Secretariat is a name that is known by horse racing fans and non-fans alike. He is widely considered to be the greatest racehorse of all time and has left an indelible mark on the world of horse racing.
Born in 1970, Secretariat was owned by Meadow Stable, a Virginia-based stable owned by Penny Chenery. He was bred by Christopher Chenery, who had a vision of breeding a horse that would be capable of winning the Triple Crown, a series of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses that includes the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes.
Secretariat was an impressive-looking horse, standing at 16.2 hands tall and weighing over 1,200 pounds. He had a muscular build and a distinctive chestnut coat with a white blaze on his face and three white socks on his legs. He had a powerful stride and a remarkable ability to accelerate quickly, even in the later stages of a race.
Secretariat's racing career began in 1972, and he quickly made a name for himself. He won several races as a two-year-old, including the Hopeful Stakes and the Futurity Stakes. In 1973, he began his three-year-old campaign by winning the Bay Shore Stakes, the Gotham Stakes, and the Wood Memorial Stakes, all leading up to the Kentucky Derby.
The 1973 Kentucky Derby was a historic race. Secretariat, ridden by jockey Ron Turcotte, started from the 10th post position and fell back to fourth place in the early stages of the race. However, he quickly made up ground and took the lead in the final turn, pulling away from the rest of the field to win by 2 1/2 lengths in a record-breaking time of 1:59 2/5. Secretariat's performance in the Kentucky Derby was nothing short of spectacular and marked the beginning of his legendary status.
Secretariat went on to win the Preakness Stakes two weeks later, again breaking the record with a time of 1:53. He then headed to the Belmont Stakes, the final race in the Triple Crown series. The Belmont Stakes is known as the "Test of the Champion" because of its grueling distance of 1 1/2 miles. Secretariat, however, was up for the challenge. He ran the race of his life, leading wire-to-wire and winning by an incredible 31 lengths, setting a new world record time of 2:24. The crowd at Belmont Park was on their feet, cheering and screaming as Secretariat crossed the finish line. His performance in the Belmont Stakes is widely regarded as one of the greatest athletic achievements of all time.
After his Triple Crown victory, Secretariat continued to race and win, setting records in several races. He retired from racing at the end of 1973 with a record of 16 wins in 21 starts and over $1.3 million in earnings. He was then retired to stud, where he sired several successful horses.
Secretariat's legacy as the greatest racehorse of all time continues to inspire and awe people to this day. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1974 and has been the subject of several books, documentaries, and films. His remarkable performances on the racetrack and his undeniable charisma and presence have made him the most famous horse in the world.