Secretariat inspired and touched so many of us! He exhibited heart, courage, the will to win, and stood for all things good in our sport. Pure and noble, he remains a hero to new and old fans alike. We welcome you to leave your comments in this public guestbook so we can share your thoughts and memories with other visitors.
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A very happy birthday, Ronny Turcotte. Wishing you many more happy returns!
Peggy Cresswell
wrote on July 19, 2023 at 8:47 pm
Ron, I wish you a wonderful Birthday filled with everything that makes you happy! Thank you for making all the wonderful memories with Riva and Big Red!
Jo
wrote on June 24, 2023 at 1:43 am
Secretariat is my favorite horse. I told God I want to see Secretariat when I get to Heaven! I never get tired of seeing him race. Wish he could have lived a longer life 😢
Jess Collins
wrote on June 18, 2023 at 8:22 am
I turned 50 this past March so I was 2-3 months old when Secretariat made his historic run for the triple crown. I wonder if I was in the room with the tv on watching those races. Anyway, I've always known about Secretariat, I even remember when he died when I was 16, but I never dove into his life and career. I don't know if it is me turning 50 coinciding with the 50th anniversary with Secretariat's domination in the triple crown but I've been fascinated with him and I can't get enough. I can't stop watching his triple crown races, especially the Belmont Stakes. Just unbelievable. Thank goodness for YouTube. I'm watching tons of videos on him. I love the ones where he's an older horse at Claiborne Farm just running around and enjoying life. He is and will always be the greatest!
Alain Valade
wrote on June 7, 2023 at 9:50 am
It seems like Secretariat records are forever .
Alain Valade
wrote on June 7, 2023 at 9:46 am
If it is impossible to get close to Kentucky time then it must be the same for Preakness since they are linked by the the logic of identical distance ( 2 1/2 ) .
Alain Valade
wrote on June 7, 2023 at 8:44 am
1:53:40 seems to play the same role for Preakness as 2:00:00 does for Kentucky as only one horse as gone under 1:53:40 ( Swiss Skydiver in 2020 ) as only one under 2:00:00 ( Monarchos in 2001 ) . But this is not quite true for Kentucky as Sham`s time was not timed , otherwise he would probably have been between 1:59:85 and 1:59:90 . The same applies to Swiss Skydiver ( 1:53:28 ) but he was timed as he finished first .The difference between Sham ( 1:59:85 if we take the lowest ) and 1:59:40 ( Secretariat ) then we have 45 hundredths of a second difference but between 1:53:28 ( Swiss Skydiver )and Secretariat ( 1:53:00 )we have only 28 hundredths , so why this difference , this nibbling at the Preakness but not at Kentucky where there is a wall that prevents getting closer than 45 hundredths ? A difference of almost of 20 hundredths ? We only have to assume that the artificial time of 1:53:00 is false to make sense of it and this is even truer and will reinforce my reasoning if a horse makes a time that is even closer to Secretariat at the Preakness without the same phenomenon being observed at Kentucky !
Translated by DeepL Translate .
Alain Valade
wrote on June 6, 2023 at 3:23 pm
For those who doubt here : Suppose a horse at the Preakness equalizes the time of 1:53:00 while no horse comes close to Kentucky ,then , why we eliminate the distance of 2 1/2 lengths at Preakness ( time talk ) but not in Kentucky which is very stable ? The stability of Kentucky`s time must rub off on Preakness because we still have the 2 1/2 lengths which also holds stable . If we assume a Preakness time of 1:52:85(?)(( Average between 80 and 90 )) , then , everything is in order .
Alain Valade
wrote on June 6, 2023 at 2:34 pm
Since the law of average says that we must maintain the difference of 1/2 second between Secretariat and the second at Preakness then the question which arises from it is this : One of the two times is wrong but a person who is unaware of the situation would say : But these are timed times so untouchable ? But if you inform him that Secretariat`s time is the result of an agreement , then he will understand that this time is a mistake .
Alain Valade
wrote on June 6, 2023 at 12:38 pm
I can only reiterate what I said on another site namely that the 3 Triple-Crown records of Secretariat will remain in trinity until at least 2050 . And why do I think so ? Because Sham would still have the theoretical Kentucky record if we exclude Secretariat because he finished 2 1/2 lengths behind Secretariat so he would have about a time of 1:59:85 or 90 so the 1:53:00 of Secretariat at Preakness is faster than Sham would have had in theory because Secretariat won also by 2 1/2 lengths , so ,that should hold .
P.S : Between 1:59;40 ( Kentucky ) and the theoretical time of Sham ( 1:59:85/90 ) there is a difference of almost 1/2 second but the closest time to Preakness is 1:53:28 ( Swiss skydiver in 2020 ) which means that this horse is faster than Sham ( We highly doubt it ! ) or that Secretariat`s real ( Agreed time = correction at 1:53:00 ) time was 1:52:80/90
I am not criticizing the correction at 1:53:00 .......I am only relativizing mathematically knowing that the law of the average is powerful .
geraldine (Gerri) lisinski
wrote on May 29, 2023 at 7:47 pm
I was at Secretariat's grave in May 2013 and had taken pictures by his tombstone and his dad Bold Ruler as well as all the others.
I had also viewed the stable where he was. I enjoyed every minute being there. I had opportunity to to see Blame and guide had given me part of his mane for memento.
Upon returning to FL, managed to get in touch with Charlie Davis and had lunch with him near Double Diamond Horse Farm in Ocala, FL.
Charlie told me sooooooo much about Secretariat. He personally autographed a picture for me showing Charlie on top of Secretariat and Eddie Sweat coming to take him back to stable. The picture was taken when the team was at Saratoga Springs. I treasure the picture so much. Many friends take a picture with their phones. I am grateful I had opportunity to witness his greatest run at Belmont. Keep running!!!!
Darlene Broderick
wrote on May 8, 2023 at 1:37 pm
Secretariat, I have always and continue to be such a fan. I was fortunate enough to see you race as a kid and have forever been obsessed at such a wonderful and unbelievable horse. Have read everything about you and hope one day to visit your memorable and pay my respect and say hello. The best racehorse of all time! Love you Big Red!
Russell Cardenas
wrote on May 7, 2023 at 7:58 am
Once again the derby winner Mage traces back to Secretariat by way of his grandson summer squall thru his daughter weekend surprise. Of course generations back still more testimony to his ubiquitous presence in the modern breed thru a variety of paths, not just thru one or two daughters. His value as a broodmare stallion soars as he did. Sec, congrats on the 50th anniversary of your derby record. It still holds. rac
Tori Mendonca
wrote on May 3, 2023 at 10:22 pm
Happy 50th Triple Crown Anniversary Secretariat! You made my heart soar that 1st Saturday in May 1973. While I was a child I was hooked already on Horses, but you brought that Love to a new level and it’s been there ever since! Thank You for being the greatest Horse, ever and after 50 years you still take my breath away
Doug
wrote on May 1, 2023 at 12:05 am
Have been reading alot about Secretariat. And the Kentucky Derby. Very interesting. He sounds like he was a great horse. I was born may 5th 1973 in Louisville, KY. The day he won the Kentucky Derby. So this is neat to me. And yep his 1973 Kentucky Derby win and I are hitting the big 5 0. Thanks for having this website.
Rick
wrote on April 12, 2023 at 4:32 pm
Happy 54th birthday tomorrow Riva Ridge (1969).
One of my very favorite horses. You may be gone but the faithful will always remember!
Tomorrow is also the day Bill Nack passed away in 2018. He had a wonderful way with words!
I miss you both!
Michael L Duszynski
wrote on March 31, 2023 at 12:23 am
Happy 53. Charles Hatton summed up the Secretariat Legacy perfectly when he penned these words post Belmont and coronation .....
" His only point of reference is himself".
Also hallmark the words of CBS MC Jack Whitaker on Belmont Day .... " There are those of you who do not know who or what Secretariat is at this time, those of you who are stranded on some south Pacific island or lost deep in the Amazonian Jungle"
The spring of 1973 was .. the rain, the park, nixon, vietnam, watergate, The Edgar Winter Group, Secretariat, ..... and other things.
Rick
wrote on March 29, 2023 at 4:28 pm
Happy 53rd birthday tomorrow Champ! The 50th anniversary of your Triple Crown victories is almost upon us. It's hard to wrap my head around the fact that it was a half century ago. I remember it like it was yesterday!
Tracy McKay
wrote on March 28, 2023 at 12:25 pm
Just sending early Birthday wishes to the greatest Horse ever Secretariat March 30th 1970 and also remembering Man O'War whose Birthday is March 29th. Will be reflecting by reading Biographies of these Two great Champions. Cheers to all Secretariat Fans!
Sandy Schroeter
wrote on February 24, 2023 at 10:37 am
I have my "Big Red Machine" print framed and in a prominent place. The power and presence of Secretariat inspires me every day, as does the graceful ride of Ron Turcotte.
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