Canadian International

When Secretariat stepped off the plane in Toronto, Ontario, for his final race, he was greeted with a hero's welcome, complete with news journalists, photographers and television cameras. In those days it was very unusual for racehorses to travel by air, and even Secretariat had only traveled once by plane, to Chicago. But the Big Red Horse seemed to understand he was the toast of the racing world, and handled the plane, the press, the people with ease. Like visiting royalty.

Owner Penny Chenery realized that Secretariat had become a huge sports star, with television, especially, carrying his racing exploits to millions of fans. She also understood that most of her horse's races had been in New York, with fans afar having little opportunity to see their hero in person. With the summer and fall classics completed, and with Secretariat scheduled to leave the racetrack to head to Kentucky for a new career as a stallion, there wasn't an opportunity to make a tour for her champion. But she decided to run Secretariat one more time and accepted an invitation to the Canadian International Championship Stakes at Woodbine Racecourse, Canada's leading track. The trip north of the border was also a tip of the cap to Secretariat's trainer, Lucien Laurin, and rider, Ron Turcotte, both Canadians.

Jim Bannon, editor of the Woodbine Journal, recalled the electric anticipation among crowds of people gathered at the Toronto airport for Secretariat’s arrival. “I think the culture of the day was crying out for some kind of a hero,” Bannon explained in a 2017 video called Secretariat: The Last Race. “It was wartime in parts of the world, and everyone was looking for that gravitational hero – and it turned out to be this magnificent horse. Not just any horse, a beautiful, fiery chestnut with a magnificent stride. I think he was the good news story that everyone needed.”

And if the horse inspired everyday people, he meant even more to those in horse racing.

“I couldn’t believe it, I thought here’s the greatest racehorse coming to Woodbine,” said Bruce Walker, then public relations director for the Ontario Jockey Club. “It was a signature moment in Canadian racing. It put Canada on the map that Secretariat was going to run his last race here.”

At the airport a television film crew had its cameras rolling, creating a remarkable video documentary of Secretariat's trip to Canada called Big Red's Last Race.

Nostalgia buffs will enjoy the 1970's long hair styles and mutton-chops sideburns of the younger guys in the film. Subsequent morning sequences of Secretariat preparing for the Canadian International are especially beautiful, shot from unusual angles. As the mists lift at Woodbine, the Big Red Horse can be seen as a flying black silhouette in the distance, set against a gray morning sky. As he rounds the turn and runs directly towards the camera, we hear his hooves rhythmically clipping the dewy grass - clicking off five furlongs in a crisp :57 3/5.

“The main purpose of the workout was to get Secretariat familiar with the break in the grass course where the dirt strip crossed over the turf track,” explained Walker. “It’s a wide expanse of dirt breaking the grass surface, and on this morning it was sloppy muddy from rain. A lot of horses would shy from that.”

But not Secretariat. He probably saw the whole thing as a brand new adventure, stretching his legs out over deep, dewy grass, and skipping across a muddy patch with nary a break in rhythm.

“He appeared out of the fog, so it was almost mythical, and disappears almost as quickly.” Walker remembered. "Steam coming out of his nostrils like a big locomotive. Just coming, coming. Then he crossed the strip, and … poof!, he was gone.”

Meanwhile, back in New York, another chapter of the story was unfolding. Jockey Ron Turcotte had been suspended by the New York stewards for rough riding. His suspension was to start on Tuesday, and carry a week, meaning Turcotte could not ride at Belmont, or any other North American track, and would therefore not be able to ride Secretariat in the Canadian International.

A half century ago, things were different than today. In those days, noted Thoroughbred Daily News writer Bill Finley, there were no appeals and delays and court injunctions that jockeys could obtain to put off a suspension. Turcotte was not going to ride, and he didn’t squawk.

Trainer Lucien Laurin acted fast, and quickly named Eddie Maple to ride Secretariat in the Canadian International.

Maple was young, but already riding top horses in New York and showing the talent that would carry him to an eventual Hall of Fame career. He said he knew there were other hats in the ring to ride Secretariat, and was pleased to get the nod from Laurin straight away. The jockey had ridden Riva Ridge to a second place finish behind Secretariat in the Marlboro Cup, and Laurin liked the way Maple had handled the stable's other star.

"I couldn't believe I was going to get the opportunity to ride what was maybe the greatest horse of all time"; Maple told Finley for a 2024 TDN story. “I had only been riding seven years at the time, but you could just watch him and say, this is some horse.”

Maple hopped a plane for Toronto, and when he arrived found Turcotte was already there, preparing to work with Eddie Arcaro on the televised broadcast of the International.

"Ronnie called me up and said why don't you come down to my room and we could talk," said Maple. "He told me, 'dont worry, this horse will get you in a position. He wont be rank. If he does get rank that would be the first time to let him do a little something. But try to lay second or third.' He was nothing but encouraging."

Maple, in his 70's now, living with his wife Kate in South Carolina, told Finley he wasn't worried about riding Secretariat: he was thrilled.

"I really didn't feel a lot of pressure, I was meant to handle that kind of stuff,"; said Maple. “I’m not saying I wasn’t excited, and didn’t have some goosebumps, but I had already ridden in a couple of Kentucky Derbys I just felt I didn’t have to be the greatest jockey in the world to give this horse a good ride, he was that good.”

By race day, the weather had deteriorated as the late October temperature dipped to 35 degrees. Yet such was the allure of seeing Secretariat that nearly 33,000 fans came through the turnstiles on the dreary day. Recognizing its own role in hosting history, Woodbine honored the moment by the printed enhancement of "Big Red" to all wagering tickets.

Among Secretariat's competitors was the 5-year-old Canadian champion Kennedy Road trained by C.D. Whitaker and ridden by perennial Canadian champion jockey Avelino Gomez. Coming up to the race the connections had won the Hollywood Gold Cup and most recently set a Woodbine track record in the Nearctic Stakes. Their team lacked no confidence.

"Secretariat shows up in Toronto, and it is a very big thing for Canada," said Gomez. "Even if he gets beat by me!"

Their strategy against Secretariat would be no secret.

"Our horse is going to burst out of the starting gate," said Whitaker. "His eyes are going to be bulging out of his head like the Wild Man of Borneo. He's going to be GONE!"

True to his trainer's word, Kennedy Road jumped out to an early lead until Secretariat moved alongside to challenge on the backstretch. Gomez, employing a little race riding, came out with Kennedy Road to bump Secretariat in an effort to intimidate the younger rival.

That's when Maple clucked and Secretariat was gone, quickly opening up a 12-length advantage then cruising to the wire to win by 6 1/2 lengths, with Big Spruce closing to be second ahead of Golden Don. It was yet another stellar performance by the equine superstar in his final race.

After the race reporters wondered if Maple felt a lot of pressure. The rider shifted the story to Secretariat.

“I mean, I’ve ridden in big races before,” said Maple. “But this horse here, he’s a little special. It was his last race and everything, but heck, the race was easy as pie.”

A smile across her face, Penny Chenery talked about how her horse fits into the sport.

"Secretariat loves to run, and this should be communicated to the world," says Chenery. "This is a vital sport, an exciting sport. It's not exploitation of horses. There are horses like Secretariat, who are sound and able, and think running is thrilling. He knows when he wins. He knows when people notice him. It's been a great experience for him, too.”

Track announcer Daryl Wells also understood the significance of the moment in his race call as Secretariat streaked down the homestrech one final time:

"It is all Secretariat.  He’s coming for home... The crowd is standing and they are cheering because this is his last race. He’s in the stretch in a blaze of glory. Secretariat, ladies and gentlemen, he’s all yours and he’s coming to the wire."

With those parting words, one is left with a wonderful, lasting image from that late October day in Canada: Secretariat turning for home through light snow flurries — front legs pumping like powerful pistons powered by a massive heart, with mammoth clouds of wind blasting from his lungs. ~ Bill Doolittle