Guestbook
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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3024 entries.
wrote on March 28, 2022 at 2:58 pm:
to Alain, years ago i calculated the odds of a horse not only winning the triple crown, but setting a track record in each of the races. To set one track record was rare, not many were set in the history of the derby, preakness, and belmont. But to do it in each was remote. If my calculations were correct, one stands a better chance of drawing a royal flush from a deck of shuffled cards than doing what secretariat did. That is why he has been the only one to do it. A few horses set records, but perhaps in only one of the races. To do what Sec did required not only good speed which alot of horses have, but the ability to sustain it over long distances. Endurance is what separates Sec from the rest of the greats. ManO could have done it too, but not the way Sec did and to conclude the series the way he did in the Belmont which was simply off the charts. Kelso maybe, his two mile Gold Cup runs where phenomenal, not even breaking a sweat holding the two fastest times at the distance, and the last record set at the age of 7. He had incredible endurance. The combination of endurance and durability is what separates the great from the great. Winning the triple requires both, but doing each in record time and topping it off with the Belmont performance is what separates Sec from the rest, all an indication of singular endurance and durability. Two of his records still stand today, the preakness holding the stakes record. I stand to be corrected but I believe he still holds the track record for 9 at Belmont, the one he set in the Marlboro. 9 is a common distance at Belmont.
wrote on March 11, 2022 at 9:15 am:
I suppose and especially I hope that experts will attack my way of seeing because after all a majority voted for Man O`War so there must be plenty of them right ? If none of them respond then those who are for Secretariat and those who are neutral and waiting for the duel will be forced to take Secretariat's side and then the Secretariat myth will be strengthened by them not talking the challenge . As Louis Cyr who once lived in Lowell, Massachussetts: You perform or you fold.
I am like a child who has learned and knows that 3+3=6, and we will have to go against this reasoning .
I am only afraid of 2 people ; Linda Kennedy (Kelso ; the horse of gold) and the expert of the Washington Post who calculated the probable odds of Secretariat (151-154) because they see clearly. If they were to change their minds and speak out against Secretariat then I would be extremely embarrassed !!! ...there would be a poop in my panties........Lets all pray that these two don't change their minds...
I am like a child who has learned and knows that 3+3=6, and we will have to go against this reasoning .
I am only afraid of 2 people ; Linda Kennedy (Kelso ; the horse of gold) and the expert of the Washington Post who calculated the probable odds of Secretariat (151-154) because they see clearly. If they were to change their minds and speak out against Secretariat then I would be extremely embarrassed !!! ...there would be a poop in my panties........Lets all pray that these two don't change their minds...
wrote on March 9, 2022 at 9:44 am:
The arguments in favor of Secretariat are so numerous, so obvious , so powerful and so absolute that one should be able to sell a freezer to Eskimos with them .
Of course , I challenge any uninformed expert to argue here !! I personally commit myself to answer them .
Of course , I challenge any uninformed expert to argue here !! I personally commit myself to answer them .
wrote on February 19, 2022 at 1:46 pm:
Chess Grandmaster José Raoul Capablanca; A Grandmaster sees about 7 moves in advance on average and when someone asked him how many moves he could see because he won so often then he answered: Only one... but the right one! So with the right shot you win and with the ultimate speed you get the same result. Secretariat and Kelso still have a great future ahead of them.
wrote on February 18, 2022 at 12:07 pm:
To Russell : A lost race says nothing about a horse`s ability but a won race says everything .A horse can have a poor record ( 10-2-2....8 = 22 races ) but have 3 records in concrete which are maintained against winds and tides .These 3 records do not care about the 19 others !! The number of records doesn`t matter because it`s the quality that speaks for itself . Even if Man O`War made 20 records in 20 races he would be still below mister Secretariat as all his records are still there and have been for 49 years !! This is not the case for Man O`War . Fallen records are under those that are still standing , just as ordinary lost races are under those that are won . It is the same reasoning and the word ``record`` becomes only a convenient label to find its way , but this label is subject to the same reasoning as the ordinary races .
Secretariat and Kelso...handcuff me .
P.S : I don`t pretend to undo what you said .
Secretariat and Kelso...handcuff me .
P.S : I don`t pretend to undo what you said .
wrote on February 14, 2022 at 10:47 am:
to Alain, if you were saying Sec is the upper ceiling, you might be correct... ManO, Citation, and a few others were close though... the only thing that can explain Sec's losses were his team, human error, etc... not having him properly prepared on at least 1 or 2 different occasions. Bill Nack said the same thing. As far as American racing goes, I too believe Sec was the upper ceiling, truly 1 in a million. Will another come along? Bob Baffert believed American Pharoah and Justify were a little under, but said Arrogate could have given Sec some trouble. We will never know, nor do we know what the future brings. One thing for sure, Sec's legend will last for many many more years, perhaps centuries like Eclipse and others.... One other thing, Sec was never tested with high impost, but mathematical analysis puts him somewhere in the 140 plus range....
wrote on February 4, 2022 at 4:08 pm:
Happy Birthday to Bill Nack. Thanks Bill wherever your spirit is resting. You authored and set in place one of the many corner stones of immortality for the Mighty Secretariat and his family and caretakers.
wrote on January 24, 2022 at 6:40 pm:
Happy 100th Birthday, Penny! What a privilege it is to be able to write this message in honor and memory of you on this special birthday! But, the reason I am able to do this, is all because of you! It is all because of you that this amazing and unbelievable, yet "true" story exists! I can only speak for myself, but I know millions of others feel the same way. What you accomplished while you were here, is far above Camelot! There aren't words to describe it!
While living life day to day, it's hard for any of us to see the big picture and where our lives are going. Every time life gave you a challenge you ran at it full force, whether others were for you or against you. You never backed down, but you always had grace under fire. You did what you had to do to save what you loved and cherished. God blessed you with courage, wisdom, and two amazing horses that you needed to save the farm and make your father's dream of winning the Kentucky Derby come true. So, Riva Ridge was born. Riva won the Derby and saved the farm, so now your big red two year old, Secretariat, had the opportunity he needed. One by one all the horses, people, and situations you needed fell into perfect place to make your story come true. And all the while you were doing all of this, you were raising a beautiful family!
I truly believe that no other person, other than you Penny, could have given Secretariat what he needed to accomplish everything he did, the way he did it. Yes, he was blessed with everything he needed and more, within himself, but he needed you to bring it out in him and to guide him. He needed your love, your faith, and your belief in him! You knew he was special from the moment you watched him being born. And by doing this you gave the world a wonderful gift! A beautiful, intelligent horse made from dreams, that made one miracle after another happen, time and time again. In the Belmont he took us all to a place we have never been before and we will never be again! And because of you and Secretariat, we have Secretariat.com, where people around the world will always keep your memories alive and all of the members of Meadow Stable and your racing team alive for generations to come. You will always be with us!
I want to thank you Penny for giving me a role model to try to live up to, the will to never give up, and for showing me that dreams really do come true! I am so grateful I lived while you were writing the story of your life and I was able to watch the Big Red Horse run! Happy Birthday Penny!!!
While living life day to day, it's hard for any of us to see the big picture and where our lives are going. Every time life gave you a challenge you ran at it full force, whether others were for you or against you. You never backed down, but you always had grace under fire. You did what you had to do to save what you loved and cherished. God blessed you with courage, wisdom, and two amazing horses that you needed to save the farm and make your father's dream of winning the Kentucky Derby come true. So, Riva Ridge was born. Riva won the Derby and saved the farm, so now your big red two year old, Secretariat, had the opportunity he needed. One by one all the horses, people, and situations you needed fell into perfect place to make your story come true. And all the while you were doing all of this, you were raising a beautiful family!
I truly believe that no other person, other than you Penny, could have given Secretariat what he needed to accomplish everything he did, the way he did it. Yes, he was blessed with everything he needed and more, within himself, but he needed you to bring it out in him and to guide him. He needed your love, your faith, and your belief in him! You knew he was special from the moment you watched him being born. And by doing this you gave the world a wonderful gift! A beautiful, intelligent horse made from dreams, that made one miracle after another happen, time and time again. In the Belmont he took us all to a place we have never been before and we will never be again! And because of you and Secretariat, we have Secretariat.com, where people around the world will always keep your memories alive and all of the members of Meadow Stable and your racing team alive for generations to come. You will always be with us!
I want to thank you Penny for giving me a role model to try to live up to, the will to never give up, and for showing me that dreams really do come true! I am so grateful I lived while you were writing the story of your life and I was able to watch the Big Red Horse run! Happy Birthday Penny!!!
wrote on January 6, 2022 at 6:09 pm:
The final analysis....period !
At the time of 1999 vote , 26 years has passed since the 1973 Triple-Crown and all the Secretariat records had still not melted ( The famous revolutionary ice mentioned below ) where as for the same period 1920 / 1946 most of the Man O`War records had fallen and therefore melted. . . . . worse ; the period 1920 / 1946 was more suitable for the improvement for the records whereas for the period 1973 / 1999 it was much more difficult or even impossible because of the famous Equestrian Horizon where the records are not or almost not any more improvable . What more do you want as a reasoning ?
At the time of 1999 vote , 26 years has passed since the 1973 Triple-Crown and all the Secretariat records had still not melted ( The famous revolutionary ice mentioned below ) where as for the same period 1920 / 1946 most of the Man O`War records had fallen and therefore melted. . . . . worse ; the period 1920 / 1946 was more suitable for the improvement for the records whereas for the period 1973 / 1999 it was much more difficult or even impossible because of the famous Equestrian Horizon where the records are not or almost not any more improvable . What more do you want as a reasoning ?
wrote on December 30, 2021 at 1:52 am:
We're having a discussion over at HRN..which I started when I read about the Sham Stakes. While I'm happy that Sham is honored, there is NO race named after Secretariat now that Arlington is gone..and even that race didn't really befit our great Secretariat....People over at HRN agree with me that a Stakes race on the Belmont card on the day of the Belmont Stakes would be appropriate.
My research oomes up with this name....I suggest we go the NYRA site and email/call to start the push for a proper race for Secretariat! It unbelievable to me that he has no race named for him!!
***
David O’Rourke is the Chief Executive Officer & President of the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), the operator of Belmont Park, home of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of racing’s Triple Crown; Saratoga Race Course, home of the most prestigious racing meet in the U.S.; and Aqueduct Racetrack.
My research oomes up with this name....I suggest we go the NYRA site and email/call to start the push for a proper race for Secretariat! It unbelievable to me that he has no race named for him!!
***
David O’Rourke is the Chief Executive Officer & President of the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), the operator of Belmont Park, home of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of racing’s Triple Crown; Saratoga Race Course, home of the most prestigious racing meet in the U.S.; and Aqueduct Racetrack.
wrote on December 16, 2021 at 3:33 pm:
Remembering Chic Anderson, the track side 'Voice' for Secretariat's 1973 Triple Crown victories. Born in 1931, Chic would have turned 90 years old tomorrow. What a lucky man you were to have been there and seen it all!
wrote on December 11, 2021 at 11:30 am:
It is important to understand one simple thing about Kentucky : Secretariat didn`t get whipped like Sham but above all Secretariat made a comeback from the outside which means that if he had made it from the inside he would have made it .1 or .2 seconds faster !! 1:59:40 is already unattainable so imagine 1:59:20 ? There are still things to say about this incredible Triple-Crown !!
wrote on December 11, 2021 at 9:23 am:
Suppose someone invents a revolutionary ice cream that lasts 5 times longer than regular ice cream before melting . Would you take this ice cream instead of regular ice cream and put it in your small portable fridge when you go to a park for a meal ? Of course you would ! For speed records it is the same because the records that have not melted are superior to the ones that have melted , so the ones that have broken . Secretariat`s records were still not melted in 1999 when the vote for the vote of the horse of the century was held , while Man O`War`s were , and yet the voters erred , where children would have understood . Is the madness is this absurd vote or to keep it when the records still haven`t melted after 50 years ? Perhaps this vote predicted the covid . . . . .? ( !! )
wrote on November 15, 2021 at 7:58 pm:
I have been lucky enough to see 5 Triple Crown winners in my life time. Secretariat is by far the most exciting and beloved of all time.
wrote on November 13, 2021 at 6:16 am:
I'll never forget the 1973 Belmont Stakes.
First, you must understand America and us Baby Boomers at that time. We were getting older. We had our doubts about Santa, Easter Bunny, etc.. America had very little, if anything, to be proud of.
Vietnam, Watergate, A President resigning, heck even the Green Bay Packers could not have a winning season!
Then along comes this red horse with the checkered head cloth. About everything he did he did it HIS way, and like any proud American he won doing it his own way. Everywhere he set foot a track record would fall. He had bombed the sacred 2 minute barrier in the 1 1/4 mile Kentucky Derby. He still owns that record. And he would have another in the Preakness, had there not been problems with the Pimlico clocks. But The Belmont, the 1.5 mile Belmont Stakes is where he would leave his mark for eternity. Even though the field was tiny, all America stopped mowing their lawns, grilling their hot dogs, etc. We ALL NEEDED to see him and see him do something great. Just to remind everyone that America can still dig down and perform miracles when they were needed. I won't bore you with the entire race, but I must mention a couple items, to give those who were not yet born an understanding of what America's favorite son did that Saturday afternoon. As soon as the race started there was simply NO DOUBT who was going to win. What he would accomplish while doing it was another matter. After 3/4 of a mile, only HALF of the huge Belmont stakes distance, the public at home and at the track was jolted by announcer "Chic"Johnson, his voice a full octave higher than normal and he was so awe struck, I for one wondered if the Second Coming had just occurred in the Belmont booth! Then the words slowly sunk in, "Secretariat has just DESTROYED the Belmont track record for 6 furlongs!' ( Dang! I told myself I wasn't going to cry recalling these once in ten millenniums events. Guess I lied to myself). With another 3/4 of a mile to go in the Belmont, Secretariat has SHATTERED the Belmont track record for 6 furlongs!! I for one ran my fingers in my ears. I just knew I did not hear that correctly. Oh but we ALL did. And two of the horses foolhardy enough to TRY to stay close to him ended up walking off the track, as the lactic acid in their bodies would not allow them to run one more step. They were totally exhausted. But he was not done! Not by a long shot. We watched him run down the never ending backstretch. And I dare say ANYONE who heard Chic's words that day will NEVER forget them. As he entered the turn, Chic yelled out for every American to hear:"AND SECRETARIAT IS MOVING LIKE A TREMENDOUS MACHINE!!" He exited the fourth turn about the same time the remaining horses were entering the third turn. The only question remaining was by how much would Big Red win? Lengths become meaningless after a certain distance. Nobody refers the distance between Earth and the Sun in lengths. After he crossed the finish line, and the crowd gave one tumultuous cheer, it started to get quiet, as everyone wanted to hear the time. Had these other champions been adversely effected all at once, somehow? Then Chic gathered himself up and with a cracking voice, he said in effect: "We have just witnessed something that has NEVER happened before. Secretariat has run the 1 1/2 miles in... (one more pause to be certain this was correct. It was) Secretariat has broken the WORLD'S RECORD for the distance of 1 1/2 miles, completing the distance in 2:24 FLAT!" That is two full seconds faster than the previous track record. His margin of victory estimated and later confirmed at 31 lengths. That time of 2:24 has never been equaled, let alone surpassed. In just a couple more Belmont's it will have been One Half of a Century since that day in June. Fifty, (50 years), and it has never been equaled on dirt.
As everyone left Belmont that day, we all stood a little bit straighter, carried or heads a bit higher. Yes, America has had some terrible events occur in the last couple years, but do not EVER give up on The Stars and Stripes! No matter how downtrodden we feel, how badly things have gone, you just never know where the next American Hero will rise up and even the score! All I can say in closing is I am glad there is not a Skype camera here. Recounting that unbelievable day in June of 1973 has me looking like a blubbering fool. But, in this case I am not the least bit ashamed of it. This is about Secretariat.. one of the Greatest Americans of the 20th Century!!
First, you must understand America and us Baby Boomers at that time. We were getting older. We had our doubts about Santa, Easter Bunny, etc.. America had very little, if anything, to be proud of.
Vietnam, Watergate, A President resigning, heck even the Green Bay Packers could not have a winning season!
Then along comes this red horse with the checkered head cloth. About everything he did he did it HIS way, and like any proud American he won doing it his own way. Everywhere he set foot a track record would fall. He had bombed the sacred 2 minute barrier in the 1 1/4 mile Kentucky Derby. He still owns that record. And he would have another in the Preakness, had there not been problems with the Pimlico clocks. But The Belmont, the 1.5 mile Belmont Stakes is where he would leave his mark for eternity. Even though the field was tiny, all America stopped mowing their lawns, grilling their hot dogs, etc. We ALL NEEDED to see him and see him do something great. Just to remind everyone that America can still dig down and perform miracles when they were needed. I won't bore you with the entire race, but I must mention a couple items, to give those who were not yet born an understanding of what America's favorite son did that Saturday afternoon. As soon as the race started there was simply NO DOUBT who was going to win. What he would accomplish while doing it was another matter. After 3/4 of a mile, only HALF of the huge Belmont stakes distance, the public at home and at the track was jolted by announcer "Chic"Johnson, his voice a full octave higher than normal and he was so awe struck, I for one wondered if the Second Coming had just occurred in the Belmont booth! Then the words slowly sunk in, "Secretariat has just DESTROYED the Belmont track record for 6 furlongs!' ( Dang! I told myself I wasn't going to cry recalling these once in ten millenniums events. Guess I lied to myself). With another 3/4 of a mile to go in the Belmont, Secretariat has SHATTERED the Belmont track record for 6 furlongs!! I for one ran my fingers in my ears. I just knew I did not hear that correctly. Oh but we ALL did. And two of the horses foolhardy enough to TRY to stay close to him ended up walking off the track, as the lactic acid in their bodies would not allow them to run one more step. They were totally exhausted. But he was not done! Not by a long shot. We watched him run down the never ending backstretch. And I dare say ANYONE who heard Chic's words that day will NEVER forget them. As he entered the turn, Chic yelled out for every American to hear:"AND SECRETARIAT IS MOVING LIKE A TREMENDOUS MACHINE!!" He exited the fourth turn about the same time the remaining horses were entering the third turn. The only question remaining was by how much would Big Red win? Lengths become meaningless after a certain distance. Nobody refers the distance between Earth and the Sun in lengths. After he crossed the finish line, and the crowd gave one tumultuous cheer, it started to get quiet, as everyone wanted to hear the time. Had these other champions been adversely effected all at once, somehow? Then Chic gathered himself up and with a cracking voice, he said in effect: "We have just witnessed something that has NEVER happened before. Secretariat has run the 1 1/2 miles in... (one more pause to be certain this was correct. It was) Secretariat has broken the WORLD'S RECORD for the distance of 1 1/2 miles, completing the distance in 2:24 FLAT!" That is two full seconds faster than the previous track record. His margin of victory estimated and later confirmed at 31 lengths. That time of 2:24 has never been equaled, let alone surpassed. In just a couple more Belmont's it will have been One Half of a Century since that day in June. Fifty, (50 years), and it has never been equaled on dirt.
As everyone left Belmont that day, we all stood a little bit straighter, carried or heads a bit higher. Yes, America has had some terrible events occur in the last couple years, but do not EVER give up on The Stars and Stripes! No matter how downtrodden we feel, how badly things have gone, you just never know where the next American Hero will rise up and even the score! All I can say in closing is I am glad there is not a Skype camera here. Recounting that unbelievable day in June of 1973 has me looking like a blubbering fool. But, in this case I am not the least bit ashamed of it. This is about Secretariat.. one of the Greatest Americans of the 20th Century!!
wrote on October 13, 2021 at 5:24 am:
When I was turning 10 in 1973, my dad asked me what I wanted for my birthday. Well, living in Canada on a farm I said "either my beloved Montreal Canadiens or Secretariat", he laughed. I did get a Stanley Cup, a Triple Crown and Big Reds last race on Canadian soil. More importantly, a life long love for the GOAT, Secretariat
wrote on October 4, 2021 at 6:29 pm:
Remembering Secretariat today on his day of passing in 1989, 32 years ago!
Mad respect for the greatest of all time!!
Forever Run Wild and Free Champ!!!
Mad respect for the greatest of all time!!
Forever Run Wild and Free Champ!!!
wrote on October 4, 2021 at 5:14 am:
Thirty-Two years ago today we lost the most magnificent creature many of us have ever seen.
Gone but not forgotten. God-Speed Secretariat.
Gone but not forgotten. God-Speed Secretariat.
wrote on October 3, 2021 at 5:58 pm:
Just taking time to remember the GREATEST RACE HORSE of all time on his passing Oct. 4th so many years ago. Blessings to all the Secretariat Connections as you also take time to reflect on greatness.
wrote on September 21, 2021 at 9:32 am:
I just can't get enough of Secretariat. I was 14 years old when he won the Triple Crown. I just didn't realize what I was seeing then. Now when I watch his races, I just can't help from tearing up, because I still feel his presence each and every time. Go Big Red, I love you!
