Yes it is the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s legendary Triple Crown sweep and his iconic fall campaign, but not to be overlooked is the tension-filled journey in the winter and early spring of 1973 that led to the historic events that followed. This is when the legend began and changed the face of horse racing for all time. After you travel back in history and read the behind the scenes story that follows, check out the Week 8 Derby Rankings and the result of the Tampa Bay Derby, along with other interesting tidbits of information.~ Steve Haskin
Big Red’s March to the Derby
By Steve Haskin
Photo Now Available for Purchase
Every year the sights and sounds of Aqueduct are pretty much the same. While many of the Kentucky Derby hopefuls are basking in the warm Florida and Southern California sunshine, those brave souls who head north or are stabled there all winter are dealing with the cold bitter winds blowing in off Jamaica Bay and the squawking of seagulls, who pretty much take over the track.
Back in 1973 there was no winter racing, with Aqueduct closing shortly after Thanksgiving. As March rolled around and the temperatures began to rise there was great anticipation for opening day in mid-March, with track workers preparing for the start of the new racing season. Soon the grays and whites of winter would be replaced by colorful beds of tulips and a kaleidoscope of jockey silks. The sounds of horses thundering down the stretch would again resound throughout the grandstand that had been hushed for over two months.
In the winter of ‘73 there was plenty to excite racing fans elsewhere, with the brilliant Linda’s Chief, trained by the young transplanted New Yorker Bobby Frankel and the budding star Sham dominating the 3-year-old scene in California and names like Our Native, My Gallant, Royal and Regal, and a late-developing mountain of a horse named Forego sharing the glory in Florida.
But they were all merely opening acts for the eagerly anticipated debut of racing’s $6 million horse and reigning Horse of the Year, Secretariat. What made Secretariat’s record $6,080,000 syndication price so remarkable was the fact that he had not even raced at 3. No horse had swept racing’s Triple Crown since Citation in 1948, and the buzz was already in the air that the grand-looking Secretariat was unbeatable, even though there were stamina questions concerning his sire Bold Ruler, perhaps the most dominant sire of 2-year-olds the sport had ever seen. But his earlier juvenile champions Vitriolic and Successor failed to regain their form at 3 and his potential superstar Bold Lad, who like Secretariat was out of a Princequillo mare, managed to win only the Derby Trial at 3 in 1965.
So, here was this newly turned 3-year-old, who had not run beyond 1 1/16 miles, already valued at nearly $2 million more than Buckpasser, nearly $3 million more than Dr. Fager, and $3.5 million more than Damascus.
Secretariat’s owner, Penny Tweedy, who only a couple of years earlier was a housewife in Colorado, and Claiborne Farm president Seth Hancock, who took over the farm after the death of his father “Bull” Hancock,” had pulled off one the great coups in the art of horse trading, and selling their product as a must-have commodity. The fear of missing out on a sure thing and not being part of the next Triple Crown winner had the sport’s top breeders and shrewdest businessmen calling Tweedy and Hancock to obtain a piece of her four-legged gold mine.
On Feb. 26, 1973, the record syndication was announced. Tweedy’s late father, Christopher Chenery, who founded Meadow Stud and had died a short time earlier, on Jan. 3, would have been proud. His daughter, who knew little about the intricacies of the Sport of Kings, had kept the farm alive, despite the urging of her family to sell.
What helped give her credibility in the business was the way she stepped in and managed the career of Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner Riva Ridge in 1971 and ‘72, admittedly learning from several mistakes made with the colt. But even Riva’s accomplishments had to take a back seat to the stable’s 2-year-old phenom, whose near-perfect conformation, muscular physique, and glistening chestnut coat earned him the title “Big Red.” The record syndication price and taking over the moniker of racing’s first Big Red, the immortal Man o’ War, placed a heavy burden on the powerful shoulders of Secretariat as it did Penny Tweedy. With her financial conquest came the pressure of now having to fulfill the high expectations and heavy investments. Tweedy had already won two classics with Riva Ridge, and she and many others felt anything short of a Triple Crown sweep would be a disappointment.
Tweedy and trainer Lucien Lauren had an immediate scare when Secretariat developed a small splint in his foreleg while stabled at Hialeah. But it was still early in the year. The leg was pinfired and the talented colt soon returned to training. He was nearing his debut, but when Tweedy encountered delays in settling her father’s estate it was decided to wait until the seven-furlong Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day.
Secretariat’s March 10 arrival at Barn 5 at Belmont Park brought a steady stream of reporters, photographers, and TV cameramen, who waited patiently outside the barn for racing’s biggest star to emerge.
Because of his hulking physique, which had carried layers of baby fat when he was younger, Secretariat needed to work fast in order to get him sharp and fit. One would never get the impression by looking at him that he was capable of blazing fast works. 
But as he matured, his baby fat was replaced by muscle, his neck rippled as he lowered it and stretched it to the limit, and his stride grew to mammoth proportions. And what no one was able to see was the abnormally large heart that enabled him to do things other horses couldn’t.
As the Bay Shore neared, you could feel the tension building. Were we going to see the same Secretariat we saw the year before or something even more phenomenal? Of course, there is always the chance you could see a regression from 2, as we had seen with previous juvenile champions sired by Bold Ruler, but that didn’t seem likely, especially when Secretariat had onlookers gasping in disbelief watching him blow out three furlongs the Wednesday before the race in :32 3/5.
But there are always a number of factors that can contribute to a horse’s defeat, as Secretariat showed in his career debut when he was knocked sideways coming out of the gate and in the Champagne Stakes when he was disqualified from first. Heavy rains the day before the Bay Shore turned the track sloppy, and it remained muddy on race day, which dawned gray and ugly and stayed that way all afternoon.
I walked the three long blocks from my home in Brooklyn to Flatlands Avenue, where I would take the Pioneer bus to Aqueduct, as I had been doing since 1967. Through the cloud of cigar smoke that permeated the bus came the constant chatter of Daily Double talk, who had what winners the day before, and of course Secretariat’s much-anticipated 3-year-old debut.
Instead of watching the race from the grandstand, as I normally did, I decided to stand at the rail with my trusty Canon F1 in the hope of getting a good shot of Secretariat as he came galloping past me following the post parade. The lighting was not conducive to good sharp photos, but I would take anything I could get, as this was my first close-up look at Secretariat in the flesh. I had anticipated him being in the middle of the track and had my lens focused there, but Ron Turcotte had him closer to the rail, which caught me and my camera by surprise. As a result, the only photo I took that day captured Big Red in all his magnificence, with his neck arched in regal splendor, but just missed being 100 percent sharp.
At the start, Secretariat, as expected, dropped back in the field of six. He moved up steadily along the rail with the hard-knocking Champagne Charlie lapped on him. There was a feeling of trepidation, as Secretariat was running up behind a wall of horses with no escape route. Turcotte kept pushing on him around the far turn and was able to ease out when Champagne Charlie left him and moved up to challenge the leaders.
As they hit the head of the stretch, Turcotte had the option of going outside Champagne Charlie and Impecunious, but when a small opening appeared inside Impecunious and outside Actuality, who had snuck through on the rail, he decided to go for it. It was a major risk to put Secretariat in such a precarious spot, and for a brief instant it looked as if Turcotte had made a colossal mistake. As soon as he went for the inside route, the hole closed and Secretariat and Turcotte found themselves in what looked like a compromising situation. On this day it appeared as if he was going to need the luck of the Irish to get through. If they had gotten shut off badly and somehow lost the race, the uproar would have been heard round the racing world, especially in his own camp.
But despite the risk involved, Turcotte didn’t hesitate. He knew what was at stake and just aimed the big battering ram beneath him at the shrinking hole and let him bull his way through. Big Red eased everyone’s mind by bursting through in a flash, despite taking a bump or two. He quickly opened up and drew off to win by 4 1/2 lengths as everyone, especially Tweedy and Laurin, breathed a sigh of relief.
I was too caught up in the drama that was unfolding to take another photo, but it was enough just watching what turned out to be a far more eventful race than anyone had thought.
The Bay Shore was an important race for Secretariat. In addition to showing he had made progress from 2 to 3, it also proved to everyone he was not just another pretty face, but a horse who could handle the heat of battle and use his brute strength if the going got rough.
In the Gotham Stakes three weeks later, Secretariat and Turcotte gave everyone an even bigger scare by reversing tactics and going to the front, setting blistering fractions of :45 1/5 and 1:08 3/5, while opening a two-length lead turning for home. But nearing the eighth pole, Champagne Charlie came flying up alongside him and pulled on even terms. I had to work at the Racing Form that day, and we had our columnist Teddy Cox give us a call over the phone. I will never forget Teddy’s ominous words at the eighth pole: “He’s gonna get beat.” It looked as if the gray had the momentum, but Secretariat had a lot more in the tank. He surged back in front and drew clear to win by three lengths, equaling the track record of 1:33 2/5 for the mile.
Morning Telegraph/DRF columnist Charlie Hatton wrote, as only he could; “Secretariat couldn’t have gone any faster if they threw him off the grandstand roof.”
Now, the Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown talk began to pick up steam. The Wood Memorial was supposed to be just a mere formality, as there was no one left to fear in New York. Then came word that trainer Pancho Martin was doing the unconventional and sending his Santa Anita Derby winner Sham to New York for the Wood instead of heading directly to Louisville.
Leading New York owner Sigmund Sommer had purchased the maiden Sham over the winter for a then hefty $200,000 at the late Bull Hancock’s dispersal. Sham, coming off a pair of seconds and a third, won his first start for Sommer and Martin by six lengths at Aqueduct on Dec. 9, leading every step of the way going a flat mile. 
Sent to Santa Anita, he opened a lot of eyes with a 15-length romp in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race, and then followed that up with a six-length score in allowance company before winning the Santa Catalina Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths. So, did we have another phenom out west who could test Secretariat?
Just when people were beginning to think that, Sham was upset in the San Felipe Handicap by Linda’s Chief after a troubled trip, finishing a distant fourth. In the Santa Anita Derby, Martin entered Sham along with stablemate Knightly Dawn. With Knightly Dawn drawn directly outside Linda’s Chief, it was the perfect opportunity for Martin’s second-stringer to play the role of a hit man. At the break, Knightly Dawn veered in sharply and all but wiped out Linda’s Chief. Sham was able to get position on his rival, and when Laffit Pincay asked him nearing the head of the stretch, Sham shot to the lead and never looked back, winning by 2 1/2 lengths over Linda’s Chief. Frankel was incensed over the flagrant double team and never stopped talking about it until the day he died. Just the mention of Knightly Dawn would set him off.
But to Sham’s credit, he did draw away from Linda’s Chief and his time of 1:47 flat equaled the stakes record set by eventual Kentucky Derby winner Lucky Debonair.
The addition of Sham to the Wood field added to the intrigue and provided a sneak preview of the battle everyone was expecting in the Kentucky Derby. The closer the race got, the more Martin would exude confidence in his colt and assure everyone he had no fear of Secretariat, which is why he deviated from the norm and sent Sham to New York to face Secretariat as soon as possible.
To be the best you have to beat the best and it was obvious that Martin was targeting Secretariat, just as he had targeted Linda’s Chief, but this time he took it one step farther. He announced he was not only going to run Sham, but also his proven assassin, Knightly Dawn, as well as a fast colt named Beautiful Music, who had romped by 10 lengths in his only start at Santa Anita.
That brought some scathing words and a forewarning of chicanery from Charlie Hatton, who had an admitted love affair with Secretariat, whom he called the greatest he had seen since Man o’ War. He was the horse Hatton had been waiting for since the first Big Red, and he prepared everyone for the likelihood of roughhouse tactics.
Not only would Secretariat have to contend with the Martin marauders, he also would be confronted by his own stablemate Angle Light, who Laurin decided to run following a neck defeat in the Flamingo Stakes, a 10-length romp in an Aqueduct allowance race, and a solid third in the Louisiana Derby. Tweedy was not crazy about Laurin having another horse in the race, but he felt an obligation to Angle Light’s owner Edwin Whittaker.
On April 17, Lauren scheduled a mile work for Secretariat, with Turcotte aboard. I couldn’t resist and headed to Belmont with my trusty cameras. I was surprised at the absence of media around. In fact, it was me and my colleague, DRF photographer Ray Woolfe Jr., who was chronicling Secretariat’s career for a potential book.
Secretariat looked calm, but was slightly on his toes walking around the ring before heading to the track along the path behind the barns. It was me, Ray, Laurin, Tweedy, and two visitors whom I didn’t know. Big Red’s groom, Eddie Sweat, walked the colt to the path and then headed back to the barn.
As a little sidelight, Ray rushed ahead and turned back to photograph Secretariat. Ray had a pretty volatile temper and could fly off the handle very easily. 
Although I was well to the side of everyone, leaving him with plenty of room to crop me out of the picture, he started shouting at me to “Get out of the way.” I told him I had nowhere to go and to just crop me out. Well, he took the shot, and later that day after developing the film (his dark room was part of the library, where I worked, so we were always very close), he called me in and said he liked the picture with me in it and was going to use it in his book, which surprisingly he did. He even made me up an 8×10 print of it. To this day I have a much-cherished nationally published photo of me and Secretariat.
I stood by the rail, so I didn’t get to see a lot of the work. All I saw was Secretariat reaching out with those magnificent strides, his neck muscles rippling. Sham had worked earlier that morning, blazing five furlongs in :58 flat, so it was expected that Secretariat would have a pretty sharp mile, even though Laurin wasn’t looking for too much speed and would be happy with a 1:37 or even 1:38 work, which was pedestrian for Big Red.
Well, you can imagine the surprise when we found out he had worked in 1:42 2/5. Lauren and Tweedy weren’t expecting that and didn’t know what to make of it. I did manage to get one shot just past the wire that showed Secretariat completely stretched out with those neck muscles rippling. As a postscript, that was one of two main photos Jocelyn Russell used for her mammoth sculpture of Secretariat that adorns Old Frankfort Pike in Lexington, Kentucky.
In the days leading up to the Wood, Hatton kept writing about Martin’s tactics. It finally got to the fiery Cuban-born trainer, who decided to show the world Sham could beat Secretariat on his own. He scratched both horses the morning of the race, removing two arrows pointed at the bullseye on Secretariat’s back.
History will show that it was Angle Light who shocked the world by stealing the Wood on the front end. Pincay aboard Sham had been tracking him the whole way, but was more interested in having something left for Secretariat in the stretch and never let him loose until it was too late. When Pincay, who was a length and a half behind at the eighth pole, finally realized Secretariat was no threat he went after Angle Light, but his run fell a head short. Although Secretariat was far back and moving into contention slower than usual, I, like many, felt he was unbeatable and kept waiting for him to pull off some miraculous closing burst from well out in the middle of the track. But it never came. I stood there stunned watching Secretariat plod home in third, beaten four lengths.
You could hear a pin drop. You never saw a less happy person in the winner’s circle than Laurin, who knew the verbal assaults from all sides were about to come.
Just like that, Secretariat’s mystique and $6 million price tag took a dramatic tumble. Critics again brought up the Bold Ruler factor, citing the horse’s inability to sire a classic mile and a quarter horse.
No one knew about the abscess in Secretariat’s mouth, not even Turcotte. Whether or not it was the reason Secretariat ran such a dull race we’ll never know for certain, but it certainly made sense considering the colt could not bite down on the bit. Once he arrived in Louisville, the abscess cleared up and Big Red would ride into legend..
But the legend was born in the winter of 1973, when Secretariat evolved into Big Red and took those important first steps that would lead him into the pantheon of immortals. It was there he would become the standard by which greatness is measured.
Newsletter
For new announcements, merchandise updates and other excitement here at Secretariat.com, please enter your email address in the popup window. Our mailing list is never sold or viewed by anyone other than Secretariat.com
STEVE. Here is my KENTUCKY DERBY Bet for $1836. As of now and my format-. $1 dollar SUPER. ALL. with. FORTE,PRACTICAL MOVE,and Tampa winner TAPIT. with those same 3 for THIRD with ALL for FOURTH. Just like last year ALL with 3-10 with 3-10 with ALL. $1 SUPER. $612
Great story about BIG RED. Another one from Asking HASKIN.
Thanks Joe
Thank you Steve I’m gonna read about BIG RED I’m sure it’s gonna be good
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post, thank you for sharing. I would have loved to see this magnificent horse in person but since I didn’t I got to see him through your eyes. I’ve ridden thoroughbreds as event horses and they all have huge hearts and souls but Secretariat was the greatest athlete that ever was or will be in my opinion. I tear up every time I see a picture of this colt and reading your article just added to the stream. Again thank you so much!
That’s very kind of you Tammy. Thank you for taking the time to write. I’m glad you got a feeling of what it was lik.e to be around him
Steve,
I so enjoyed reading this. Takes me right there with you. I would have loved to have been there watching this extaordinary horse and the people who loved him.
I love this photo you took of him – I bought one!
Thanks very much Karole. I appreciate it.
In 1999 Bloodhorse listed their top 100 racehorses as voted by a panel of people. Secretariat finished second to Man O’War only because one of the seven voter refused to put Secretariat in their top 10 thus pushing Man O’War on top.
I wonder why in the world would they do that…
To assure Man o’War was No. 1?
I, along with most on here (assumption) have never seen Man O’ War live. I will defer to Holly Hughe’s assertion that Red 2 is really Red 1. Particularly since he had seen both run, live & in person. So there’s that.
As I understand it both Secretariat and Man O’War each had three first place votes with Citation getting the other first place vote…the single voter didn’t put Secretariat on their top 10 list because he (S) ‘got beat a few times’ thus enabling Man O’War to earn the top spot….at least what I read.
Sorry but comparing Man o War and Secretariat is the biggest waste of time and just plain ludicrous. Two different horses in two different eras in two different worlds. If someone didn’t vote for Secretariat in the top 10 get man o War to win there is something wrong going on there. I dont want to hear about losses. Back then match races and 3 horse fields were common. They are both legends and icons of the sport. And national heroes. Let’s leave it at that.
Agree….I didn’t do the comparison but Bloodhorse did….and I’ll stop there.
To Steve:
Your analysis of the two magnificent horses is correct and well stated!!!
Thank you!
Carole Gatti
When I read the post about how Man O War was the real #1…I’m sure there’s a Man O War site, this sire is about Secretariat, and this blog is celebrating his 50 year anniversary of the greatest Triple Crown….
I think that one particular panelist put SECRETARIAT at #14 on his list, which should have disqualified him from being on the panel.
Steve, where was the imperfection in his near perfect conformation? I have heard this from so many other sources as well. Was it the so called ‘jumping bump’ that he might have inherited from Nearco? Could such a bump impede performance in any way? All I recall is his beautiful synchronized stride in his stretch runs. I really enjoyed your description of him bursting through the 2 horses in front of him in the Bay Shore, like a full back on the 1 yard line. Great action. Thanks… Rac
I wouldnt call a jumping bump an imperfection. A lot of horsemn want to see a jumping bump.
Unless “jumping bump” has a different definition for Thoroughbred race horses, Secretariat did not have a jumping bump.
A jumping bump aka hunters bump is associated with injury to the sacrilieac which is a very painful condition that can require an extended period of stall rest. The injury can result in a lump or bump on the top of the croup. Over time muscle atrophy can be associated with jumping bump as well as the condition called stronghold.
Secretariat had a few very minor conformation faults. He had a long neck which was thicker than most other Thoroughbreds. The sharp drop to his croup results in a lower tail set, sometimes referred to as a goose rump. His back was slightly shorter than other Thoroughbreds and he was slightly over at the knee which is a desirable characteristic as it is thought to reduce concussion to the forelegs.
There are many who think Secretariat looked more like Discovery, Bold Ruler’s damsire to which I agree. Bold Ruler had the same sharp slope to his croup that Discovery had.
Edit: Stringhalt, not stronghold.
Yes, the “goose butt” is the conformation flaw most refer to. I assumed that was the reference Russell was making. There are many that can pick out imperfections in classical artwork, I’m sure. Conformational flaws in racehorses are mostly relevant to predisposition to certain injuries, as you are certainly aware of, Lynda. Have you ever seen a bad winner’s circle photo? : )
SJ, not sure how to answer your quesstion, LOL, about winner’s circle photos.
I’m certain you’ve seen many performers in movies whose attributes were stunning, perfect smiles, yet couldn’t act a lick.
LOL, oh yes…many times. Singers and entertainers, too.
Dear Miss King, thank you for your response. I did have a look at Discovery and the similarities are remarkable, the thick neck, short back and rounded hinds. Thank you for providing clarity on the ‘jumping bump’ characteristic. I never would have thought of associating it with injury or some other wear and tear condition. I had associated it with a trait in jumping horses, steeple chase, etc. I once saw a Penny Chennery interview where she commented on his sloped rump and if I recall correctly, she associated it with such horses. She remarked that if Secretariat had not won the Triple, they might have redirected his career into steeple chase. I believe she said that Secretariat’s sloped hinds was a common trait in jumpers, but it was long ago and I stand to be corrected. Thanks again for your response. rac
Charles Hatton waited decades after Man O’War looking for next super horse and was blessed with Secretariat…then passed away two years later.
Kinda reminds me of that long time New York Rangers fan that waited 54 (from 1940 to 1994) for the Rangers to win another Stanley Cup and simply said “Now I can die in peace”.
FYI…I was at Santa Anita that day when Sham won the SA Derby….if I remember correctly Pancho Martin (Sham’s trainer) went on and on about guaranteeing his horse’s victory for weeks leading up to the SA Derby.
He proved right that day.
Steve, I was wondering if there were some things that you could share with us about Secretariat that are not common knowledge.
Just an example is what Ron Turcotte said in a ” Tuesday’s with Ron Turcotte” post from a year or so ago.
He said that Secretariat really did not the blinkers, that someone had put them on him before a workout one day and
that Secretariat did not need special equipment, just raced in a regular D-Ring snaffle.
Was he trained to ride at the Meadow and by whom?
Thanks!
Bob Bailes was the man who broke and trained the yearlings at The Meadow. His son, Mert, got on him during the breaking process in Doswell, and rode him until he was sent to Lucien in Hialeah. Yes, he needed no special gear, very straight forward.
Thank you for answering!
Steve – With all due respect, I must once again take issue with your statement that Secretariat is the “standard by which greatness is measured.” I must remind your readers that there was another Big Red long before Secretariat who has been and still is the yardstick against which all other thoroughbred racehorses are measured – the peerless Man o’ War, who consistently is ranked #1 by those equine experts who saw them both. Your readers might recall that I previously have spelled out in great detail why the great Secretariat remains #2. Dave
I was only nine years old and not interested in horse racing when Secretariat was doing his thing in ‘73. It wasn’t until many years later that I took an interest and realized just what he accomplished. I have watched Secretariat’s Belmont race dozens of times but I still get chills and tears in my eyes every time I hear Chic exclaim, “Secretariat is widening now. He is moving like a tremendous machine!” Thank you for keeping some of these lesser-known moments so vividly alive. I can’t wait to see your upcoming posts as we move through this year.
You took me back to my youth and the Spring of 1973. These 50 years certainly flew by with lots of peaks and valleys along the way.
No one but you can capture Secretariat’s journey and no one can tell his story like you can.
Your stories are actually a trip in a time machine fueled by words and imagery.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Lynda. It’s like a time machine writing it. Brings back so many memories. I try to bring as many people as I can with me.
Steve Haskin is the greatest turf writer of all time. Another masterpiece by the master!!
Oh thank you so much Bob.
I have been posting for years Steve that you belong on the Mount Rushmore of Turfwriters with Nack,Rudy,and Hirsch and you continue to honor the written word!
I was 22 thru the spring,summer and fall of 1973 but the Greatest Quote I ever read was from Jockey Eddie Maple who rode Riva Ridge in the first Marlboro Cup a day that featured I believe back to back to back winners by Desert Vixen, Secretariat ,and the mighty Forego!
Maple said ” I TOOK A PEEK OVER MY SHOULDER AND I SAW HIM COMING,A BIG RED HEAD AND BODY COMING RIGHT AT ME. MY HORSE WAS STILL RUNNING STRONG BUT THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO ABOUT IT!
50 years later,there are days I forget if I have taken my pills(LOL),but I will never forget that September day or those words!
Thank you very much for including me in such illustrious company. Those guys along with Hatton were my heroes.
The greatest compliment I can give is to put you in a class with Jack Mann, Ray Kerrison, and Joe H. Palmer. They are the ones I most admire.
The 4-H club, Hatton, Hirsch, Hovdey and Haskin..
I was too young to appreciate these events, but this piece brought it alive. Great writing. Thank you.
I appreciate it Simon. Thjank you
Just like “Big Red” was perfection on the track, this is perfection in prose. Thank you Steve for all that you do, for taking us back to those wonderful days in 1973 when a legend was launched. I look forward to your future columns on Secretariat’s three year old campaign and I love how your writing can make me feel like I’m hearing his story for the very first time
Your worods mean a lot Diane. Thank you. Thats what I try to do…make it fresh and bring people back to a time and place and make them feel like theyre there
Sir, you know some of us will print these columns and put them in a folder just to have the pleasure of reading them when our devices are absent, and to make a little book to set alongside Nack’s and Woolfe’s on the shelf.
Thank you. We all want to share in Secretariat’s immortality.
Thank you, I would be honored to be in their company.
Excellent article. Not a big fan of these XX-year anniversaries per se but again you’ve turned your typewriting into a paintbrush. I keep reviewing the paragraphs but i can’t find the worm hole you insert into articles that transports me back decades. That little nugget of information regarding Frankle and Knightly Dawn actually gave me a belly laugh. Looking forward to reading your other memories about the legend that most first-time visitors at Churchill Downs still asks about.
I really appreciate that Todd. Thank you very much. As long as you think their is a wormhole that is whats most important.
He didn’t want that guy in his picture…50 years later that picture is that much BETTER—because it has that guy in it..
Lol. He liked the entourage effect. I still look at that photo and say who is that guy?
To Santa Anuta’s credit they still card a stakes named after Sham, who won a race by 15 lengths over a track labeled heavy— after having ran many times, it took Sham a while to “get it”, but when he did he was the real deal, and after Secretariat’s huge Gotham performance the Wood Memorial became a much anticipated race—Angle Light would’ve gone off 40-1, had he not been coupled, it was a tremendous upset …. and then came the stamina questions, the Bold Ruler questions…..they were answered by the greatest performance in Kentucky Derby history..
Steve I had forgotten about the Knightly Dawn incident, it was much talked about, oncluding the telling picture, of the start…..Frankel got angry? Well anyone would’ve been angry, Frankel’s problem was he’d fly off the handle if you interrupted his reading the Racing Form!..
Just as a footnote, Angle Light also worked a mile the same morning as Secretariat prepping for the Wood. He worked 12 lengths faster.
Thanks, I didnt ralize that. It should have been worrisome.
Certainly wish they had been uncoupled!
I just loved this, Steve. I really feel I am back there with you in the spring of 1973, as the proverbial fly on the wall. Keep ’em coming, as I’m sure you will!
Thanks very much.
I loved reading this column very much (as I do all your columns). However, Secretariat is my favorite horse. I remember vividly watching his Triple Crown run on TV. I will be reliving all of this this year on the 50th Anniversary of his historic run.
Thank you Steve for capturing the essence of Secretariat.
Susie there’s an entire program from the 1973 Preakness, Jack Whittiker, Frank Wright, Charlie Cantey and Heywood Hale Broun, and the part where Frank Wright is standing on the backstretch turf course watching the horse’s warm up is a treasure!
CHARLSIE Cantey my phone betrayed me!
Thank you Steve. This brings back many memories. What a horse!
Steve,
This column gave me the chills. Even tho I know the ending, I’m sitting on the edge of my seat reading some of the best writing in my years on this planet.
Thanks for the thrills!
Jo Anne
That’s very kind of you Jo Anne. Im glad you found it thrilling. I try to make it as thrilling as I can. Thank you.
After following you for many years, I know you have a deep love for Secretariat, and so do I. Long ago I commented on one of your columns, telling you about how I remember secreaming at the TV when Secretariat won the Belmont, the commotion waking up my 2-month-old baby asleep in the other room. (That baby just turned 50 last week.) I can never hear enough about Secretariat, and your beautiful prose again brings his story to life for me. I’m looking forward to hearing more from you about that historic year.
Thank you very much Beth. I will be writing several columns on Red’s ’73 campaign this year. Happy 50th Birthday to your “baby.”