What You Didn’t Know About Secretariat’s Belmont
No horse race has been shown more times, written about more times, discussed more times, and has brought more people to joyful tears than the 1973 Belmont Stakes won by the legendary Secretariat. As awestruck as people still are of that performance, it actually was more impressive than anyone might think, especially from a historic standpoint. ~ Steve Haskin
What You Didn’t Know About Secretariat’s Belmont
By Steve Haskin
Starting a new tradition, we are celebrating the 51st anniversary of Secretariat’s iconic Belmont Stakes victory. What, you’ve heard it all before and there is nothing more to add? In Thoroughbred racing, no matter what the subject, you can be assured you have not heard it all and that there is always more to add. And this is Secretariat.com, the longest standing website devoted to a singular Thoroughbred. This is what we do and this is why you have come here.
So I will begin by calling Bid Red’s 31-length record-breaking procession the greatest individual performance in sports history. How is that for grabbing your attention? An audacious comment for sure, but as you will discover, it is hardly outrageous.
Secretariat’s record is still so unattainable after 51 years it is not even on anyone’s radar screen. They are just content to get the mile and a half regardless of the time, just as an astronomer is content to marvel at a distant star knowing no one will ever reach it.
As for it being the greatest individual performance in all sports, let us look at some of the most iconic records of the past century.
When Babe Ruth broke his own single-season home run record, slugging 60 homers in 1927, it had to seem insurmountable to mere mortals considering the previous home run king before Ruth led the league with a record 29 home runs in 1884. Over the years, however, several power hitters came within range of Ruth’s record until Roger Maris broke it in 1961, hitting 61 homers. Maris’ record lasted 37 years and has since been broken a number of times.
But surely, Ruth’s mind-boggling 714 career home runs was untouchable, as it obliterated the previous record of 138 career homers. But then came Hank Aaron, who broke the record with 755 career home runs, a record that would last for 33 years.
But what about one single performance? For many years it appeared as if the four-minute mile in track and field was an impenetrable barrier, and was considered the “Holy Grail of athletic achievement.” It reached a point where it became psychological and got into the runners’ heads. Then in 1954, Roger Bannister finally climbed Mount Everest, running a mile in 3:59 and 4/10 seconds. Other runners breathed a sigh of relief, knowing it could be done. With that ceiling lifted off everyone’s heads, Bannister’s record was broken 46 days later, and a year after that the record was broken by three runners in the same race.
Finally, the one record that so far surpassed the previous record it was considered in a universe by itself was Bob Beamon’s long jump record in the 1968 Olympics. He not only became the first person to break 28 feet, he was the first to break 29 feet. Some attributed it to the high altitude of Mexico City and a brisk tailwind. But the bottom line is even that record, which most believed would never be approached, was broken 23 years later.
It has been 51 years since Secretariat’s Belmont Stakes, and not only has his time of 2:24 for the mile and a half lasted longer than all those iconic records that were believed to be unbreakable, no one has come even remotely close to it. The two fastest Belmont Stakes winners since Big Red were Hall of Famers A.P. Indy and Easy Goer, both of whom would have been beaten 10 lengths by Secretariat. And he would have beaten the previous record holder, Hall of Famer Gallant Man, by 13 lengths.
Even the American record holder, Going Abroad, who won the 1964 Manhattan Handicap in 2:26 1/5, would have finished 11 lengths behind Secretariat.
To give you an idea how wide the chasm is between Secretariat’s record and the times Belmont winners have been running this century, the average time since 2000 has been 2:28 3/5, which is an astounding 23 lengths slower than Big Red. And those figures include the two Triple Crown winners, American Pharoah and Justify.
What makes Secretariat’s Belmont Stakes performance stand out over other iconic records is what he accomplished in addition to the record itself. While setting the pace on his way to a track, American, and world-record time on dirt, he missed the one-mile track record by three-fifths of a second, tied the track record for the mile and an eighth, and his fractional time of 1:59 for the mile and a quarter not only would have shattered the track record. And consider when the great Forego would officially set a new track record for the distance two years later his time was still four-fifths of a second slower than Secretariat’s fractional time. Big Red then went on to demolish Man o’War’s track and American s record for a mile and three-eighths by three full seconds, and in one of the most remarkable feats of all, he unofficially broke Swaps’ mile and five-eighths world record by three-fifths of a second and Man o’War’s and Kelso’s track record by more than three seconds…galloping out after the finish.
“he is the only only horse I have ever seen who could sprint a mile and a half…”
To this day he is the only horse I have ever seen who could sprint a mile and a half, running record times throughout the race and not getting tired in the slightest.
Another aspect of Secretariat’s Belmont that often goes unnoticed is his final quarter of :25. To demonstrate just how spectacular that is, the average final quarter of the six previous Triple Crown winners was :25 4/5, and that was averaging 1:13 1/5 for the six furlongs. So Secretariat closed four-fifths of a second faster than the average time despite running his six furlongs in 1:09 4/5. How fast was that: 1:09 4/5? The other two front-running Triple Crown winners of ‘70s, Affirmed and Seattle Slew, both ran their six furlongs in 1:14. The only Triple Crown winner to close a faster final quarter was Count Fleet, who came home in :24 3/5, but that was after running a mile and a quarter in 2:03 3/5 compared to Secretariat’s 1:59. That is 23 lengths slower than Big Red.
One thing that most people might not realize is that Gallant Man’s 1957 track and stakes record of 2:26 3/5 that Secretariat destroyed was itself once considered untouchable, breaking Triple Crown winner War Admiral’s 20-year-old record of 2:28 3/5 by two full seconds.
To further demonstrate how monumental an achievement Secretariat’s Belmont victory was, his margin of 31 lengths more than doubled the margins of the four most dominant Belmont victories since Triple Crown winner Count Fleet’s 25-length romp in 1943. They are Conquistador Cielo 14 lengths, Bet Twice 14 lengths, and champions Point Given 12 ¼ lengths and Risen Star 14 ¾ lengths. So, appropriately, the second largest margin of victory in the Belmont in the past 81 years belongs to a son of Secretariat.
What cynics still remain after five decades likely will point out that the Belmont surface was exceptionally fast that day, which accounted for several other tracks records being equaled or broken. But there are several facts that are being overlooked. History has shown us time after time that nearly all world records on dirt and American records are accomplished on blazing-fast tracks.
One of the most sought-after records in Thoroughbred racing has been Dr. Fager’s world record 1:32 1/5 mile on dirt. In 56 years it has been equaled by one horse carrying 21 fewer pounds, but never broken, although others have come close. Yet no one questions Dr. Fager’s which stands out even more because he carried 134 pounds. But the fact is that the good doctor went to Arlington Park with the world record in mind. Not only was Arlington one of the fastest surfaces in the country, it was the scene of the previous four world-record miles, with most recent being two years earlier when Buckpasser broke the record with the aid of his lightning-fast stablemate Impressive, who set it up with a blistering six-furlongs in 1:06 4/5. Even Dr. Fager’s archrival Damascus went to Arlington Park for the American Derby and set a new track record for 1 1/8 miles.
And no one questions Swaps’ four world records, all attained at Hollywood Park, which was the other track in the United States known for its blazing times and number of records. This is where Native Diver set a new American record of 1:20 for seven furlongs, equaling the record set by El Drag, also at Hollywood Park.
All those times have since been equaled or broken, while Secretariat’s record still remains unapproachable.
And we should also remember that although we had several records broken on Belmont day 1973, all around one turn, it has been proven numerous times over the years that fast times in sprints often have little bearing on the times going classic distances the same day. For example, on Kentucky Derby Day in 2005 the seven-furlong Churchill Downs Handicap was run in fractions of :21, :43 3/5, and 1:08, with a final time of 1:20 2/5, which was six one-hundredths of a second off the track record. Waiting to capitalize on the lightning-fast track was the brilliant Kentucky Derby favorite Bellamy Road, coming off a record time, record margin, and an outrageous 120 Beyer speed figure in the Wood Memorial. Also ready to take advantage of the fast surface were Afleet Alex and Bandini, who had romped in their preps. But despite the blistering early pace, the Derby was won by 50-1 shot Giacomo in a mediocre time of 2:02 3/5.There have been many other occasions when the early sprint times on Derby Day were extremely fast, but it didn’t carry over to the Derby.
In short, breaking records going 5 ½ and seven furlongs does not equate to running a mile and a half. Secretariat just made it look like it did. Like I said earlier, he is the only horse I have ever seen who could sprint a mile and a half.
Most sensational records tend to be viewed as one-time freakish performances. But Secretariat was equaling track records early in his 3-year-old campaign, and even as a 2-year-old he set a new stakes record winning the Laurel Futurity in the slop. He also just missed track records by a fifth of a second, two-fifths of a second, three-fifths of a second twice, and four-fifths of a second, all in stakes. Running that fast so often at 2, and from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles, it was merely a precursor of things to come.
Looking at his Derby record of 1:59 2/5, in which he became the only horse to run each quarter in a mile and a quarter race faster than the one before, only one Derby winner has even broken the 2:00 mark. This is a horse who made his grass debut against many of the top turf horses in the country and not only won for fun he set a new course record for a mile and a half. What all this means is that although the 1973 Belmont was a freakish performance in the grand scheme of things, Secretariat proved himself to be as much of a freak as that performance.
Here are some other side notes on the ’73 Belmont:
Secretariat’s domination in the Belmont is not his only dominating performance. There was one that went well beyond the realm of horse racing. According to a study conducted by ESPN, based on cross referencing census data with GPS maps it was determined that the athlete with the most streets in the United States named after him or her was surprisingly not even a human athlete, but none other than Secretariat, with 263 streets named after him, an average of 5.3 per state.
The greatest bet of all time, in its own unique way, may have been a win and place wager on Secretariat in the Belmont, as strange as that may sound. But if you made a good number of those bets, you could have sold the $2.20 win tickets and made a hefty profit and cashed the place tickets, which, believe it or not, paid $2.40, double the profit of a win ticket. So many people purchased $2 win tickets as souvenirs, 5,617 were never cashed. Even after half a century, individual $2 win tickets on Secretariat in the Belmont are currently being offered on eBay for thousands of dollars.
With the way Secretariat trained up to the race and how sharp he was, jockey Ron Turcotte was so confident he told trainer Lucien Laurin the morning of the race, “If he gets beat I’ll hang up my tack.”
During the race, Turcotte knew how far in front he was because at the top of the stretch it was so quiet with no one around him he could hear Dave Johnson calling the race very clearly. The way he described it, “It was like being on a calm sea and then suddenly it turned to white caps and became turbulent. People were jumping up and down and cheering, and others were crying tears of joy.”
In the famous NYRA photo taken from the photographer’s stand showing the huge distance between Secretariat and the rest of the field and Turcotte looking over his left shoulder, a common misconception is that he was looking back at the trailing horses. However, he was actually looking at the electronic timer on the tote board. “I was about 10 jumps from the wire and I could see the teletimer clicking off the seconds and it was at 2:20. I knew we were going to set a new record so I just stayed in sync with him and be part of him and let him continue at the pace he was going and gallop out on his own.”
Such was the distance of nearly a 1/16 mile gap between Secretariat and the trailing field that the official photo-finish camera’s film negative documenting the view of the entire field measured approximately 2″ tall by an astounding 36″ in length. The photograph’s horizontal perspective below provides the magnitude and scope of Secretariat’s dominating victory.
1973 Belmont Stakes Official Finish Line Photo – click on image to expand
The fourth-place finisher of the ‘73 Belmont, Jersey Derby runner-up Pvt. Smiles, owned by C.V. Whitney, was ridden by Dan Gargan, whose son Danny will saddle Dornoch in this year’s Belmont Stakes. Danny was only 4 years old when his father died, so any memories the elder Gargan had of being part of that historic event died with him. Dornoch’s tail-female family not only traces to Secretariat, but his illustrious Meadow stablemate Riva Ridge. In fact, nearly the entire field in this year’s Belmont descend from Secretariat.
A final parting comment: one of the reasons Secretariat could run so fast so far without getting tired may very well have been the enormous size of his heart, which, after his death was found to be the largest ever recorded. It revealed just what a freak of nature he really was and may explain why some of the greatest horses of all time have been unable to even come close to his records, especially the one on June 9, 1973 that still stands alone in the annals of sports.
Photography courtesy of Adam Coglianese, New York Racing Association
Racing historian, author, and award-winning retired journalist for the Daily Racing Form and The Blood-Horse, Steve Haskin was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame’s Media Roll of Honor in 2016. Known for his racing knowledge and insightful prose, he has been an exclusive contributor to Secretariat.com since 2020.
Steve thanks Great Read
I was 8 when Secretariat won the Belmont and sealed the Triple Crown. He was my FAVE horse ever as a child and still is to this day.
Very enjoyable article!! I Saw the race and of course I will never forget it or Secretariat!! RIP champ!! GBY. Jim
I am even more amazed than ever by your encyclopedic knowledge of horse racing history which enables you to put things into perspective for the rest of us. I like to save articles like this as a document on Pages, but for some reason these articles on this site will not allow me to copy and paste. Do you know a way to do it, or would rather that I didn’t?
Amazing article. Thank you Steve!!
This article really helped me to be able to respond to the criticisms about Secretariat on that day. Specifically, I often get the comments about the other track records won that day be it was such a fast track.
I was never into racing horses but I love horses. I would have loved to know Secretariat.
i received from a friend 3 framed “SHEETS” or colored copy of the racing form but in color. they are signed by someone named “PATRISK”, i think?? 3 pcs..Kentucky Durby
Preakness AND Belmont. in pristine condition. wat can i do with them? can and will send pics with interest or direction.
thanks
rocco
I was at Belmont for Gallant Man’s win in the Belmont with Bill Shoemaker up. I was working for John Nerud. It was a happy day back at barn 36 afterwards.
THANK YOU SECRETARIAT – THE G.O.A.T. your special presence, your legend has endured the ultimate = TIME. Never will there be another that will stand the test of time whereby to this day (50 plus years) evokes love, admiration, and passionate joyous emotion (both past and present) that underscores his legend.; gracing us all with one of the greatest sports achievements of all time. Magazines, Facilities, Places, Statues, Artwork, Street Names,, Dedicated Website etc -all adding up to ultimate RESPECT that will never be matched. As titled – The Horse That God Built.
Thank you Ron Turcotte and Eddie Sweat – you are both icons in your own right that played the key roles that enabled Secretariat to be an immortal legend. We are honored by your amazing contribution.
Sadly, there will always be critics, its just noise in the scheme of it all taking shots, it only proves Secretariats legend commanding attention in all ways as the Big Red Flame Burns Through Time.
Thank you for capturing our hearts Secretariat in the truest and purest form, we are grateful.
Secretariat did not trigger the timer in all 3 Triple Crown races, so he ran all 3 races slightly faster than the posted times.
Correction: In my previous comment, where it said “Arlington Handicap”, I should have said “Washington Park Handicap at Arlington Park”.
I believe that some of the facts presented here are incorrect. For example, it is unclear that John Nerud and Braulio Baeza were intent on setting a world record with Dr. Fager in the Arlington Handicap. They’ve both indicated that after Fager was assigned 134 pounds, setting a record was the last thing on their minds. Baeza said he had the brakes on the Doctor after the quarter pole. This is supported by the fact that Baeza sat motionless on the horse as he came home and also by the DRF comment line which says that Dr. Fager finished “Easily”. This also contrasts with the comment line for Secretariat’s Belmont which states that he was “Ridden Out”. That suggests that Secretariat was driven to the finish. The article also implies that Secretariat’s record is somewhoe “better” because it is “unapproachable”, in contrast to Dr. Fager’s record which has been equaled. However, this does not account for significant differences between the 1-mile and 1 1/2-mile distances on dirt that makes this an apples vs oranges comparison. For one thing 1-mile on dirt is a distance that is run dozens of times every year by horses of all ages. By contrast, 1 1/2 miles is typically only run once or twice each year. That translates to many thousands and perhaps tens of thousands of horses who have run 1-mile on dirt since Dr. Fager as compared with the number of horses who have run 1 1/2 miles on dirt which probably numbers less than 1,000. Also, probably none of the horses who have run the mile since Dr. Fager carried as much as he did with many carrying 20-30 pounds less. By contrast most of the horse who have run 1 1/2 miles since Secretariat were 3-year olds carrying the same 126 pounds that he did.
As for Swaps, he set 5 world records not 4. Also not all of these were set at Hollywood Park. He also set a world record at Gulfstream Park. Also, not all of Swaps records have been broken. His 1 5/8 mile record still stands today. Hollywood Park may have a fast dirt track, but it isn’t true that more existing dirt records were set there than elsewhere. Two of the North American records listed in Equibase were set at Hollywood Park. That is the same as the number of North American records set at Belmont Park
Secretariat’s final quarter mile split in the Belmont Stakes of 25 seconds is far from unprecedented for this distance. For example, in the 1973 Woodward at Belmont Park, Prove Out run the final quarter in 24 seconds. Moreover, Prove Out accomplished that on a very sloppy track that was playing slow and quite differently from the speedy track that Secretariat ran on in the Belmont Stakes. A few weeks after the Woodward, Prove Out ran the final quarter mile of the 2-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup in 24.8 seconds. Even though 2 miles is a signficantly longer distance than 1 1/2 miles, Prove Out still managed to run the final quarter of the JCGC faster than Secretariat ran the final quarter of the Belmont.
Thank you for these thoughtful and excellent points.
I was 14 years old in 1973. I remember my mom asking me to come into the living room to watch this horse race named secretariat run. That was the first horse race I ever saw.
Historic. Fantastic! Always bewn a fan! Thank you for sharing even more facts that many we’d never heard before! 🥰
Secretariat was the GOAT! The greatest athlete of all time!
Michael Jordan is the GOAT, in the human category, but no one comes close to Secretariat!! No one, hands down, and I’m a huge huge fan of Jordan!!
I grew up on Long Island and was lucky enough to be at the Belmont that day with my dad. It was the thrill of a lifetime! I still tell the story to anyone who will listen. I doubt we will ever see his like again. He was one of a kind. And thank you to Ron Turcotte for so many wonderful rides.
Dear SECRETARIAT FOUNDATION INC,
I am writing because Secretariat could get featured in digital newspapers in August, this is the time when newspapers get the most traffic.
Being mentioned by digital newspapers not only boosts the reputation of your business, it also helps to enhance your search engine rankings and gives you more credibility and trustworthiness.
I’d like to explain how it works and how you can get publications free of charge. What phone number can I reach you on?
Big Red!!!
right on……massive heart and i believe lungs also………until that day there will never be another
Secretariat is undisputedly the G.O.A.T. He was the ultimate competitor and loved to run and loved the attention he received from the cheering crowds. He’s the Tom Brady of Thoroughbreds.
Much better than Tom Brady.
Excellent article! An enjoyable read from end to end. It really put Secretariat’s historical performance into perspective; and helps us understand why after 51 years, we still can’t get enough of Big Red.
He was the most magnificent race horse in history and there cannot be enough accolades about his athletic equine achievements. His spectacular beauty and regal, majestic power poses for the cameras and awareness of the crowd’s adulation made him even more special because of his personality plus and high intelligence. His explosive power, speed and stamina set us on fire as we were one with him in his journey to the pinnacle. He did not just capture the triple crown, he captured our hearts and we will forever love him!!
Beautiful Steve! While it may be true that nothing in this world is perfect, Secretariat came as close to perfection as any being ever could. Ron Turcotte had it right when he said (I’m paraphrasing here) that when Secretariat was at his best, no horse could hold a candle to him. Thank you for making it clear that, as remarkable as I thought Secretariat’s Belmont was, it was so much more remarkable than I could ever have imagined.
Dawn
I love this analysis. Thank you for providing the insight.
Thank you for a great article. I live in Australia, have been around horses all my life with showing etc and so I now have time to delve in other aspects. It is only fairly recently that I have discovered the greatest horse of all time.. Secretariat! ~
I am totally obsessed and in awe of his greatness, his power and strength. I can watch and read and reread and re watch this magnificent horse.
Thank you for your stories and keeping him alive for people like me.
OUTSTANDING!!!! Always makes me cry!!!
I was at the Preakness on the infield back stretch. All I actually saw was a blurr. But that blur was Big Red. I have watched the movie 15-20 times. Cry every time. What a great memory I have.
Ron Turcotte
I always wondered, just how fast would he have ran the Preakness if only I let him run
the last quarter mile of that race. I told Lucien when I came back to the winner circle that We could have won by 15 length’s easily.
Ron Turcotte
Ron,
I bet you’re right. Although, the move you two made on the first turn at Pimlico is what ‘filled our cup.’ That move, along with Chic Anderson’s excited call of it, is why we rewatch it regularly on youtube.
Thank you, Ron. We appreciate you more than you know. #legend 🙌🏼🏇
Ron told me the reason he made that move on the clubhouse turn is because Secretariat couldn’t run that slow. He told me he could’ve won by 15. I figured he was saving something for the Belmont. 31
I also was on the backstretch up against the hedge with a movie camera. I started filming about the time Secretariat started taking the lead. Ironically (and I don’t really know why) I filmed it in slow-motion. But it still is a unique and rare keepsake that I will always treasure. Four months later I went to NYC and filmed the entire Marlboro Cup with the same camera which turned out to be a world record.
I was on the outside rail at the 3!4 pole. The move happened right in front of me. After Ron pulled up very close to.me. Could have said something to Ron but too shy. No camera but great memory!
I could argue that Secretariat’s Preakness was better. I have seen plenty of horses, on their day, win by wide, expanding margins. Rachel’s Oaks, for instance. How many would she have won by had it been a 12 furlong race instead of 9?
But I have never seen another horse go from last to first around the FIRST turn while 4 wide, take the lead and go on to win. Never seen it done except by Secretariat
I agree about Secretariats Preakness.
Turcotte said later that Secretariat was often at his best on turns. He would readily switch to his left lead and accelerate easily. The Preakness was probably the best example of it. He went from last to first in 15 seconds.
Great article!
What a great piece! How amazing it would have been to see that amazing horse in person!
Thanks Ginger, I still feel privileged to have been around him so often, many times behind the scenes back at the barn.
Thought provoking read; and probably agree with it being the best record of all time. Flightline would not have beaten secretariat in the Belmont. And of course flightline didn’t race much, unfortunately, but his pacific classic effort would’ve taken a total monster like Secretariat to best thst day. Sad flightline was retired early, but understandable.
Steve – Great, well-written article as always. Especially meaningful to me to as though I grew up around the sport, I was just a little too young to see Secretariat race.
Seattle Slew at age 5 was my first Derby, with Affirmed being my first beloved horse. And I would hear my family’s stories of personal favorites Dr. Fager and Native Diver.
Laffit told me about Sham being the fastest horse he ever rode. And how Secretariat went right on by in the Derby. And how Sham still couldn’t catch him in the Preakness.
I’ve lived a great life around the sport. Seen so many brilliant horses and champions.
But Secretariat’s Belmont? It is the ONLY horse race I regret I was not able to see.
Thanks Marc. At least you can watch the replays and you got to see American Pharoah after 37 years. And seeing Slew and Affirmed wasnt a bad substitute, Lol.
Nice article. On last year’s golden anniversary of the Secretariat triple crown win, shared some observations on the 1973 Belmont with my fellow racehorse partnership owners, many of which you touched on. I would add three things: on August 24, 1973, John Hencken set the world record in the 200 meters breaststroke, but it has subsequently been broken 27 times – compare that to the durability of Secretariat’s mile and a half record as you mention; jockey Braulio Baeza rode second-place Twice a Prince and said afterward “I won the race, didn’t I? After all, I was ahead of every horse I could see”; after the Belmont jockey Ron Turcotte told trainer Lucien Loren “the amazing thing is, he wasn’t even breathing hard.”
Love this horse!! Then to hear he was even greater than we thought wow!! I am so glad you were there when he was living I was to but never got to see him in person. Thanks for all the info Steve. You are a great writer love reading anything you write.
Thanks Rita
Great piece on Secretariat, clearly the GOAT. If not for the relentless stick and humiliation of Sham, the ’73 Belmont would probably be the GOAT, too.
For the record, Sham had the Big Heart syndrome, too, at 18 lbs., just not quite the 22 lb. Secretariat level.
“Just too much horse,” Pincay’s wife said of Secretariat.
Steve, I totally agree with you about Secretariat’s performance for all the reasons you mention, and also because I saw it unfold right before my eyes on a television screen. The only yardstick for Secretariat is Man o’ War, and despite the learned panel that chose MOW as the greatest of all time, there’s no question in my mind and heart that Secretariat is No. 1.
Will you be gracing us with a pre-Belmont analysis? This is looking like a pretty good race!
Thanks for all you do.
Yep it will be posted tomorrow
I was four years old. I had never seen a horse race, no one in my family has any connection to racing. I remember seeing the Derby – as I remember it a man in a yellow sports jacket was saying that everyone thought this big red horse would win the Kentucky Derby. I was the skinniest, smallest kid in kindergarten and I saw the little man on his back in the blue and white silks and I wanted to be him. I don’t remember the Preakness. I will never forget the Belmont. I was alone in my parents bedroom and I remember pointing at the tv and yelling, “Look!” I pestered my parents for years for riding lessons. Eventually got them around the time of Slew. I never got in trouble in my life except at the riding academy, going over the little jumps, standing up in the irons and pointing my jump-bat at “the stands” – the instructor yelling, “You’re not Jean Cruguet, and that’s not Seattle Slew!” I kept riding, got too big, I wasn’t ever crazy enough to be a jockey so it wouldn’t have mattered…BUT – now I own horses in partnership, my best friends are all trainers and horsemen and I owe it all to that big red horse and the man on his back. Years ago, (I think Smarty Jones Belmont) I got to tell this whole story to a very appreciative Ron Turcotte, a moment I’ll never forget.
This is a great article and I very much enjoyed reading it. I knew what I was seeing was extraordinary that day when I was four. Now, if anyone tells me they’re an Atheist I tell them to go on You Tube and watch the 1973 Belmont Stakes and then tell me you’re an Atheist. I’m not kidding, I firmly believe that what happened that day so many years ago was an act of God and nothing less. I burst into tears every time I hear Chick Anderson say, “He is moving like a tremendous machine!” and I know that I do so because what I saw was a miracle.
Great story, Jonathan! I cracked up picturing you jumping a horse and shouting like a jockey waving a riding crop in victory.
Thanks, Ms Blacktype. My instructor knew my passion for racing and she was full of shouts like, “Steve Cauthen would be on the right diagonal!” and “Don’t you think Cash Asmussen would have his heels down?”
We need more of that from folks teaching riding lessons now! More boys would stick with riding with a little humor and hero worship thrown into the technical stuff. Cool posts!
I so agree with you!
Nothing has ever been said that I have seen regarding Penny Chenery’s faith, but I find myself in tears through much of the movie. “Let him run Ronnie, let him run!” turns me into a sobbing mess. God truly created as close to perfection as could possibly be done in Secretariat.
That was great Jonathan. thank you so much for sharing those memories. It shows how early horses can leave their mark on us. Secretariat certainly left an indelible one on a 4 year old who learned very early what special was.
Thank you. What a great article. I really appreciate it. As I told Ron Turcotte: All of the friendships I’ve made through racing, all of the joy, all of the things I never would have thought would happen – like meeting him, or being friends with Papa Jack Van Berg and Bobby Frankel – all of those things I owe to the big red horse and the people behind him.
Wonderful story!
Brillante Steve..!
Thank you Fernando.
One small correction is that Bob Beamon’s record lasted 23 years, not 33. I was fortunate to be in the stadium in Tokyo the night it finally fell.
Aside – do you know if Dave Johnson’s call of the Belmont still survives today? We’ve all heard Chuck Anderson’s call and likely have it memorized. But I’ve long wondered what Dave’s call sounded like.
Hi Nicholas. In reply, there is a video now up on youtube of Dave Johnson’s 1973 Belmont call. A kind soul posted it 8 months ago. ☀️
Secretariat.com isn’t allowing me to attach the link, but I’m listing the video’s full title below & it’s on the channel named “andtheyreoff”. Enjoy!
= = = =
“Secretariat: 1973 Belmont Stakes (NYRA Video with Dave Johnson’s Call)”
I had my tape recorder that day, and caught a radio call from a guy named Ray …I don’t know the spelling but his last name sounded like “hate’….big, grovelling voice “it’s Secretariat….WAY out in front…..Secretariat…..WAY out in front by some TWENTY..”…..
“he is moving like a tremendous machine!”
Still gives me chills when I hear those infamous words
I meant FAMOUS words…my mistake
Every GREAT ATHELETE is a freak of nature..I DO NOT MEAN THAT IN ANY NEGATIVE MANNER..But the “guy upstairs” gives those special people (horse) something other’s can only dream….That is what makes them special…As an old friend said of the great Wayne Gretsky…”WATCH HIM…HE IS DIFFERENT THAN EVERYONE ELSE”.. The really great ones are…DIFFERENT THAN EVERYONE ELSE…LIKE SECRETARIAT…HE WAS JUST DIFFERENT..
I don’t have any fancy wording for ya, all I can say is thank you. I was born in 1973. I can only go by what I read. I trust and appreciate every word and detail you share with us.
Thanks very much Jodi. It’s actually nice to hear from someone who is too young to have seen him.
pls forgive this error in the post on ManOs projected Lawrence time at 1.5 miles, it should be 2.28 1/5, not 1.28 1/5.
Dear Mr. Haskin your account of the Belmont is as beautifully written as it is analytical. You are truly a gifted writer. With this please allow me to add a few asides of my own to Secs Belmont. Using my background in probability in a paper I wrote several years ago discovered: using methods of regression analysis I was able to project Secs Belmont time backwards to that of ManOWar’s Jockey Club Stakes, the precursor to the Jockey Club Gold Cup. At that time it was ran at 1.5 miles. ManO carrying 118 lbs ran it on a fast track at Belmont in 2.28 4/5 seconds, an incredible time in 1920. Using the same methods I estimated ManO’s 1.5 mile time in the Lawrence Realization ran at 1 5/8 miles at Belmont, the race where according to Dorothy Our’s work on the horse, ‘they let him run’. His 1.5 mile time was projected at 1.28 1/5 bettering his Jockey Club record. That day he carried 126 lbs. Secs projected Belmont time in 1920 was an even 2.27, a good 6 fifths faster than the Lawrence at the same distance. Secs Belmont bettered even the great ManOWar. One more aside, while it is true that 1 great race doesn’t make a great race horse, Secs overall triple performance sets him in a league of his own. Up to that time or since no competitor other than Sec set track records in all 3 events. One has better odds of drawing a full house from a well shuffled deck of cards than winning the Triple in record time. This achievement by itself sets the horse apart from the rest. At least a million and more Thoroughbreds have been bred since 1970 and still his records stand. His Belmont was no fluke.
Thank you very much Russell. I appreciate the kind words and all your work.
Steve, the detail on Secretariat’s Belmont makes his race even more exceptional.
He truly was one for the ages and one that ever tire of reading about.
I am so appreciative of you, Kate, Leonard and the Secretariat site for keeping his legacy and that of Penny and the Meadow and Mr Chenery alive for all of us to enjoy and relive our memories from over 50 years ago.
Thanks Lynda.
Thank you, Steve – as usual, you caught the moment.
I was 12 that June, and we were at a camping rally. I was able to find someone with a working television in their trailer, and I remember screaming, “You’re out of your mind!” at Turcotte when I saw the fractions. Those screams of derision turned to screams of incredulity and then tears of joy as the “tremendous machine” took flight. Those ten years between Dr. Fager and Spectacular Bid were truly magical in American racing. I was too young for the Dr., but remember the rest: Canonero, Riva, Ruffian, Forego, Slew, Affirmed, The Bid…and so many more.
I’m impressed you noticed the fractions at age 12. Lol
Steve, the 2005 Kentucky Derby getting a mention made me smile. I hope it’s a little taste of some stories to be celebrated at their anniversary next year, a la the Smarty Jones pieces.
There is a connection of sorts between the discussion about Smarty’s HOF chances, Belmont records, and Afleet Alex. The only quarter of the Belmont that was NOT a record for Secretariat was the final one. (Reasonable: the boy did plenty!) The fastest final quarter record was held for many years by Arts and Letters, who prevailed over Majestic Prince in the 1969 Belmont. That fastest final split record was finally broken in 2005 by Afleet Alex, going :24.50 to win the Belmont by 7 lengths (in an overall pedestrian race time, 2:28+).
Afleet Alex is another horse retired after the Belmont who had some HOF-style performances. His career admittedly did not inspire the cultural phenomenon Smarty Jones’ did, and he ended with more losses. Still… talk about the heart of a racehorse!
I will never forget being there that day… the excitement around Barn 5 in anticipation of what would come… and the days after… the energy just stayed high and jubilant. I will never grow tired of reading about it or listening to recaps. Thank you Steve for keeping the excitement alive and well ❣ Big Hugs
Watching the 1973 Belmont always takes my breath away, and I feel like I might sob out loud. I wish that I could witness such a thing as it was happening.
Steve, I love the finish line photo. It shows yet another physical ability that made Secretariat such an incredible runner: he could achieve two full suspension phases in one stride at the gallop. The spine/pelvis has to be very flexible, along with the shoulders, and the hindquarters strong enough to power it. Most horses physically just cannot do it. He was like a cheetah or sighthound in this ability, although he did not do it at every galloping stride. With two phases of his gait in suspension when running, there would have been less resistance to blood flow from his great heart, and more ability for his lungs to fully expand.
Has anyone ever seen a win photo of the 1973 Belmont from the track photographer, taken at the wire from the side? Like you often see framed with the winner’s circle photo, and information about the horse, race, and connections? I have done an image search, and can’t find it. I’d like to see one!
Changing the distance of the Belmont for two years doesn’t bother me as much as running the Met Mile out of that goofy Wilson chute. No wonder they only got 6 entrants.
I was looking at past Belmonts just last Friday and was amazed that no other horse had ever come close to his Belmont record. 2:24! Wow! He must have been moving like a tremendous machine.
I’d never heard that Ron Turcotte wasn’t looking back at the other runners. and was instead looking at the track timer. I still learn something new every day. Thanks.
I love that line “he is the only horse I have ever seen who could sprint a mile and a half”. That’s the truth.
Steve,
Thank You for letting us relive the great Secretariat’s Belmont Stakes victory it never gets old. He was definitely one of a kind and there may never be another like him. But everytime I see his Belmont I have to go to YOUTUBE and watch his greatest racing son , Risen Star , run his Belmont. When Dave Johnson starts calling the top of the stretch of that race and says Risen Star by 4 lengths and then deep in the stretch he shouts ” its Risen Star pulling away …. he looks like his daddy at this point ” … it just chokes me up and I get all teary eyed (getting to sound a lot like Lynda King … LOL) I guess you can say I was a big Risen Star fan. I feel if he had a little racing luck and less traffic issues in the KD he would have been a Triple Crown winner ( nothing to take away from Winning Colors and her KD win ) himself.
The one thing you pointed about Secretariat’s Belmont that I was not aware of was his fractional times in that race ( and I guess it is because I was so fixated on his winning time ) it that they are remarkable for a race of this length. The other thing is that you pointed out that almost every horse this year has Secretariat in his pedigree. He was born to live forever !!!
Only other record that comes to mind that may never be broken and it is Tiger Wood’s winning the 2000 US Open golf tournament by 15 shots . He was 12 under par at the end while the 2nd place was 3 over par…. Sort of Secretariat I would say !!!
Steve have a GREAT rest of the week.
Dave Johnson’s call of Risen Star’s Belmont indeed brings on goosebumps. My 1st batch comes with Dave’s description of the horse beginning to surge: “Delahoussaye asks the son of Secretariat for speed and gets it!!”
I never get tired of reading or watching anything old or new about Secretariat. Thank you Steve for this gem of a Belmont read. I loved it! I remember watching the race at home, was standing up the entire time, jumping up and down. After the race i simply said “look, he’s not even breathing hard” what a magnificent horse and thank you once again for sharing his greatness with us.
Great article! I thought I knew everything there was know about Red but loved all the trivia on the other superstars in horse racing. But I do have a question. I personally feel as though everyone has forgotten the “other” greatest horse to look through a bridle….The great Spectacular Bid. Why is he so forgotten? Even on various Facebook post (not that means anything) most folks don’t even know who he is. Maybe it’s time to remind people who he was and what he’s 4 year old season truly meant.
For everyone who loves Bid – do you ever wonder if people don’t talk about him as much now because of his limited success as a stallion, and relative obscurity in modern pedigrees?
So rare for such a talent at 2 and 3 to come back even better at 4. Not to mention being subject to handicapping weights.
Reading about it, rewatching it (maybe for the 100th time), and soaking in the accomplishment of Secretariat winning the Belmont brings tears to my eyes, no matter the medium. This cemented my obsession with the Thoroughbred racehorse like nothing else could.
Thank you for the great lead-in to this weekend’s festivities!
Thanks for the Chicago racing mention. I was at Arlington for both Damascus’ and Buckpasser’s records. When Impressive got the three quarters in 1:06.4 I thought it was a timer malfunction. I missed Dr. Fager’s 8-24-68 world record mile in person but saw it on TV shortly afterward. I was having a surreal experience of my own. I picked up my first girlfriend from the train station downtown. The Democratic national convention was going on and there were thousands of protesters and hundreds of police lining my route to the train station. It was crazy seeing hundreds of people in trees along the way. A memorable day for many reasons.
As for Secretariat, after he won the Belmont I said I wanted to live long enough to see his record broken, knowing it was extremely unlikely to happen. I’m still here at 77 and so is Big Red’s record.
There were so many great memories created at Arlington. How wonderful that you got to see Damascus and Buckpasser run! I missed that time but did get to see Big Red win the Arlington Invitational there and saw John Henry win his second Arlington Million in ’84.
I always think Jane Smiley’s description of Limitless in “Horse Heaven” applies to Secretariat:
“Like every genius, and he was a genius . . . he had not so much a plan as a specific, overriding aim . . . to run. And he was in luck. Not only did he mean to run, he could run; perhaps, though, the cause and effect were reversed– he could run, and so he meant to run. The feedback loop hummed endlessly– he could, he did, he wanted to, and he could.”
He ran that way because he could, so he did.
That’s a great observation, Elizabeth. Horse Heaven is one of my favorite novels–I’ve read it over and over–but I never thought about how that description fits Secretariat. You are absolutely right!
I just had to go look this quote up, because it’s my favorite about Secretariat: “His only point of reference is himself”, written by Charles Hatton. I’ll never get tired of reading about him, and watching the videos still gives me the chills. And I’ll never get tired of you, Steve, writing such beautiful words about him, and keeping him alive for those of us who loved him.
Thank you Beth. I worked with Charlie Hatton for a few years when he wrote his Racing Manual stories and he was enamored with Secretariat.
Steve, thank you for this marvelous read. I love Ron Turcotte’s remark about the calm sea suddenly turning to whitecaps and turbulence. What a transcendent performance Secretariat gave us all that day!
I also remember, listening on the radio….Ron Turcotte answering reporter’s questions —asked about looking towards the tire board Ron joked “I wanted to make sure he didn’t break the record. …but he did, anyway–“……
Sheesh I did it again …”looking toward the TOTE board”..
My brother Pete picked me up from work, at the sandwich shop —and we got to Santa Anita around the 6th race just in time to see Radar Ahead, the fast Arizona bred defeat Double Discount the big swayback Cal bred….on the Strub undercard….later on we walked up the path toward the receiving barn (against the rules) but we wanted to get an up close, with the colt who ran 1:20 flat, in The Malibu—Spectacular Bid…..He was all legs and a big head—I said “THAT’S BID?”..and Bud Delp told us we were in for a big treat—-and we were …..Eddie D shot Relaunch to the lead, a punter yelled “ATTABOY, EDDIE”….Biden was 12 lengths last, but on the clubhouse turn (we were at Clockers Corner, at top of stretch) Bid started getting closer, all down the backstretch She had Bid flying towards the leaders, by the time they hit the lead they had run a 1:32 4/5 mile, and Don Pierce was cutting a seam with Flying Paster, and FINALLY Paster was going to beat Bid—thats when I saw Bid with Shoe, leaning in on the far turn, which is a sign a rider still has horse, and Shoe had plenty…..1:57 4/5 ….when Santa Anita featured their first dirt track in several years, opening day some years ago—they got it too fast, a maiden (The Factor) ran 1:06 4/5, and Twirling Candy beat Smiling Tiger a nose in 1:19 4/5, two horses breaking Bid’s 7 fur track record that had stood more than 30 years, on a track that was unfairly fast …at least Spectacular Bid still has his world record 10 furlongs, now 44 years, not as old as Secretariat’s and likely wont stand as long…. Secretariat’s the best I have seen, Bid’s the best I have seen in person….
Proofreading not being my forte, I wrote “Bid” and it came out a different name….darn!…
Matthew W, once you mentioned it, I was reminded of Monty Python’s “Queen Victoria Handicap” sketch! What was it about the ‘70s?
Times out west are always faster than the east. Bone dry tracks and no humidity in the air the horse runs faster. The same horses that do under 2:00 out west , can’t break 2:01 or even 2:02 out east. Just the way it is
Thanks for another great article. Still the greatest race I’ve ever seen after going to the races for the first time in the early 1960s…. still a thrill to watch a replay. I had put together a group outing for the 1973 Belmont…. there were 14 of us and for many, the first time they had ever been to a race track. I had asked for seats in section 3K with seats on the finish line and got them…. as I recall they were only $1.50 each. I never thought about getting a winning ticket to save. However, I did keep the program and many years later had it signed by Ron Turcotte and Penny Chenery.
Please remember that Justify and American Pharaoh were also descended from Secretariat, as was the filly Swiss Skydiver, who took the Preakness at fractions of a second behind her illustrious ancestor.
I was 12 when we witnessed that Belmont on television. It still gives me chills when I rewatch it.
I was 12 as well. Secretariat’s chest looked as wide as a car as he sprinted to the finish line. I remember stand in front of the TV with my sister as we cheered Secretariat on. I wish my dad had gotten a notion to see him in Kentucky as we lived in Maryland at the time, and my dad liked to travel.
Great piece Steve, just as astronomers look at the stars, they are looking back in time for It takes their light years to get here. Fortunately we were astronauts maybe in my case ( Space Cadet) and were in his orbit and witnessed the Comet pass closely by and bathed in the dust he trailed behind. It was difficult for me to hear DJ’s call on track but when I hear Anderson’s call the hair on the back of my neck still stands up.
Great article, Steve. I think you nailed it saying he sprinted a mile and a half. I remember watching on TV and seeing the growing margin and thinking how great it was. I wanted him to win the triple crown but didn’t expect it to be this exciting. That excitement returns every time I watch the replay. Our family were just fans, had no experience with thoroughbred racing but did with sulkies and show horses.
I got a tape recorder for Christmas, and taped the race as I was watching with my parents…..Chic Anderson said ” Almost a match race now”, and my mom said “A match race”!. Then he said “1:09 and FOUR”!, and I’m telling my dad he can’t keep going…..but you said it….he SPRINTED the entire way, he held his stride, after dueling with Sham….putting away a terrific horse, then he kept on going and going….this after the Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated covers, that came after his Preakness…..”….and LOOK at Mrs TWEEDY”!….
I love a good tape recorder. Your story makes me a little misty. If you still have that tape, any time you need or want to, you can revisit that time with your folks during a moment that continued to be meaningful your whole life. That’s pretty cool!
Katy I kept that tape for decades, but it kept getting weaker and weaker….and I lost it…I just didn’t think about what I was losing….the moment caught live….and my father and mother’s voices, which are even more meaningful, to me….
The wear and tear cassettes could take was amazing, but not infinite. I’m sorry that one could not have survived forever. I absolutely feel that, about your parents’ voices.