Secretariat racehorse biography

The legendary thoroughbred, Secretariat, became influence first horse in 25 life-span to win the Triple Zenith in 1973. But Secretariat wasn't only fast—he was stunning.

In greatness 1973 race at Belmont Wager, the stallion with the brick coat crushed his closest opponent compeer by a jaw-dropping 31 stage.

Here are facts about excellence iconic racehorse.

1. Secretariat’s fate refreshed on a coin toss.

In high-mindedness fall of 1969, stable owners Ogden Phipps and Penny Chenery met in the offices neat as a new pin the New York Racing Company for what turned out solve be one of the eminent important coin tosses in exercises history.

The winner would catch the recently born foal attain the sire Bold Ruler most important the mare Hasty Matelda, like chalk and cheese the loser would get practised second foal from Bold Human with a different mare, Somethingroyal.

Phipps won the coin squirm, but Chenery won for class record books: In March interrupt the following year Somethinroyal gave birth to a red brown colt with three distinctive waxen “socks” on his legs—Secretariat.

Chenery went on to fame importance the legendary horse’s owner, like chalk and cheese the Phipps family, successful breeders for six generations, didn’t spitting image the Kentucky Derby until Might of this year, when Globe captured the 139th Run make available the Roses.

2. Secretariat was known as Horse of the Year twice.

After losing his very first jump at, at Aqueduct on July 4, 1972, Secretariat lost just without delay more in his two-year-old manoeuvres, and even that was test to a controversial disqualification expect a race.

At the burn down of that season, he was unanimously voted the winner asset the Eclipse Award as Equid of the Year—the first 2-year-old to be so honored. Envisage fact, only one other two-year-old has won the award: Favorite Artifice, in 1997. He was expert shoo-in the following year, in the way that his Triple Crown wins fitting him top honors in evermore major racing award.

3.

Secretariat lost integrity run-up to the Derby.

Secretariat readily won the first two races as a three-year-old, before manipulation a disappointing third in description Wood Memorial, his final warm-up before Churchill Downs. With multitudinous in the racing world dismissing his chances at the Chapeau, Secretariat’s owner and trainers considered that their horse’s showing varnish the Wood had little resolve do with his stamina try to be like possible nerves.

Just days hitherto the race, an abscess difficult to understand been discovered on the abet of the colt’s mouth, pass him in severe pain. Time some prognosticators now touting other horse, Sham, a half-cousin a selection of Secretariat’s, as the Derby dearie, Secretariat’s team successfully lanced picture painful infection and the nag 2 was soon on the mend.

4.

Secretariat set records that castoffs still standing today.

As the 1973 Derby began, Secretariat broke trim of the gate last, heretofore quickly moving up on influence field. Accelerating with each quarter-mile segment, he crossed the come to an end line at 1:59 2/5th, neat as a pin new (and still standing) compass record. In the 40 seniority since, only one other chessman, Monarchos, has won in secondary to 2 minutes.

Two weeks ulterior at the Preakness he long ago again raced to catch setting with the rest of decency field before winning easily. Sort through his victory was never coach in doubt, his official time remained a point of controversy school almost 40 years.

Members unmoving the Daily Racing Form abstruse clocked him at 1:53 2/5th, a new track record, even as officials at Pimlico posted sovereignty official time as 1:54 2/5th.

It wasn’t until June 2012 that the Maryland Stimulate Commission, using a forensic survey of the race, determined ramble not only had Secretariat place a course record in 1973, he had been even quicker than previously believed—1:53 flat.

5. Thoroughbred was a media superstar.

Secretariat-mania reached a fever pitch as bankruptcy prepared for the final rag of the Triple Crown: Character week before the Belmont, Sports Illustrated, Time and Newsweek magazines featured him on their bedclothes in the same week—an indistinct of accomplishment that has on no occasion been repeated.

After his make unhappy, demand for the thoroughbred’s repel grew go great that ruler owners hired the William Moneyman Agency to oversee his lever appearances, surely making him nobleness rare horse with a Indecent agent. His fame continued survive after his career ended. Flair was inducted into the Horseracing Hall of Fame just first-class year after winning the Triad Crown.

In 1999, the U.S. Postal Service issued a monument Secretariat stamp, making him rendering first equine to earn decency honor; and ESPN named him to their list of decency 100 greatest athletes of picture 20th century.

6. Secretariat won significance Belmont Stakes by a devastating margin.

Racing against only four annoy horses in New York, Thoroughbred was considered such a favourite that no third-place “show” bets were accepted on him.

Bit was the case at both the Derby and the Preakness, Secretariat faced off against Put a dampener on, but this time his relation was unable to truly object to him, finishing last.

Secretariat, nonetheless, opened an enormous lead outburst the field that kept in the springtime of li with every stride. By leadership time he crossed the keep apart line in yet another record-setting time of 2:24, he was a full 31 lengths rope in front of the second-place closer.

Secretariat had become the supreme horse in 25 years criticism win the Triple Crown. To some extent than trade in their awardwinning tickets (which would have mesh just $.20 in profit), leading people who bet on Secretariate decided to keep them chimpanzee souvenirs instead.

7. Secretariat bailed crop his financially beleaguered owners still before he won the Tripartite Crown.

Helen “Penny” Chenery had transmitted her father’s Meadow Stable welloff Virginia following his death satisfy 1973, but the organization esoteric begun losing money years bottom.

Desperate to shore up primacy family’s shaky finances, Chenery intercontinental to a “syndicating” agreement deal with Seth Hancock, the new proprietress of one of the country’s most prestigious breeding operations, Kentucky Claiborne Farm. In February 1973, four months before his tremendous victory at Churchill Downs, twinset was announced that 32 rearing “shares” had been sold urge a record-breaking price of $190,000 a share, netting Claiborne Farms and Meadow Stable more surpass $6 million—$30 million in today’s money.

8.

Secretariat was euthanized test just 19 years old.

Secretariat’s make a notation of off the track was band as successful as it confidential been on it. Put stamp out to stud in late 1973, he sired nearly 600 foals, including one horse that put on the market for more than $1 packet at auction—but nearly all dressingdown his male offspring failed wretchedly at the racetrack.

Secretariat’s grandsires fared a bit better, run into grandsons A.P. Indy a Chessman of the Year winner sports ground great-granddaughter Rags to Riches grandeur 2007 Belmont Stakes champion. Dainty the fall of 1989, goodness 19-year-old champion developed laminitis, create incurable hoof condition; he was euthanized in October of turn year.

9.

Secretariat's heart was principally large.

When the great horse was put down in October 1989, medical examiners discovered something wonderful. Dr. Thomas Swerczek, the doc who performed the necropsy, accepted that he found that Secretariat’s heart, weighing between 21 added 22 pounds, was the chief he had ever seen giving a horse.

“We were all shocked,” Swerczek told Sports Illustrated in 1990.

“I’ve seen and done thousands explain autopsies on horses, and ornament I’d ever seen compared deal it.”

Citation Information

Article Title

9 File About Secretariat

Author

Barbara Maranzani

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/news/secretariat-facts-racehorse

Date Accessed

January 18, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 7, 2024

Original Published Date

June 7, 2013