The history of horse racing rested on the flip of a coin. In the year 1969, Penny Chenery lost to Philip Ogden in a game of fate. The two stable owners tossed a coin for the first choice of two foals sired by the famed racehorse “Bold Ruler.” Philip won the coin toss and ended up leaving Penny with the foal that would one day grow up to be a Triple Crown Winner.1 Secretariat’s journey started on March 30, 1970. He was born with three white socks down near his hooves and a dazzling chestnut coat, an appearance that ultimately caused him to don the nickname “Big Red” in years to come.2
Secretariat is the greatest racehorse to have ever lived, but his racing debut did not go as many would expect. On July 4, 1972, Big Red took to professional competition for the first time at Aqueduct Racetrack. There, he displayed tremendous speed by catching up to the lead horse by seven of eight lengths, with a length being approximately eight feet, and ended up placing in fourth. His second race took place on July 15, 1972. This was the day he became iconic for his raw power and stamina. Secretariat was a horse that gained strength and speed the farther he barreled into every race, and this was certainly no exception and marked the first win of his career. Eventually, on July 31, 1972, Ron Turcotte took Big Red’s reigns and became his main jockey. Turcotte and Big Red were a match made in heaven. Indeed, the duo went on to win six races together, leaving Secretariat with a record of seven wins and two losses. He was named “horse of the year” due to his tremendous record, and was the second two-year-old in history to have ever captured this honor. 3
After a year, spring came into full bloom, and with it came the 1973 Triple Crown. At the age of three, Secretariat was better than ever. He had grown an inch and a half, and, after a winter of training, he was ready to race to glory. The season started off with two easy wins at the Bay Shore and the Gotham Stakes, both races were held at the Aqueduct Racetrack in New York. With two wins under Big Red’s belt, he seemed almost unstoppable. On April 12, 1973, however, he encountered his first true competition of the season at the Wood Memorial Stakes. There was an incredible upset that led to Secretariat placing third, Sham placing second, and Angel Light placing first. This marked Secretariat’s first loss of the season, at the last important race leading up to the Triple Crown, no less.4
Secretariat and jockey Turcotte, undeterred by their loss, moved into the three races making up the Triple Crown: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. And each one showcases the fastest horses and the most talented jockeys of the year. This was competition like Big Red had never experienced before.5 When the 1973 Kentucky Derby rolled around, Ron Turcotte and Secretariat took to the gates. Time stood still, and once the gates blew open, Secretariat barreled out. With a slow start, the two started in the back of the pack. As the race went on, Secretariat naturally began to build up speed. He surged through the middle of the pack and moved up towards Sham, who was working his way into the lead. Secretariat took to the outside of the group and quickly closed the gap between Sham and himself. The two were neck and neck as they came out towards the final turn, each jiving for first. After precious seconds of conflict, Secretariat gained a lead on Sham and started to pull away towards the finish line, eventually winning the Kentucky Derby.6
Secretariat and His Jockey, Ron Turcotte, at the Belmont Stakes (June 9, 1973) | Courtesy of slicethelife.comWith one of the three races won, Big Red quickly moved on to the Preakness Stakes. Sham had proved to be his main competition in the previous two races, and they would constantly be locked into combat down on the track again. When the race started, six horses raced out of the gates, forcing Secretariat towards the back of the pack, while Sham barreled to first. Big Red began to dash his way up the outside again, quickly overtaking fifth and fourth, then smashing through third and second place. Early on into the backstretch, Secretariat caught up to Sham. Again the two horses went head to head before Secretariat passed Sham on the outside of the track. Secretariat pulled away and continued to slowly lengthen his lead around the last turn and the final stretch, coming in first.7
June 9, 1973, marked the day that would change the history of horse racing as we know it today. It was, after all, the day of the 1973 Belmont Stakes, the final race of the Triple Crown. The gates snapped open, and Secretariat rushed out onto the track. He quickly moved into fourth and surged up into first shortly after the first turn. There, Secretariat was naturally met with his mortal enemy: Sham. Sham and Secretariat quickly found themselves locked in a battle yet again. This time, however, everything was on the line. Sham moved shortly back into first as the two entered the backstretch. Not to be outdone, Big Red moved back into first and started to pull away. He gained over Sham inch by inch, and continued to charge on through the final turn and off to the finish line, winning the Belmont Stakes and becoming a Triple Crown Winner.8 At the end of it all, he won by a record-breaking thirty-one lengths. Understandably, the times that Secretariat ran all three races have yet to be broken by any horse today.9
Secretariat later retired after his third year of racing. He was moved to Claireborne farms, where he sired five hundred and eighty-two offspring. Forty-one of his offspring went on to become stakes winners.10 Big Red, ripe with old age, eventually became sick with laminitis, a painful and often deadly hoof disease. He was put down October 4, 1989.11 He was the horse that changed history, and his hooves still echo through the hall of racing history today.
- Erik Van Rheenen, “4 Coin Flips That Changed History,” Mental Floss (blog), June 1, 2014, http://mentalfloss.com/article/50832/4-coin-flips-changed-history. ↵
- New World Encyclopedia, s.v. “Secretariat.” ↵
- Encyclopedia Brittanica, s.v. “Secretariat,” by Marvin Drager. ↵
- Encyclopedia Brittanica, s.v. “Secretariat,” by Marvin Drager. ↵
- Tom Pedulla, “Secretariat: ‘A Tremendous Machine,'” America’s Best Racing (blog), February 11, 2019, https://www.americasbestracing.net/the-sport/2019-secretariat-tremendous-machine. ↵
- Secretariat – Kentucky Derby 1973, video file, 3:02, YouTube, posted October 8, 2011, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74Usj3K4oZ0. ↵
- Secretariat – Preakness Stakes 1973, video file, 3:03, YouTube, posted July 29, 2011, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV89InWOENc. ↵
- Secretariat Belmont Stakes 1973 & extended coverage (HD Version – NEW!), video file, 5:12, YouTube, posted June 25, 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfCMtaNiMDM. ↵
- “Secretariat,” History (blog), August 21, 2018, https://www.history.com/topics/sports/secretariat. ↵
- “Secretariat,” History (blog), August 21, 2018, https://www.history.com/topics/sports/secretariat. ↵
- William Nack, “Pure Heart: The thrilling life and emotional death of Secretariat,” Sports Illustrated (blog), January 2, 2015, https://www.si.com/horse-racing/2015/01/02/pure-heart-william-nack-secretariat. ↵
30 comments
Mara Martinez
I loved this horse and his story. He really was the best of the best. One of my old horses had Secretariat as a great grandfather. This article was super well written and told the story very well about this horses life and what he went through to be as good as he is now.
Raul Vallejo
It is amazing to read about what makes a champion. This is exactly what this article provided. Secretariat was an unexpected dominant force in the sport of horse derby that still has not neem beat. A great part of this story is how Secretariat and Ron Turcotte were not at all bothered by their loss and continued with their head up high and ultimately won.
Briley Perkins
I really love the movie “Secretariat” when it had come out, because of the incredibly true story of a race horse. The story is not like any other; the owner had a coin toss and ended up with the horse that no one had wanted. Though, the owner had believed if the horse was trained it could be great and save their ranch. His competition Sham was really good as well, but Secretariat was just another beast. Till this day no other horse has beaten the times Secretariat achieved during the Triple Crown attempt.
Vania Gonzalez
I really love this article, I’m a huge fan of the movie and watch it all the time. This article really explains his biggest races and challenges and why he is the greatest horse in history and what led to his success on the track. This story is in a way inspirational because he was supposed to be the small “weak” horse and ended up being the champion horse. It’s one of those small guy wins stories.
Charli Delmonico
I watched the “Secretariat” movie and absolutely loved it, but it has been a long time since I have seen it, so I’m very glad that this article jogged my memory. I still can’t believe that Secretariat’s owner lost the coin toss, and yet ended up with the most amazing race horse of all time. Philip Ogden must have been quite upset to realize he was one coin toss away from owning the most famous horse in history– and HE had the first pick! I love the fact that Secretariat would always start off behind all the other horses and then eventually come from behind. This story is incredibly inspiring.
Roberto Rodriguez
I have been to one or two horse races in my life, those times I was taken there by my dad in an attempt to relax and get out of the house on warm summer nights. I never really understood why people liked horse racing besides the cute (or ridiculous names) of horses and the gambling. When I watch a human athlete I get a sense of amazement, they put in countless hours to define a skill, it takes a lot of determination, sacrifice and many would argue emotion to become a professional in a sport. I never got the same sense with animal athletes, until after I read this article. After I read this article, I think I understand another reason why people watch horse racing and admire animal athletes, it is a sense of admiration for the amount of the pure will of the animal. The way that the article describes the races and how it personifies Secretariat, made me realize it is more than just watching an animal run really fast. Though the jockeys/owners might hold back from hurting the horse too much, the horse is just running free at its best potential. They give their best every time that they race and that is something to get a sense of amazement from.
Alexander Avina
I really enjoyed reading about the spectacular feats of Secretariat. I truly appreciate how the you talk about the races that preceded Secretariat winning the Triple Crown. I had seen a movie about Secretariat’s story, but it did not cover all of his early life. Reading this article allowed me to appreciate the magnificence of this horse. Secretariat’s victory at The Belmont Stakes is one of the most dominant performances ever. It’s amazing to find out that no other horse has been able to accomplish winning the Triple Crown. I guess that is just a testament to the greatness of Secretariat.
Kelsey Sanchez
This article really grabbed my attention because it reminds me of when I had a horse who was also just like secretariat. I really enjoy the details put into this article because it expresses not only the event of horseracing but as well the history of how it all started with the flipping of a coin. Many think it is just entertainment, but in reality, they are discovering the true informative meaning of it. Winning and losing is where the competition starts to appear. It’s amazing to see the little surprises you get when your horse is at the back of that fourth and fifth place and then you realize the limits are at the high expectation of being in the first place at the finish line.
Antonio Coffee
I don’t really know anything about the world of horse racing but this was a well-written article and was very informative. I had always assumed that the triple crown was one event and never knew that it consisted of multiple events and races. I had heard of Secretariat before but I never realized how big a deal the horse was. It is amazing to think that no horse has yet beaten the records that Secretariat set and I hope to hear about it in my life time.
Vanessa Sanchez
Awesome article. I love horse racing so seeing any article talking about it automatically grabs my attention. I could only imagine the awesome feeling the owners would have of every single accomplishment its horse had. I must admit its a great feeling to be a winner know becoming a winner that leaves history behind I could only believe that it more than extraordinary to feel.