Watch: Secretariat’s record-setting Triple Crown races still induce chills 50 years later

Lexington Herald-Leader
·2 min read
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The Kentucky Derby has been run 148 times. The Preakness Stakes has gone to post 147 times. The Belmont Stakes has circled the track 154 times.

Think about the history. These races emerged on the American sports scene in the decade after the Civil War ended.

Think about the horses. Thirteen have won the Triple Crown, from Sir Barton in 1919 to Justify in 2018.

Now grasp this: No horse has ever run the Derby, the Preakness or the Belmont faster than Secretariat did during his Triple Crown-winning 3-year-old season of 1973.

Hundreds of races. Thousands of Thoroughbreds.

One Secretariat.

Fifty years later, we think we know all we need to know or ever will know about “Big Red.”

That might be true.

But, if you’ve never done so, take a moment — or more precisely, 6 minutes, 16 2/5 seconds — to watch all three races back-to-back-to-back.

Viewing the 1973 Triple Crown races is still a thrill 50 years later.

Imagine what it had to be like watching live.

1973 Kentucky Derby

May 5, 1973

Churchill Downs

Louisville, Kentucky

▪ Secretariat defeats Sham by 2 ½ lengths and Our Native by another 8 as the 3-2 favorite in a field of 13 going 1 ¼ miles in a record time of 1:59 2/5.

1973 Preakness Stakes

May 19, 1973

Pimlico Race Course

Baltimore, Maryland

▪ Secretariat defeats Sham by 2 1/2 lengths and Our Native by another 8 as the 1-5 favorite in a field of six going 1 3/16 miles in a record time of 1:53.

1973 Belmont Stakes

June 9, 1973

Belmont Park

Elmont, New York

▪ Secretariat defeats Twice a Prince by 31 lengths and My Gallant by another half-length as the 1-10 favorite in a field of five going 1 1/2 miles in a record time of 2:24.

On the 50th anniversary of his Triple Crown, why Secretariat still resonates today

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Get to know the horses who have joined Secretariat in winning the Triple Crown