Crown - Part II. Roses in May

 

The Secretariat Triple Crown – Part II.

Roses in May

Joseph Di Rienzi

 

(Tony Leonard Collection)

In marking the 50^th anniversary of Secretariat’s sweep of the North American Triple Crown series, I have composed a set of essays on my remembrances of this historic event in thoroughbred racing. Part I. – Leading to Louisville, marked the three races Secretariat’s connections used in 1973 to prepare the big chestnut son of Bold Ruler for the Kentucky Derby. In this piece, I will chronicle the events leading up to and through the big race on the first Saturday in May. 

Meadow Stable, in whose blue and white blocks Secretariat ran, had previous experience in both the lows and highs of trying to win the Kentucky Derby. Stable owner, the late Christopher Chenery, had champions Hill Prince and First Landing finish second and third in 1950 and 1959, respectively, while Sir Gaylord (Secretariat’s half-brother), a strong favorite to capture the 1962 “Run for the Roses” suffered a career ending injury on the eve of the race. However, in 1972 all the stars were aligned as homebred Riva Ridge led all the way to win the Derby.

The buildup in the days leading to the 99^th edition seemed unprecedented. There were swirling questions on the status of Secretariat in the aftermath of his defeat in the Wood Memorial, although he shipped well to Kentucky, and his two workouts over the Churchill Downs racetrack were exemplary. The old issue of the progeny of Bold Ruler not winning at the classic distances, such as Wheatley Stable’s Bold Lad’s failure in 1965, re-surfaced. Questions also focused on the uncertain participation of Wood Memorial victor Angle Light due to an alleged injury or a perceived conflict of interest on the part of Lucien Laurin. Also, Sham’s trainer, volatile Pancho Martin, again threatened to enter Knightly Dawn as a “rabbit” only to withdraw the horse when entries were taken. Briming with confidence, according to Sham’s rider Laffit Pincay Jr., Martin told him that Sham, “would do something no horse has done in the Derby”. His prediction held true, but not in the way the trainer assumed.

At post time, thirteen horses faced the starting gate, before a then record crowd at Churchill Downs. The Secretariat – Angle Light coupled entry was favored, but by a small margin over Sham who had a good deal of support. Third choice was the entry of the speedster Shecky Greene and the closer My Gallant. Lazy F. Ranch’s Forego (a future legend) was the talk of the backstretch after a blazing workout four days before the Derby. His trainer, Sherrill Ward, had great confidence in the potential of this over 17 hand gelding, but he was not sure of the horse’s mental seasoning. In addition, the field included Flamingo Stakes winner Our Native and Florida Derby hero Royal and Regal.  In retrospect, it was one of the strongest fields assembled, and the running produced, in this writer’s opinion, the greatest performance I have ever seen in the Kentucky Derby.

As the gates opened, the race began as most anticipated. Shecky Greene went to the lead, Secretariat, off slowly, was last in 13^th place. Sham brushed with a rival at the start but worked his way to a contending position on the backstretch tracking Shecky Greene. The pace, surprisingly was not fast, and Sham appeared to be in position to take the lead whenever Pincay asked him for run. Secretariat, unlike his previous wins from off the pace, did not produce a bold rally, but started picking off horses one by one down the backstretch and into the final turn.  As the field turned into the stretch, Sham forged to the lead and the threat was obviously Secretariat who loomed majestically, steered to the outside by Turcotte. For the moment it appeared the race would be decided after a pulsating stretch duel, but Turcotte aboard Secretariat merely asked his colt for a little more, and Secretariat smoothly eased away from his rival. At the finish Secretariat was a comfortable 2½ lengths in front of Sham, who notwithstanding Pincay’s urging, could not keep pace with the Meadow Stable runner. Some 8 lengths back was Our Native in third with Forego ½ length back in fourth. Shecky Greene was sixth, Royal and Regal, eighth and Angle Light 10^th. The time of the race, 1 minute, 59 and 2/5 seconds, established a new track record, breaking Northern Dancer’s final time of two minutes set in 1964. Sham in finishing second, had, indeed, run faster than any previous Kentucky Derby winner. What is most amazing about the time is that the final quarter of a mile was run faster than the initial first quarter, and charting Secretariat’s interior race, he ran each quarter successively faster than the preceding one, most uncharacteristic for American racing.

As you might imagine, the winner’s circle celebration was tumultuous, as much from relief as from joy. The Meadow Stable contingent, Mrs. Penny Tweedy, her husband and her siblings were ecstatic. They along with Lucien Laurin and Ron Turcotte had done this all before with Riva Ridge in 1972. This was different, because the American racing world was celebrating with them with the realization that Secretariat, this big magnificent looking chestnut, the first Virginia bred to win the Kentucky Derby, was, indeed, a super horse and had a real chance to complete the long sought after Triple Crown.

 

 

(To be continued in Part III. The Stuff of Legends)