The Secretariat Triple Crown – Part II.
Roses in May
Joseph Di Rienzi
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| (Tony Leonard Collection) |
In marking the 50th 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 99th 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 13th 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 10th.
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)
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