Gotham
April 7, 1973 ~ $50,000 Gotham Stakes ~ 1 mile ~ Aqueduct Racetrack
The next test for Secretariat in the spring of 1973 was a step in distance in the one-mile Gotham working on a conditioning pattern that would lead to the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial, and then the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby.
Trainer Lucien Laurin now planned a change in tactics for the Gotham Stakes – a mile race that figured to be right up Secretariat’s alley. What Laurin proposed to jockey Ron Turcotte was “sending” Secretariat out of the gate quickly to take a forward position in the race. Let his natural speed work for him in a race that demanded speed. Importantly, Laurin and Turcotte believed, it could give Secretariat a new dimension. In all his previous races Secretariat had been allowed to settle back behind the pacesetters and launch his run later in the race. In actuality, that’s a very desirable trait in a fast young horse: to settle, and not be speed crazy from the start. But trainer and rider agreed that somewhere along the line in the coming Triple Crown races, Secretariat was going to have to show speed, maybe early in the race to quash opponents’ slow pace tactics.
And, goodness knows, Secretariat had the speed for it. Despite his size, the horse wasn’t one who necessarily had to plod along. Everyone in the barn knew Secretariat could get on the gas and go. After all, he was a son of Bold Ruler, one of the fastest horses of his era, and a sire who routinely imbued his offspring with speed. Bold Ruler had been almost unbeatable at the distance of one mile – the Gotham distance. And Laurin and Turcotte suspected Secretariat could be, too.
Bold Ruler had been almost unbeatable at the distance of one mile – the Gotham distance. And Laurin and Turcotte suspected Secretariat could be, too.
And they were right. A mile, of course, was just candy for Secretariat who showed a new front-running dimension in the Gotham.
Banging the sides of the starting stall as the gates opened, Secretariat wobbled just a bit in his first strides. Turcotte let him regain his balance and then asked for speed – and Secretariat went right to work. He was an up-close third, right off the leaders in the early stages of the race. The closest he’d ever been to the pace in any race. The first quarter mile down the backside went in a swift, but not really too swift :23 2/5 seconds. Then Secretariat accelerated, getting the next quarter mile in :21 4/5 and suddenly opened a two-length lead on the field. Later, Champagne Charlie came calling, but Secretariat was not seeing visitors, hitting the finish in a blazing time of 1:33 2/5 that equaled the track record, just a second and a tick off Dr. Fager’s 1:32 1/5 world record set in 1968.
Secretariat thunders down the stretch over Champagne Charlie in the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Secretariat's Gotham triumph not only set the racing world abuzz, but even general sports fans who seldom paid much attention to horseracing now eagerly awaited the next installment in Secretariat's triumphant march toward the Kentucky Derby.
If everybody wasn’t talking about Secretariat before, they were now.
The Meadow Stable team celebrates Secretariat's track record-equalling victory in the April 7, 1973 Gotham Stakes.
Note: Presenting the Gotham Stakes trophy to the Secretariat team was none other than Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Arcaro. A family affair of sorts, the retired racing great had been the regular rider for Bold Ruler, Secretariat's renowned sire. Additionally, Arcaro had piloted the Meadow Stable's own Hill Prince to numerous victories in the colt's 1950 championship season.
Gotham Stakes trophy presentation, left to right: Elizabeth Ham, Penny Chenery (then Tweedy), Hollis Chenery, Margaret Carmichael, Ron Turcotte, Eddie Arcaro and Lucien Laurin.
1973 Gotham Stakes Track Program, Official Race Chart and Winner's Circle Photo
