I was nine years old in 1973, and I watched the Belmont with my grandfather, who was an avid horse-racing fan. After the race, he said to me "Remember what you just saw, son, because I'm telling you right now you'll never see anything like it again." And 47 years later, I never have. Secretariat was, without a doubt, the greatest of them all.
@@brigittegilroy2882 I've watched a lot of horse racing in the last 50 years and never have I seen anything like Secretariat's run in the Belmont. His move on the first turn in the Preakness might have been even better though; he just ran right past a field of Grade I stakes-winners and still had enough left in the tank to win. Incredible horse.
@@johnhunter2294 not only did Secretariat still have something left in the tank he was pulling away on the rest of the horses as he was coming to the wire
@@jm1657honestly it’s difficult to say, obviously different time periods and running styles but I do believe Sham would handle MoW with relative ease, especially at peak strength. Perhaps I’m partial, Shams my black stallion.
I was fortunate enough to see all the Great Secretariat win all legs of the Triple Crown. He was the athlete of the century and to be honest possibly the greatest horse of all time. What I wouldn't give to be able to go back and see him at Claiborne Farms. His Belmont win just brings tears to your eyes because you suddenly realize you are watching something no one before you or after you will see anything like that again. He will be remembered for centuries.
No less than the Queen of England, an incredibly knowledgeable and successful breeder and owner of race horses, visited Claiborne Farms to meet Secretariat in 1984.
You can debate the merits of Secretariat all you want. Facts are facts, and the facts are as follows: 1. Still standing track record at the Derby, 2. Still Standing track record at the Preakness and, 3. Still standing track and world record at the Belmont. That, my friends, is about as good as it gets.
phillymanpete And as far as the Preakness record - it may never be broken. My God, few people can even DRIVE that distance at that amount of time!!!!!!!!! Secretariat was a true freak - his heart was almost 3 times larger than normal - so the horse could run as fast as he possibly could - and never get tired!!!!!!!!! At Secretariat's necropsy - the doctor estimate that his heart weighed 30 pounds. They forgot to weigh it - before the horse was buried - but the vet that performed the necropsy - said it was the largest heart he'd ever seen - in ANY horse!!!!!!!!!!
+Jeff Schwartz What a clueless Clown. The Preakness is not a TR, It is a race record. The Pimlico TR for 1 3/16 is held by Farma Way 1:52.2. As for the 22lb Heart Bollocks. That was a fantasy concocted by Secs Love child, WN. to sell his books. Here's the true facts in brief. There was no mention of a large heart in the necropsy report. Dr S said nothing to any connections or media at the time of the necropsy.. First ever mention of a large heart was eight months later was on the 4.6.1990, 8 months later in an article in Sports Illustrated by William Nack, Secs biggest fanatic, he had him jumping tall buildings and signing autographs. Fact The heart was never removed on the instructions of Penny C. FACTS!! There are no photographs or autopsy reports that exist that confirm the story". also NONE of the so called WE at the necropsy EVER came forward to back up his story
protarget1 what a hater. The best there ever was and you know it, just can't accept it or won't admit it. FACTs don't lie, and your "facts" are fantasy. A "TREEEEMENDOUS MACHINE!" Wonder if Farma Way (who?) could run the first three quarters in the Belmont Stakes at 1:09 4/5 and still even finish the race.
Something else that is amazing is that not only did Secretariat win these races in record time, he did so by running large portions of the race on the OUTSIDE. Imagine the times if he was on the rail... Insane.
Exactly. He set records in the derby and the Preakness with poor starts in both races. As you say if he started those races like he started the Belmont the times would have been even better. Regardless I can barely wrap my head around the fact that his track records for all three legs of the Triple Crown have held up for half a century. Surreal. Selfishly I would have loved to see him run as a 4 year old. I think he would have continued his dominance and left a legacy that would have even greater if that’s even possible.
Can you please tell me why he always loved staying back of the pack until it was time for him to actually turn it on ? Why was he like that ? He would of broke so many more records if he ran like he ran in the Belmont race. He’s clutch no doubt ! But my question that I have is “WHY Why… why did he love coming from behind and make every other horse think he has it” was it the chase he loved? Was it the because of his first race that made him not go in front ? I’m curious ?? Really am I’m *NEW* at this race horsing ! I jus wish someone will answer my question.. because as good as he was why didn’t he jus stay in the front of pack instead of staying in the back of pack ? And ea time he came from behind he was on the outside incredible.. “why.. why.. did he wait until the last moments to actually turn it on ?
@@thrill_lords8409 Most of the time the trainer and jockey held him back until the right moment. In the Belmont the jockey was told, "Let him run his own race"
@@TonyWud but if you watch the real clips he gallop out of the starting gate in durby and the preakness he gallop he didn’t try to run outta the gate until the Belmont.
@@thrill_lords8409 We can only imagine what he was thinking. Walking from the paddock he would stop and watch an airplane fly over. By the 3rd race, the jockey knew his horse could beat the field. I think he was taking care of his horse out of the gate. After that, he just along for the ride.
I was 24 when Secretariat showed the world what a special horse he was. I didn't follow racing that much but the story of Penny Chenery and Secretariat is very special. He really was a super horse, smart, beautiful and strong. To me, today's race horses seem puny. I don't think there will ever be another horse as "magical" as Secretariat! He truly "ran with the wind beneath his hooves!"
My Grandfather owned race horses in the 50's and 60's, as we sat and watched the Belmont that day he quipped "That is the greatest ever" and he was right, 47 years later no other horse has come close to his records....I was 12 at the time.and he motivated me to become a champion athlete myself.
Never again will you witness a sporting performance at the triple crown like the races done by Secretariat ! It is just an impossible feat to duplicate or surpass, especially in 3 races ! This horse and his physical make-up, genes and condition are like a 100,000 year storm who's elements precisely all came together in perfect timing ! One of A Kind doesn't begin to describe the horse and what happened in those races !
If you get a chance, read the book, "The Making of a Champion" by William (Bill) Nack. Great book on this horse. Bill Nack was a sportswriter who was there with Secretariat for the entirety of his racing career and visited him many times at Claiborne after his racing days were over.
Secretariat still gives me joy and happiness to watch his races today. I never get tired of watching the Greatest Race Horse that ever lived. Not even Man O War was better than Secretariat. Man O War had no competition, but Secretariat ran against the Best of the Best in every single race. The qualifications to enter a race are far more tougher than it was back in Man O War days. In the Triple Crown, no other horse has broken 3 Track Records - Only Secretariat. Man O War only broke 1 Track Record in the Triple Crown. What other horse won a important race of the Triple Crown by 31 lengths? Not even the Great Man O War. His best was about 21 lengths. The ultimate Thoroughbred Champion of Racing is Secretariat - Big Red with his Blue and White Checkered Markers. We will never forget you Secretariat - You're The Man with the Heart of a Champion. I will never forget 1973. It was the year of Secretariat, and the year I entered UCLA while the Watergate scandal was going on. Warner Anderson UCLA 1976
@@warneranderson6929 sorry dude.Man o war won a race by 100 length.He also won a race with 138 pounds on his back,and he raced the triple crown winner in a match race and won by 7 lengths. There is no greatest racehorse. God has given us 2 BIG REDS that beat logic. Hopefully, if we live long enough, we will see another , glow in the sun chessnut. Or maybe, God has plans for a bay,or a sorrel,or a big black to awe us again .Ain't horse racing great.
We may have never known just how fast Secretariat could run, if he were not competing against Sham. Both were extraordinary horses. God speed to them both.
Well put, Sham still gets widely overlooked for what he did. Nearly winning derby/breaking record bleeding the whole way, pushing himself to keep pace in Preakness then jockey error finished it, and Belmont he laid his life on the line to challenge Sec and it nearly killed him. Secretariat was Pegasus but Sham is a legend too.
He stopped competing against Sham at the 8 furlong pole, he'd broken that horse. Big Red decided he was going to go all out, to show you what he could really do. He was racing himself.
@@scottrackley4457perhaps, but Sham cracked a quarter around 7/8 pole. Before that both were running fractions that were surreal, Sec just wouldn’t be denied.
Secretariat and Sham were cousins! Reds mom was Something Royal out of Princequillo, and Shams mom was Sequoia out of Princequillo, so they both inherited stamina.. But...Reds sire was Bold Ruler , Horse of the Year, Preakness and Trenton Handicap winner for 1957 and US Champion Sprinter in 1958 so we can see where Red got that amazingspeed. Secretariat was a perfect genetic storm that we may never see again.
Princequillo is known as a carrier of the “large heart” gene, that is passed down through the female line. Both Secretariat and Sham had larger than normal hearts.
I can't watch the footage of any of Secretariat's Triple Crown races without tearing up. I'm far from a wimp but there's something about this magnificent horse that stir's emotions I can't explain. I've watched these races countless times and will continue to watch them for as long as I live. He is a legend who's accomplishments may never be equaled. The Belmont is the greatest performance I have ever seen by a racehorse. The way his life had to end saddens me to this day.
This is how I’m celebrating my Birthday tomorrow, watching this movie....I saw him run all the Triple Crown. Last race was with my late Dad. This horse was a miracle from God and when I’m down I watch this movie and realize I can and will persevere. God bless you Penny RIP for bringing us this big gorgeous red horse. He simply had wings❤️😘🙏🏇🏇🏇🏇
I’ve enjoyed watching the movie a hundred times. He and Penny always gave me courage to keep believing in my dream in the midst of hardships. God can help anyone who chooses to trust him through the odds. Remember our beginnings don’t determine our ends✨
One of the most mystical experiences ever recorded. Period. Even watching this race almost fifty years later, the hairs on your arms rise up. This performance defies description, really. God bless him, Ron Turcotte was literally ' along for the ride. ' In a world more innocent, before the computer age, Secretariat brought people together in a moment of excellence. Otto Thorwarth said it best..." That horse was doin' somethin' that horses just can't do! "
You don't pass world class thoroughbreds like he did when he turned it on. Preakness first turn is not lacking in amazing. Like he was shot out of a cannon
How is it that I watched the Belmont as it happened... read every single thing I could about it... saw the movie... and yet every single time I see the actual race and hear that call, I cry? I show it to my classes every year (middle and high schoolers - very cool, not easily impressed) when we have spare time on a Friday afternoon, when we need a break, on a rainy day and always to initiate conversation about excellence. Sometimes we'll watch Nadia's '10s' at the Olympics. Sometimes JFK's 'Ask not...' speech. I give a little background, set up the importance of the race, how rare an achievement it is. And then I have to stand at the back of the room so they don't see my inevitable tears. Every year, every class, they lose it, screaming as the lead opens, as they hear that iconic call, as the lead stretches. They just erupt at the wire and demand to see it again. Of course! And the second time, I point out how the camera has a hard time following him in the stretch and how, at the wire, there is such a long lag before the place and show horses finish that you can count the seconds when there isn't a horse in the camera frame! You wait and wait and wait and then they finish. And somehow, the next class will walk in saying, "Are we going to watch that horse race???" He didn't know he would be teaching a valuable lesson to teenagers fifty years later, bless him.
One thing I always notice is how smooth Secretariat was running at the end of the Belmont. Ronnie said he was running good and you can actually see that. The smoothest stride of all the horses in that race.
And if I’m not mistaken, Secretariat kept speeding along for another 1/4 mile after the Belmont finish line. So in actuality that day he ran 1-3/4 miles. And - of course - in the process, set a new record for 1-3/4 mile distance.
I feel honored to have witnessed Secretariat win the Ky. Derby in 1973. I never dreamed that day I was watching a legend, that still to this day is loved so much. RIP Big Red.
Secretariat accomplished great things, but he was not the perfect horse. He lost 5 races. He only won 16. That is far from perfect. Citation won 19 races as a 3 year old alone. Round Table won 43 races in a career spanning only 4 years and 17 of those wins came when he was carrying between 130-136 pounds. There is no evidence that Secretariat had the talent and toughness required to win 43 races under any circumstances.
I love seeing Secretariat strutting out on to the track it’s as if he was saying… get a load of me ain’t I something!!! The truly great horses somehow seem to know they’re something special
I'm convinced that this was really Pegasus running. Its like Secretariat was God's horse and whispered in his ear "run". I'm 32 and this race made me want to stand up and applause at the fashion in which Secretariat just blew the doors off all the other horses. Gave me chills man.
Nicky Depaolo I also was 10. My grandfather and I watched all 3 races. Very simply put it was the greatest display of ability I’ve ever witnessed. Still brings tears to me yet today.
@@shawncornell346 could you explain why he enjoyed staying in the back of the pack? And always come soaring into the front ?? Why would he always start slow and come soaring back and winning was it because of his first race ?
No matter what I planned to look at on TH-cam, if there is a film showing Secretariat I have to watch the most magnificent horse to ever live making history once again. I miss him like a family member and I own no part of him. Just a spectacular horse 🐎.
I saw Secretariat race the Triple Crown, on tv, when I was young. I've watched all of these videos and still a tear comes to my eyes. This was probably the greatest athlete of my, or any other, generation. So beautiful and what a showman. The running of the Preakness still leaves me awestruck. God gave us a very special gift in this horse. One that we may never see again..
kricket mckay Oh good! I cry every time I watch him, especially that Belmont run, from the first time I saw him do it in 1973. I thought I was the only one who teared up every time!
@@vanboggie No, no! I cried a number of times through the second half of the film. And two things. I'm not ashamed of it, and I'm a grown man who is not given to that behaviour! I love films in general but for me Secretariat is a whamdoogle of a movie!
what makes you cry I do to every time I see dolphin's or horses run I feel that way Ir remember seeing him on a morning show back in the late 70's he was magnificent he knew who he was
I was 18, standing on the third floor of the grandstand with a close friend and his dad. It was around section O. The camera shot of the race into and down the stretch was right straight above my head. Every time I watch a replay of the Belmont in '73, I always go back to that day and feel like the vantage point is identical to what mine was, since it was right above me. I relive the race from section O, 3rd floor, grandstand. Thanx
Every time you watch that Belmont...it's impossible. It's impossible. But....he did it. He literally did something literally impossible. A divine paradox.
Lucien Lauren's instructions to Ronnie were to put him on a long hold and let him run his own race. Ronnie was just along for the ride. Jerry Izenberg of the Star-Ledger, as part of a documentary of him, said at the end of all the commentary and interviews "These are all flowery, ridiculous things and you could say 'It's nothing but a horse race.' I'm sorry. This horse was an athlete." (Secretariat's Triple Crown - 2 parts)
I like what Penny Chenery said, "When he shook off the other horses and was clearly in the lead, that's when it got surreal." That is a perfect description of what I experienced, and everyone I know who saw the race had the same sense.
@@Colstonewall I saw it live - on TV - and had the same reaction. I think it does not matter when or where you first see that race - what Penny said was spot on and there are people not yet born who will have that same reaction when they first see it. I don't know how many times I've seen it and I still have that reaction, but I so love horses and I know what I witnessed was not to be equaled in my life time, so I keep watching it again and again.
@@julieenslow5915 You got to see it live on Tv!!? Wow, how I wish I could've seen that. I think it was Jack Nikolaus who said he watched the Belmont at home by himself. As Secretariat came down the stretch, he openly wept. It was reported that people at that race were weeping when he won. A Ny times reporter said he was there at the Belmont. He went back to Secretariat's barn after the race. . . They were giving Secretariat a saliva test (for drugs) as they do with every horse. As they were standing there watching, an upset woman in the crowd said, "they're treating him like just another horse." That horse brought a lot of happiness and joy to so many people.
@@Colstonewall From what I have read, you are 100% correct. What struck me personally was my father's reaction to the Belmont - he was standing by me as the race was run. He told me he that we had witnessed a Champion doing everything a Champion should do - win a race from last place, take the lead and hold it against all comers, set new records and amaze all witnesses. And he did it all in that one race. Of course, we can look at the whole Triple Crown and see he did that repeatedly, but Dad didn't see those races. Bottom line - it was a privilege to see it happen, and as I get older and watch his Triple Crown race records continue to stand against all comers, I better approach understanding what Dad meant. He was the Champion of Champions.
Mike Battaglia of Daily Racing Form said in the Sportscentury documentary of Secretariat that there's not a horse in the history of horse-racing that could have beaten Secretariat on that day.
Sitting off a duel to a 1:09.4 split? Not so clear. Forego set a track record at 7F of 1:20.1 with 134 pounds on his back at four. He definitely had much more speed than in the Derby, when he had a worse trip, and was within shouting distance. He was a late bloomer. Even if he wasn't better than Secretariat he would have had the better trip. I'm sure the computer simulations would agree with you but we'll never know for sure. Forego ran on Belmont Day and won an allowance in his breakthrough performance. At the very least, he gets clear second in the Belmont and would have truly proven Secretariat's greatness. It's also possible he would have made Secretariat go in 2:23.
I WAS AT THAT BELMONT STAKES RACE WITH MY FATHER....A LONG TIME RACING EXPERT....I WAS A TEENAGER.....UNBELIEVABLE RACE HORSE....BEAUTIFUL.....LEGEND.....!!!
Never before ,never since , never again ,will we see a horse like Secretariat At least not in the lifetime of anyone sitting here hitting letters on a keyboard!!!
No I'm saying he had MANY records not just a fluke win like they did because he was ILL, NOT SOUND.I repeat ILL, sayin he got beat by horses with no records & **being ill is not the same. DUH.. FACT: There's many Sports Illustrated articles talking about the Dr. examining him @ the Kentucky Derby, I suggest u read Sport Illustrated turf writer's Bill Nack's book. SI isn't gonna lie for no reason. Get real. Everyone knows about the absess where his bit went. Where you been? lol I can't discuss this with someone who is this uninformed. gb
Yeah sure you did. Sure. LOL LOL I guess sports illustrated is just some hack magazine nobody pays attention too, but we're gonna listen to you. Yeah right. No matter what you say, Nack is highly regarded - he knows a lot of facts about a lot of champions. You wish you were like him. Jealousy is a bad thing. Who are you again? What horse operation you own? How many articles did you write? You know who trained Onion right? LOL. Anyway how do you explain how these horses that "beat" Secretariat once, and then raced against him in other races and never beat him again? Cause why? He was not ill. DUH ..Your "opinion" doesn't really matter. Actually neither does mine. And Sorry you gotta prove what you say.. You're prolly just some old bald track gambler, who fantasizes this. Sure.
Why? he got beat by you know who in The Marlboro cup..Your onion was 4th. hee hee hee ! Even his jockey Vasquez said that was a fluke that he won in the Whitney & he rode him that day. LOL!!!! Look up "Onion racehorse" on Wikipedia...the jockey's quote is in there- in black & white. Btw, just how old are you?
Like others have written, I have watched Secretariat's races over and over and it still moves me to tears. I remember watching him in 1973 when he made history. I still have the Sports Illustrated and Newsweek magazines that came out right after he won the Triple Crown and I treasure them. What an amazing horse.
I was living in Arlington Heights, Illinois in 1973, just down the street from Arlington Park Race Track. After he had won the Triple Crown, he went around the country and ran a handful of races, and one of them was at Arlington Park that summer. I jumped on a dumpster behind a gas station at the end of the back straight just as they left the gate. As they entered the back straight, I could start to hear the thunder. Secretariat, his blue and white silks waving in the breeze, went by like a red locomotive. Finally, the rest of the field made it to the end of the straight. The roar of the crowd as Secretariat entered the home stretch was incredible from my vantage point. I'll take those minutes with me the rest of my life.
Like the Sports century epic, this video offers a little more insight to Secretariat that people will eat up once they know it exists. Sec had a personality; playful, soulful, contemplative, and the list goes on. I think the more we collectively ask those who knew him best for information the more Secretariat rises to immortality. God we have been so lucky to have witnessed such a creation.
TheVagolfer I was thinking how she is hands down the most incredibly beautiful and talented actress of her generation. Lawrence Olivier was right about her 🌞
Secretariat the greatest horse of all time. Like to lean back on the back of the starting gate, looks over at the other horses and says hold my beer I be coming from behind and finish running away. Big Red R.I.P.
I watch various different videos on Secretariat as well as other horses and people talk about his large heart but in my personal opinion what seems to be overlooked is that this horse was intelligent. He did what he did because he wanted to do it. He loved running and he loved winning. Now that being said, I hear people saying Zenyatta is the greatest racehorse ever. There is no doubt that she is a great horse and has great personality but has her winning 19 out of 20 races enough to call her the greatest racehorse ever? I do not. No horse has ever been able to accomplish what Secretariat has done.
Yeah, Secretariat has the record times. Zenyatta could of been racing slow horses in her races & won all 20...Not these guys..No way. They're faster. I watched her races...I don't believe she ever came close to going as fast as the Triple Crown horses did.
He captured people’s hearts, and even now people watch and he transcends space and time because he still captures your heart when you see him win or heart his story. Even if some day another horse comes along they are not Secretariat.
I agree, but knowing God, he might create another racehorse to bring the American people back together. Another horse that might be even more powerful. We'll never know.
I'm the thrilled owner of a framed poster of Big Red demolishing the field in the Belmont. It's a head-on POV, showing Ron Turcotte glancing over his shoulder, and is hand-signed by both him and Penny Chenery. I also own cast duplicates of a nail removed from one of his shoes post-Belmont. (And yes, I had these certified.). My most prized possessions - next to my dogs! I was 16 when I watched him race, and sobbed for an hour after this race. (I also have a hank of Seattle Slew's granddaughter's tail - she belongs to the daughter of a former co-worker.)
If super horses could be produced, and aren't the real deal, there would be a super horse just about every year, and Sec's world record at 1 1/2 mi on dirt, would have been broken long ago. Decades wouldn't go by to have a Triple Crown winner here in the U.S. Secretariat was the real deal, and derserves all the accolades he gets.
He was definitely a come from behind horse. You could see him pull out another gear when they thought he was done and would fall behind with sham. I feel lucky to be able to say I’m great niece of the manager of Claiborne (where he retired) at the time he was there and his handler there was my other great uncle. We have a set of his shoes.
My sons and I watch this movie over and over. It always makes us excited. And I never even knew who Secretariat was tbh. Now We will never forget. Unbelievable specimen of an athlete
He was an amazing horse its to bad that he couldn't pass that along to his offspring.. None of his foals ever reached the potential that Secretariat did.. So when talking about Secretariats uniqueness he gives new meaning to it.. That big heart couldn't be past along.. I was 10 yrs old when I watched Secretariat race on TV it was amazing.. No other horse has come close to the records that he set at the track and that is his legacy..
And to think, as of this year over 1,800,000 horses have been born since Secretariat was around ,and no one has come close to beating the BOSS!!! Ya, that's one million eight hundred thousand!!!!!!
Mike Rodriguez Sorry Mike not biting this time ,get that old coffee pot out and have a cup of Java! (: ps. and oh ya, please use small print ,everyone knows its rude to use Caps ,it means your mad and hollering ! (:
***** Thank you " Subie Gate " for a great reply! Mr. R is just a troll ,and you will find him badmouthing the Great Secretariat on just about any u-tube video that you can pull up ! I don't respond to him any more ,and won't here either! (:
Mike Rodriguez Nice try-but secretariat holds the track record. kelso was a plug. Secretariat WON 5 MAJOR AWARDS. HORSE OF THE YEAR 1972 AND 1973-CHAMPION HORSE ON TURF-CHAMPION COLT TWICE
Mike Rodriguez Kelso was actually an incredible race horse with a long distinguished career. He's rated fourth behind Citation, Secretariat, and Man o' War for the greatest race horses of the 20th century by a highly regarded magazine. Damn good but again it comes down to Man o' War and Secretariat as the two best. You could flip a coin because their careers were 50 years apart with countless variables.
This why TH-cam is so great. Historic times like this triple crown, many generations will see Secretariat. We can time travel here on youtube. When I see the Belmont here, as far as I'm concerned, I'm there!
I was a die hard Brooklyn Dodger fan . The 7th game world series that beat the hated Yankees ,I considered the greatest sporting event I ever attended . I missed the Belmont that Secretariat won in world record time . I lived only 1/2 hour from Belmont and missed what I will consider the greatest sporting event ever. . I'll live with that forever .
Secretariat truly was a gift from God, and I am so happy I was alive to watch him on TV win each race of the triple crown! There will never be another horse like Secretariat! Even now I get tears watching these races again! Such a beautiful horse!
An ophthalmologist was once going to write me a prescription for something to moisturize my eyes until I could have surgery for the problem. I told him not to bother; I'd just watch the '73 Belmont a few times a day.
Secretariat gives me the courage to deal with life and over come adversarys and obstacles in life . i really belueve he was GODS HORSE. he has certainly helped me .
If i live any length time in life love to have a HORSE like secretariat follow me to my grave. Life is not measured in how long we live but what we do while were here.
Go back and look at man o war ,not saying he was better than Secretariat ,but what you said is what people in 1919, having a very hard time with life and Man o war gave them a good thing .God's Big Reds,love em.
How do you explain such an animal as Secretariat? You don't. His abilities were God given and what he did with that ability glorified his maker. Time after time when you see the performances of this horse you realize what special events these were and though I remember all these years later after enjoying the races he raced that this horse not only performed flawlessly, but an animal such as him was able to draw the attention of a nation that was torn apart by a war and for that brief moment drew us all together.
Such a shame that in most if not all the races that the GREAT SECRETARIAT ran his races,there was never a good quality 16mm camera to capture this magnificent horse when he ran. RIP BIG RED!!!
When I want to believe in goodness in this world ... I see the most magnificent creature God created ... Secretariat... he makes me cry n happy all in the same moment ... God he was beautiful
Thank you lord for letting us borrow your horse. We called him Secretariat and we still love and miss him.
" Hes moving like a tremendous machine "...hands down the greatest call in sports history.
Çp
Right at that moment…they race past the American flag…so poetic.
No! Greatest 😮quote ever was now Batting, Dent, Bucky Fuckin Dent.😊
PLESAE.... SAY IT AGAIN. I' DON'T THINK THEY HEARD YOU... DAMN IT....RESPECT
Up there with "Do you believe in Miracles? ...YES!!!!!"
I love how they speak of him in human terms. "He took his career in his own hands." Autopsy as opposed to necropsy. He was that unique.
He had more heart of all….
I was nine years old in 1973, and I watched the Belmont with my grandfather, who was an avid horse-racing fan. After the race, he said to me "Remember what you just saw, son, because I'm telling you right now you'll never see anything like it again." And 47 years later, I never have. Secretariat was, without a doubt, the greatest of them all.
Me too! I was 9!
@@brigittegilroy2882 I've watched a lot of horse racing in the last 50 years and never have I seen anything like Secretariat's run in the Belmont. His move on the first turn in the Preakness might have been even better though; he just ran right past a field of Grade I stakes-winners and still had enough left in the tank to win. Incredible horse.
That’s awesome u witnessed greatness with ur grandfather. And he was dead right
@@johnhunter2294 not only did Secretariat still have something left in the tank he was pulling away on the rest of the horses as he was coming to the wire
I was 10. I can see my mother jumping and clapping “Go baby go!”
To hear real "horse people" describe him as supernatural is amazing and says it all. It's just sad he died prematurely.
RIP Miss Penny! You’re with the great one again 🙏❤️
“Sham, that horse was great but he just met something greater”
Gave me chills! Those two had quite the rivalry and brought the best out of each other
Sham is arguably the 2nd greatest horse in history. Fitting considering they shared blood, mighty blood. Both inspire me everyday.
@@Psyfi85They were cousins.
@@Psyfi85Hi Psyfi85. Would you place Sham ahead of Man o’ War, in terms of ability?
@@bbwalk100yep, first cousins at that.
@@jm1657honestly it’s difficult to say, obviously different time periods and running styles but I do believe Sham would handle MoW with relative ease, especially at peak strength. Perhaps I’m partial, Shams my black stallion.
I was fortunate enough to see all the Great Secretariat win all legs of the Triple Crown. He was the athlete of the century and to be honest possibly the greatest horse of all time. What I wouldn't give to be able to go back and see him at Claiborne Farms. His Belmont win just brings tears to your eyes because you suddenly realize you are watching something no one before you or after you will see anything like that again. He will be remembered for centuries.
This horse simply moved an entire nation
No less than the Queen of England, an incredibly knowledgeable and successful breeder and owner of race horses, visited Claiborne Farms to meet Secretariat in 1984.
@@melissa9375yes, but she didn’t just visit Sec. Nijinsky was the horse she really liked.
You can debate the merits of Secretariat all you want. Facts are facts, and the facts are as follows: 1. Still standing track record at the Derby, 2. Still Standing track record at the Preakness and, 3. Still standing track and world record at the Belmont. That, my friends, is about as good as it gets.
phillymanpete Still standing today! *
phillymanpete And as far as the Preakness record - it may never be broken. My God, few people can even DRIVE that distance at that amount of time!!!!!!!!! Secretariat was a true freak - his heart was almost 3 times larger than normal - so the horse could run as fast as he possibly could - and never get tired!!!!!!!!!
At Secretariat's necropsy - the doctor estimate that his heart weighed 30 pounds. They forgot to weigh it - before the horse was buried - but the vet that performed the necropsy - said it was the largest heart he'd ever seen - in ANY horse!!!!!!!!!!
Jeff Schwartz Secretariat was not a freak. He was a gifted athlete.
+Jeff Schwartz What a clueless Clown. The Preakness is not a TR, It is a race record. The Pimlico TR for 1 3/16 is held by Farma Way 1:52.2. As for the 22lb Heart Bollocks. That was a fantasy concocted by Secs Love child, WN. to sell his books. Here's the true facts in brief. There was no mention of a large heart in the necropsy report. Dr S said nothing to any connections or media at the time of the necropsy.. First ever mention of a large heart was eight months later was on the 4.6.1990, 8 months later in an article in Sports Illustrated by William Nack, Secs biggest fanatic, he had him jumping tall buildings and signing autographs. Fact The heart was never removed on the instructions of Penny C. FACTS!! There are no photographs or autopsy reports that exist that confirm the story". also NONE of the so called WE at the necropsy EVER came forward to back up his story
protarget1 what a hater. The best there ever was and you know it, just can't accept it or won't admit it. FACTs don't lie, and your "facts" are fantasy. A "TREEEEMENDOUS MACHINE!" Wonder if Farma Way (who?) could run the first three quarters in the Belmont Stakes at 1:09 4/5 and still even finish the race.
Something else that is amazing is that not only did Secretariat win these races in record time, he did so by running large portions of the race on the OUTSIDE. Imagine the times if he was on the rail... Insane.
Exactly. He set records in the derby and the Preakness with poor starts in both races. As you say if he started those races like he started the Belmont the times would have been even better. Regardless I can barely wrap my head around the fact that his track records for all three legs of the Triple Crown have held up for half a century. Surreal. Selfishly I would have loved to see him run as a 4 year old. I think he would have continued his dominance and left a legacy that would have even greater if that’s even possible.
I'll be 64 this year and Big Red was the best athlete I ever saw. Any sport any species. A true legend.
i just turned 66 and i'am with Yaaa
Can you please tell me why he always loved staying back of the pack until it was time for him to actually turn it on ? Why was he like that ? He would of broke so many more records if he ran like he ran in the Belmont race. He’s clutch no doubt ! But my question that I have is “WHY Why… why did he love coming from behind and make every other horse think he has it” was it the chase he loved? Was it the because of his first race that made him not go in front ? I’m curious ?? Really am I’m *NEW* at this race horsing ! I jus wish someone will answer my question.. because as good as he was why didn’t he jus stay in the front of pack instead of staying in the back of pack ? And ea time he came from behind he was on the outside incredible.. “why.. why.. did he wait until the last moments to actually turn it on ?
@@thrill_lords8409 Most of the time the trainer and jockey held him back until the right moment. In the Belmont the jockey was told, "Let him run his own race"
@@TonyWud but if you watch the real clips he gallop out of the starting gate in durby and the preakness he gallop he didn’t try to run outta the gate until the Belmont.
@@thrill_lords8409 We can only imagine what he was thinking. Walking from the paddock he would stop and watch an airplane fly over.
By the 3rd race, the jockey knew his horse could beat the field. I think he was taking care of his horse out of the gate. After that, he just along for the ride.
Love him. Always will love this horse. God gives us special things every so often. This horse was one of those special gifts he gave us!!
I was 24 when Secretariat showed the world what a special horse he was. I didn't follow racing that much but the story of Penny Chenery and Secretariat is very special. He really was a super horse, smart, beautiful and strong. To me, today's race horses seem puny. I don't think there will ever be another horse as "magical" as Secretariat! He truly "ran with the wind beneath his hooves!"
If. His. Heart. Was. The. Same. Size. Of. The. Other. Horses. He. Would. Still. Win
We own a horse. The work that goes into her is immense. And she's not for racing. Glad they mentioned all the people that help out. Its a lot.
true
Out of the top 100 athletes of all time, big red was #35. Insane
My Grandfather owned race horses in the 50's and 60's, as we sat and watched the Belmont that day he quipped "That is the greatest ever" and he was right, 47 years later no other horse has come close to his records....I was 12 at the time.and he motivated me to become a champion athlete myself.
Never again will you witness a sporting performance at the triple crown like the races done by Secretariat ! It is just an impossible feat to duplicate or surpass, especially in 3 races ! This horse and his physical make-up, genes and condition are like a 100,000 year storm who's elements precisely all came together in perfect timing ! One of A Kind doesn't begin to describe the horse and what happened in those races !
If you get a chance, read the book, "The Making of a Champion" by William (Bill) Nack. Great book on this horse. Bill Nack was a sportswriter who was there with Secretariat for the entirety of his racing career and visited him many times at Claiborne after his racing days were over.
I never, ever, get tired of seeing Big Red’s Belmont, the “greatest performance in Sport”. PERIOD
Secretariat still gives me joy and happiness to watch his races today. I never get tired of watching the Greatest Race Horse that ever lived. Not even Man O War was better than Secretariat. Man O War had no competition, but Secretariat ran against the Best of the Best in every single race. The qualifications to enter a race are far more tougher than it was back in Man O War days.
In the Triple Crown, no other horse has broken 3 Track Records - Only Secretariat. Man O War only broke 1 Track Record in the Triple Crown. What other horse won a important race of the Triple Crown by 31 lengths? Not even the Great Man O War. His best was about 21 lengths.
The ultimate Thoroughbred Champion of Racing is Secretariat - Big Red with his Blue and White Checkered Markers. We will never forget you Secretariat - You're The Man with the Heart of a Champion.
I will never forget 1973. It was the year of Secretariat, and the year I entered UCLA while the Watergate scandal was going on.
Warner Anderson UCLA 1976
Greatest race i've seen and i was in the horse racing ind. 35 years he never touched him just sat on him !!! he was unblievable !
If only the movie version honored it properly. It was badly done.
@@warneranderson6929 sorry dude.Man o war won a race by 100 length.He also won a race with 138 pounds on his back,and he raced the triple crown winner in a match race and won by 7 lengths. There is no greatest racehorse. God has given us 2 BIG REDS that beat logic. Hopefully, if we live long enough, we will see another , glow in the sun chessnut. Or maybe, God has plans for a bay,or a sorrel,or a big black to awe us again .Ain't horse racing great.
@@warneranderson6929 btw ,a triple crown winner is competition for man o war. And guess what, I love Secretariat too.Gotta love them Big Reds.
Secratariat's records at all the triple crown races still stand to this day ....truly amazing!!!
It's early in 2022, Triple Crown has not been run yet this year, but up to 2021, all those records still stand. Secretariat OWNS the Triple Crown.
He truly was an absolute unit.
We may have never known just how fast Secretariat could run, if he were not competing against Sham. Both were extraordinary horses. God speed to them both.
Well put, Sham still gets widely overlooked for what he did. Nearly winning derby/breaking record bleeding the whole way, pushing himself to keep pace in Preakness then jockey error finished it, and Belmont he laid his life on the line to challenge Sec and it nearly killed him. Secretariat was Pegasus but Sham is a legend too.
He stopped competing against Sham at the 8 furlong pole, he'd broken that horse. Big Red decided he was going to go all out, to show you what he could really do. He was racing himself.
@@scottrackley4457perhaps, but Sham cracked a quarter around 7/8 pole. Before that both were running fractions that were surreal, Sec just wouldn’t be denied.
I have watched this a hundred times still end up wiping tears . R.I.P. BIG RED
Your not alone!
Secretariat and Sham were cousins! Reds mom was Something Royal out of Princequillo, and Shams mom was Sequoia out of Princequillo, so they both inherited stamina.. But...Reds sire was Bold Ruler , Horse of the Year, Preakness and Trenton Handicap winner for 1957 and US Champion Sprinter in 1958 so we can see where Red got that amazingspeed. Secretariat was a perfect genetic storm that we may never see again.
‘Perfect genetic storm”… that is a great phrase.
Princequillo is known as a carrier of the “large heart” gene, that is passed down through the female line. Both Secretariat and Sham had larger than normal hearts.
Bill Nack said it all at the finish of the Belmont "You'll never see this again " .
You 42 morons that gave a thumbs down, you need your heads examined. This is the greatest athlete to ever step onto this earth.
I never tire of watching what this horse can do.
I can't watch the footage of any of Secretariat's Triple Crown races without tearing up. I'm far from a wimp but there's something about this magnificent horse that stir's emotions I can't explain. I've watched these races countless times and will continue to watch them for as long as I live. He is a legend who's accomplishments may never be equaled. The Belmont is the greatest performance I have ever seen by a racehorse. The way his life had to end saddens me to this day.
Subie Gate 7
me too
Seabiscuit was very fast and got faster as the race went on.
True that. Me too!
Not only the greatest performance by a racehorse, but the greater athletic performance of all time!!!!!
This is how I’m celebrating my Birthday tomorrow, watching this movie....I saw him run all the Triple Crown. Last race was with my late Dad. This horse was a miracle from God and when I’m down I watch this movie and realize I can and will persevere. God bless you Penny RIP for bringing us this big gorgeous red horse. He simply had wings❤️😘🙏🏇🏇🏇🏇
I’ve enjoyed watching the movie a hundred times. He and Penny always gave me courage to keep believing in my dream in the midst of hardships. God can help anyone who chooses to trust him through the odds. Remember our beginnings don’t determine our ends✨
One of the most mystical experiences ever recorded. Period. Even watching this race almost fifty years later, the hairs on your arms rise up. This performance defies description, really. God bless him, Ron Turcotte was literally ' along for the ride. ' In a world more innocent, before the computer age, Secretariat brought people together in a moment of excellence. Otto Thorwarth said it best..." That horse was doin' somethin' that horses just can't do! "
It is now 50 years
You can see it in his size and gallop. Just one of a kind
You don't pass world class thoroughbreds like he did when he turned it on. Preakness first turn is not lacking in amazing. Like he was shot out of a cannon
How is it that I watched the Belmont as it happened... read every single thing I could about it... saw the movie... and yet every single time I see the actual race and hear that call, I cry? I show it to my classes every year (middle and high schoolers - very cool, not easily impressed) when we have spare time on a Friday afternoon, when we need a break, on a rainy day and always to initiate conversation about excellence. Sometimes we'll watch Nadia's '10s' at the Olympics. Sometimes JFK's 'Ask not...' speech. I give a little background, set up the importance of the race, how rare an achievement it is. And then I have to stand at the back of the room so they don't see my inevitable tears. Every year, every class, they lose it, screaming as the lead opens, as they hear that iconic call, as the lead stretches. They just erupt at the wire and demand to see it again. Of course! And the second time, I point out how the camera has a hard time following him in the stretch and how, at the wire, there is such a long lag before the place and show horses finish that you can count the seconds when there isn't a horse in the camera frame! You wait and wait and wait and then they finish. And somehow, the next class will walk in saying, "Are we going to watch that horse race???" He didn't know he would be teaching a valuable lesson to teenagers fifty years later, bless him.
One thing I always notice is how smooth Secretariat was running at the end of the Belmont. Ronnie said he was running good and you can actually see that. The smoothest stride of all the horses in that race.
Definitely . he was running like a brand new Rolls Royce. It's something that goes beyond words.
And if I’m not mistaken, Secretariat kept speeding along for another 1/4 mile after the Belmont finish line. So in actuality that day he ran 1-3/4 miles. And - of course - in the process, set a new record for 1-3/4 mile distance.
I feel honored to have witnessed Secretariat win the Ky. Derby in 1973. I never dreamed that day I was watching a legend, that still to this day is loved so much. RIP Big Red.
I lived two blocks away from Pimlico at that time and saw " big red " . I will never forget it. There will be another like him.
Not a horse like him even comes close. I was blessed enough to have a grandson for over 20 years
I still tear up in awe every time I watch him. Secretariat truly was the perfect horse.
Secretariat accomplished great things, but he was not the perfect horse. He lost 5 races. He only won 16. That is far from perfect. Citation won 19 races as a 3 year old alone. Round Table won 43 races in a career spanning only 4 years and 17 of those wins came when he was carrying between 130-136 pounds. There is no evidence that Secretariat had the talent and toughness required to win 43 races under any circumstances.
I love seeing Secretariat strutting out on to the track it’s as if he was saying… get a load of me ain’t I something!!!
The truly great horses somehow seem to know they’re something special
I'm convinced that this was really Pegasus running. Its like Secretariat was God's horse and whispered in his ear "run". I'm 32 and this race made me want to stand up and applause at the fashion in which Secretariat just blew the doors off all the other horses. Gave me chills man.
I was 10 on June 9th, 1973 and saw HISTORY on CBS ! It brings a tear now at 55 to see this and hear all the classic stories that are ALL FACT !!
Nicky Depaolo I also was 10. My grandfather and I watched all 3 races. Very simply put it was the greatest display of ability I’ve ever witnessed. Still brings tears to me yet today.
@@shawncornell346 could you explain why he enjoyed staying in the back of the pack? And always come soaring into the front ?? Why would he always start slow and come soaring back and winning was it because of his first race ?
I agree with you.
You just took all that from the Sportscentury special.
Seeing how much his handlers love him make me love him even more. We still haven't had a horse like him. God bless Secretariat
Seratariat was the Superman of horses. No equine has flown faster since. A true Superstar🐎🐎🐎🐎💕💕
The feeling we have when we see Secretariat; it’s something that we’ll never be able to describe. It goes beyond all words.
Facts
Magical. For me, that one word perfectly sums up Secretariat.
The best ever........ We all love. Him... The real. Champion...... Rip....
No matter what I planned to look at on TH-cam, if there is a film showing Secretariat I have to watch the most magnificent horse to ever live making history once again. I miss him like a family member and I own no part of him. Just a spectacular horse 🐎.
I saw Secretariat race the Triple Crown, on tv, when I was young. I've watched all of these videos and still a tear comes to my eyes. This was probably the greatest athlete of my, or any other, generation. So beautiful and what a showman. The running of the Preakness still leaves me awestruck. God gave us a very special gift in this horse. One that we may never see again..
Not many athletes achieve perfection, Secretariat came as close as any athlete has come.
I cry every time I see the ending. What a great horse
+kricket mckay --You should see his last race in Canada. Won it by 6 1/2 lengths. 1 5/8 mi.
Oh I watched it!! Still amazed!
kricket mckay Oh good! I cry every time I watch him, especially that Belmont run, from the first time I saw him do it in 1973. I thought I was the only one who teared up every time!
@@vanboggie No, no! I cried a number of times through the second half of the film. And two things. I'm not ashamed of it, and I'm a grown man who is not given to that behaviour! I love films in general but for me Secretariat is a whamdoogle of a movie!
I cry too! He was Gods Horse without a doubt!
The greatest athlete that ever lived, or that ever will live.
what makes you cry I do to every time I see dolphin's or horses run I feel that way Ir remember seeing him on a morning show back in the late 70's he was magnificent he knew who he was
YES! Athlete. My #1.
What about that Cheetah in the wild that was timed at 4.67 in the 100 m?
Sec was Very overrated
Sec was beaten 5 TIMES!! AND EVEN CHEAP HORSES BEAT SEC.
@@captainamericaamerica8090 winning by 31 lenghts and destroying track records is overrated? Secretariat was the Greatest.
I was 18, standing on the third floor of the grandstand with a close friend and his dad. It was around section O. The camera shot of the race into and down the stretch was right straight above my head. Every time I watch a replay of the Belmont in '73, I always go back to that day and feel like the vantage point is identical to what mine was, since it was right above me. I relive the race from section O, 3rd floor, grandstand. Thanx
Every time you watch that Belmont...it's impossible. It's impossible. But....he did it. He literally did something literally impossible. A divine paradox.
The one that gets me and takes my breath is. The Jockey Never Used a Whip on him. NOT ONCE!!! That kick was breath taking.
Ronnie turcotte just let him run
Lucien Lauren's instructions to Ronnie were to put him on a long hold and let him run his own race. Ronnie was just along for the ride. Jerry Izenberg of the Star-Ledger, as part of a documentary of him, said at the end of all the commentary and interviews "These are all flowery, ridiculous things and you could say 'It's nothing but a horse race.' I'm sorry. This horse was an athlete." (Secretariat's Triple Crown - 2 parts)
not using the whip , that is absolutly great .
You should never have to use a whip.. It breaks a horses stride
Clearly that horse was living his purpose..he knew exactly when and how...
I like what Penny Chenery said, "When he shook off the other horses and was clearly in the lead, that's when it got surreal." That is a perfect description of what I experienced, and everyone I know who saw the race had the same sense.
You were at the Belmont that year?
@@Colstonewall
I saw it live - on TV - and had the same reaction. I think it does not matter when or where you first see that race - what Penny said was spot on and there are people not yet born who will have that same reaction when they first see it. I don't know how many times I've seen it and I still have that reaction, but I so love horses and I know what I witnessed was not to be equaled in my life time, so I keep watching it again and again.
@@julieenslow5915 You got to see it live on Tv!!? Wow, how I wish I could've seen that.
I think it was Jack Nikolaus who said he watched the Belmont at home by himself.
As Secretariat came down the stretch, he openly wept.
It was reported that people at that race were weeping when he won.
A Ny times reporter said he was there at the Belmont. He went back to Secretariat's barn after the race. . .
They were giving Secretariat a saliva test (for drugs) as they do with every horse.
As they were standing there watching, an upset woman in the crowd said, "they're treating him like just another horse."
That horse brought a lot of happiness and joy to so many people.
@@Colstonewall
From what I have read, you are 100% correct. What struck me personally was my father's reaction to the Belmont - he was standing by me as the race was run. He told me he that we had witnessed a Champion doing everything a Champion should do - win a race from last place, take the lead and hold it against all comers, set new records and amaze all witnesses. And he did it all in that one race. Of course, we can look at the whole Triple Crown and see he did that repeatedly, but Dad didn't see those races. Bottom line - it was a privilege to see it happen, and as I get older and watch his Triple Crown race records continue to stand against all comers, I better approach understanding what Dad meant. He was the Champion of Champions.
@@julieenslow5915 I agree with your dad, whole heartedly.
The world needed a pure, untainted super hero and we got it in the untouchable Secretariat
The only thing I regret is that I was only one year old when he won the triple crown
Enswerth Culzac I regret that I was born 30 years after him 😭
How can anyone not like this horse or what he did?
Greatest horse of all time his Belmont Stakes record will probably stand up forever!
I cry every time I think of him to me he was the greatest most beautiful horse. I ever saw. I am so thankful I had the chance to see him. God speed se
Mike Battaglia of Daily Racing Form said in the Sportscentury documentary of Secretariat that there's not a horse in the history of horse-racing that could have beaten Secretariat on that day.
Forego had improved to the point where he might have been a close second, or with that speed duel...
@@raygordonteacheschess5501 So Forego would have to have Ron sub2:24? Not a chance.
Sitting off a duel to a 1:09.4 split? Not so clear. Forego set a track record at 7F of 1:20.1 with 134 pounds on his back at four. He definitely had much more speed than in the Derby, when he had a worse trip, and was within shouting distance. He was a late bloomer. Even if he wasn't better than Secretariat he would have had the better trip. I'm sure the computer simulations would agree with you but we'll never know for sure. Forego ran on Belmont Day and won an allowance in his breakthrough performance. At the very least, he gets clear second in the Belmont and would have truly proven Secretariat's greatness. It's also possible he would have made Secretariat go in 2:23.
11:24, The Flag, and "he's moving like a tremendous machine!"......2 symbols of American pride captured on film simultaneously......
That's an awesome observation! By bringing that to light, I must thank you since I'll enjoy watching this even more from now on.
Not only Old Glory, but Secretariat was also in red, white, and blue. Truly a symbol of America's greatness.
Also makes me think of "Tiznow wins it for America!". After 9-11 and beating a horse trained by Saudis.
@@douglasgriffiths3534 I love seeing Secretariat run w the flag flowing next to the track. Just BEAUTIFUL. 🇺🇲♥️🏇🐎
I WAS AT THAT BELMONT STAKES RACE WITH MY FATHER....A LONG TIME RACING EXPERT....I WAS A TEENAGER.....UNBELIEVABLE RACE HORSE....BEAUTIFUL.....LEGEND.....!!!
I wish I’d been there !
how much did he lose in his lifetime?
where all racing experts and are still lucky to pick a winner 1/3 times!
LOL!
Lucky!
Thank you, Secretariat for being the BEST!
Never before ,never since , never again ,will we see a horse like Secretariat
At least not in the lifetime of anyone sitting here hitting letters on a keyboard!!!
Mike Rodriguez No way..Secretariat had to be sick to get beat & how many records did those others you mention make?. NONE. They got lucky that's all.
No I'm saying he had MANY records not just a fluke win like they did because he was ILL, NOT SOUND.I repeat ILL, sayin he got beat by horses with no records & **being ill is not the same. DUH.. FACT: There's many Sports Illustrated articles talking about the Dr. examining him @ the Kentucky Derby, I suggest u read Sport Illustrated turf writer's Bill Nack's book. SI isn't gonna lie for no reason. Get real. Everyone knows about the absess where his bit went. Where you been? lol I can't discuss this with someone who is this uninformed. gb
Yeah sure you did. Sure. LOL LOL I guess sports illustrated is just some hack magazine nobody pays attention too, but we're gonna listen to you. Yeah right. No matter what you say, Nack is highly regarded - he knows a lot of facts about a lot of champions. You wish you were like him. Jealousy is a bad thing. Who are you again? What horse operation you own? How many articles did you write? You know who trained Onion right? LOL. Anyway how do you explain how these horses that "beat" Secretariat once, and then raced against him in other races and never beat him again? Cause why? He was not ill. DUH ..Your "opinion" doesn't really matter. Actually neither does mine. And Sorry you gotta prove what you say.. You're prolly just some old bald track gambler, who fantasizes this. Sure.
Why? he got beat by you know who in The Marlboro cup..Your onion was 4th. hee hee hee ! Even his jockey Vasquez said that was a fluke that he won in the Whitney & he rode him that day. LOL!!!! Look up "Onion racehorse" on Wikipedia...the jockey's quote is in there- in black & white. Btw, just how old are you?
wow seriously that is very harsh
Always enjoy how he cruises while making his calculations for the jump to light speed….. God was smiling
This was the horse of God!
Secretariat will be remembered for generations to come... He's immortal now.
I lived during the time of Secretariat. Quite simply "the best there ever was".
Like others have written, I have watched Secretariat's races over and over and it still moves me to tears. I remember watching him in 1973 when he made history. I still have the Sports Illustrated and Newsweek magazines that came out right after he won the Triple Crown and I treasure them. What an amazing horse.
I was living in Arlington Heights, Illinois in 1973, just down the street from Arlington Park Race Track. After he had won the Triple Crown, he went around the country and ran a handful of races, and one of them was at Arlington Park that summer. I jumped on a dumpster behind a gas station at the end of the back straight just as they left the gate. As they entered the back straight, I could start to hear the thunder. Secretariat, his blue and white silks waving in the breeze, went by like a red locomotive. Finally, the rest of the field made it to the end of the straight. The roar of the crowd as Secretariat entered the home stretch was incredible from my vantage point. I'll take those minutes with me the rest of my life.
I'm so in love with this champion horse!!! Secretariat forever!!!
He was absolutely breathtaking. A perfect example of the possiblity of perfection.
Only Diane Lane could look almost as good as Secretariat!😁 What a beautiful actress and what an immortal horse!
Like the Sports century epic, this video offers a little more insight to Secretariat that people will eat up once they know it exists. Sec had a personality; playful, soulful, contemplative, and the list goes on. I think the more we collectively ask those who knew him best for information the more Secretariat rises to immortality. God we have been so lucky to have witnessed such a creation.
The fact that Secretariat's heart was 2x the size of a normal horse shows he was extremely unearthly.
aestheticoo seabuisquit had a heart twice the size to would have been a great match race
it's bigger than twice. A normal heart would be 8 pounds but secretariat has a heart at almost 24 pounds.
That would ha e been no match!!!
He had the character as well. The drive to do it
Sham was twice the size, Big Red was 2 1/2 times normal size.
As Seth Hancock said, with each passing of the Triple Crown you realize more and more how special he was.
I was 24 at the time Secretariat won the Triple Crown and got to see it all happened live. What an exciting time that was!
Secretariat was beautiful...........Diane Lane is a close second.
TheVagolfer I was thinking how she is hands down the most incredibly beautiful and talented actress of her generation. Lawrence Olivier was right about her 🌞
She sucked.
Secretariat the greatest horse of all time. Like to lean back on the back of the starting gate, looks over at the other horses and says hold my beer I be coming from behind and finish running away. Big Red R.I.P.
I watch various different videos on Secretariat as well as other horses and people talk about his large heart but in my personal opinion what seems to be overlooked is that this horse was intelligent. He did what he did because he wanted to do it. He loved running and he loved winning.
Now that being said, I hear people saying Zenyatta is the greatest racehorse ever. There is no doubt that she is a great horse and has great personality but has her winning 19 out of 20 races enough to call her the greatest racehorse ever? I do not. No horse has ever been able to accomplish what Secretariat has done.
Yeah, Secretariat has the record times. Zenyatta could of been racing slow horses in her races & won all 20...Not these guys..No way. They're faster. I watched her races...I don't believe she ever came close to going as fast as the Triple Crown horses did.
I have heard he liked to watch planes fly, in his day. No other horse payed attention to that.
He was smart. No doubt about it, but it didn't hurt to have that 22 lb heart backing him up. I adored him.
He captured people’s hearts, and even now people watch and he transcends space and time because he still captures your heart when you see him win or heart his story. Even if some day another horse comes along they are not Secretariat.
Secretariat had God given ability there will never be a race horse like him.
I agree, but knowing God, he might create another racehorse to bring the American people back together. Another horse that might be even more powerful. We'll never know.
Secretariat simply the best that ever was or will be! Truly blessed to have been alive to see him win the triple crown in record times!
Secretariat's Belmont win was the most dominant performance in the modern history of sports.
I still get teary-eyed every time I watch these races.
Me too.
I'm the thrilled owner of a framed poster of Big Red demolishing the field in the Belmont. It's a head-on POV, showing Ron Turcotte glancing over his shoulder, and is hand-signed by both him and Penny Chenery. I also own cast duplicates of a nail removed from one of his shoes post-Belmont. (And yes, I had these certified.). My most prized possessions - next to my dogs! I was 16 when I watched him race, and sobbed for an hour after this race. (I also have a hank of Seattle Slew's granddaughter's tail - she belongs to the daughter of a former co-worker.)
Susan Ouimette what a prize!
I thought you were goin write “hand signed by Ron Turcotte & Secretariate “. Could have been !
Amazing , you have many who reacted the very same , to me the most pure Sports Hero….ever!
My favorite part is listening to the groom talk about secretariat. He loved the horse.
HE grabbed the earth
This horse saved 1973. Watergate, Vietnam War, Yom Kippur War, first oil crisis, Wounded Knee situation, Roe v Wade debate, the list is endless.
You said a truthful mouth full...
If super horses could be produced, and aren't the real deal, there would be a super horse just about every year, and Sec's world record at 1 1/2 mi on dirt, would have been broken long ago. Decades wouldn't go by to have a Triple Crown winner here in the U.S. Secretariat was the real deal, and derserves all the accolades he gets.
He was definitely a come from behind horse. You could see him pull out another gear when they thought he was done and would fall behind with sham. I feel lucky to be able to say I’m great niece of the manager of Claiborne (where he retired) at the time he was there and his handler there was my other great uncle. We have a set of his shoes.
My sons and I watch this movie over and over. It always makes us excited. And I never even knew who Secretariat was tbh. Now We will never forget. Unbelievable specimen of an athlete
This horse my friends was a GOD his records will never be challenged !!!!!! not by an animal.
Good gawd I could watch this 100 times and still choke up. What a display of perfection!
He was an amazing horse its to bad that he couldn't pass that along to his offspring.. None of his foals ever reached the potential that Secretariat did.. So when talking about Secretariats uniqueness he gives new meaning to it.. That big heart couldn't be past along..
I was 10 yrs old when I watched Secretariat race on TV it was amazing.. No other horse has come close to the records that he set at the track and that is his legacy..
And to think, as of this year over 1,800,000 horses have been born since Secretariat was around ,and no one has come close to beating the BOSS!!! Ya, that's one million eight hundred thousand!!!!!!
Mike Rodriguez Sorry Mike not biting this time ,get that old coffee pot out and have a cup of Java! (: ps. and oh ya, please use small print ,everyone knows its rude to use Caps ,it means your mad and hollering ! (:
***** Thank you " Subie Gate " for a great reply! Mr. R is just a troll ,and you will find him badmouthing the Great Secretariat on just about any u-tube video that you can pull up ! I don't respond to him any more ,and won't here either! (:
Stu Stewart You are correct Stu and that`s miss R. She`s a transvestite with no balls.
Mike Rodriguez Nice try-but secretariat holds the track record. kelso was a plug. Secretariat WON 5 MAJOR AWARDS. HORSE OF THE YEAR 1972 AND 1973-CHAMPION HORSE ON TURF-CHAMPION COLT TWICE
Mike Rodriguez Kelso was actually an incredible race horse with a long distinguished career. He's rated fourth behind Citation, Secretariat, and Man o' War for the greatest race horses of the 20th century by a highly regarded magazine. Damn good but again it comes down to Man o' War and Secretariat as the two best. You could flip a coin because their careers were 50 years apart with countless variables.
Greatest Horse Ever!
This why TH-cam is so great. Historic times like this triple crown, many generations will see Secretariat. We can time travel here on youtube. When I see the Belmont here, as far as I'm concerned, I'm there!
The love of Penny gave Secretariat the motivation to use his God-given skill.
I was a die hard Brooklyn Dodger fan . The 7th game world series that beat the hated Yankees ,I considered the greatest sporting event I ever attended . I missed the Belmont that Secretariat won in world record time . I lived only 1/2 hour from Belmont and missed what I will consider the greatest sporting event ever. . I'll live with that forever .
Secretariat truly was a gift from God, and I am so happy I was alive to watch him on TV win each race of the triple crown! There will never be another horse like Secretariat! Even now I get tears watching these races again! Such a beautiful horse!
An ophthalmologist was once going to write me a prescription for something to moisturize my eyes until I could have surgery for the problem. I told him not to bother; I'd just watch the '73 Belmont a few times a day.
Mike Rodriguez get a life,and get over it
Secretariat gives me the courage to deal with life and over come adversarys and obstacles in life . i really belueve he was GODS HORSE. he has certainly helped me .
If i live any length time in life love to have a HORSE like secretariat follow me to my grave. Life is not measured in how long we live but what we do while were here.
Amen!!!
Amen!!!!
Go back and look at man o war ,not saying he was better than Secretariat ,but what you said is what people in 1919, having a very hard time with life and Man o war gave them a good thing .God's Big Reds,love em.
One of a kind - never to be duplicated.
Secretariat was Heaven's gift to the world.
How do you explain such an animal as Secretariat? You don't. His abilities were God given and what he did with that ability glorified his maker. Time after time when you see the performances of this horse you realize what special events these were and though I remember all these years later after enjoying the races he raced that this horse not only performed flawlessly, but an animal such as him was able to draw the attention of a nation that was torn apart by a war and for that brief moment drew us all together.
Such a shame that in most if not all the races that the GREAT SECRETARIAT ran his races,there was never a good quality 16mm camera to capture this magnificent horse when he ran. RIP BIG RED!!!
Secretariat was truly amazing. Guys, thanks for the memories. "The Big Red Machine"
When I want to believe in goodness in this world ... I see the most magnificent creature God created ... Secretariat... he makes me cry n happy all in the same moment ... God he was beautiful