In my experience (including with racing fanatics) of arguing “who’s the greatest horse”, etc, even racing fans tend to focus on this one race, the Belmont. The better arguments deal with much more but fanboys and non-fans alike tend to focus squarely on Belmont Stk, one race. There won’t be much talk about others.
You are right that he set (track) records for the TC races. And as I stated elsewhere, he set a total of 6 time records out of 12 that year. Officially, Sec equaled 1 world record (1974 ARM - not separated by dirt/turf, so only 1-1/8 counted), 1 American (specifically dirt course), and the rest (4) track records.
Sec never carried more than 126, much less massive differentials in weight, and ran with plenty time between.
On the positive side, he did run turf 2x, and he did face elder several times.
Sec was a great horse. No question. He just cannot be unequivocally called greatest. Even with a spectacular Belmont.
(BTW, records were being set like crazy that season at Belmont - do you know that *every single* distance record up to the 1-1/2mi was set in 1973? Even of the 8 time records for turf - 6 of them were 1973! Oh, and guess who was still on the charts in 1973 at Belmont?)
Don’t worry about being argumentative. I’m usually accused of that. I just can’t resist these Sec-loving threads. They suck me in every time. I just have a chip on my shoulder.
I liked the movie. Just not as good as it could’ve been - and hate that they ignore poor Riva Ridge.
The movie was a charade. They portrayed The Meadow as somehow 'broke' the very year after Riva had won 2yo champion, and even wiki still repeats this bs.
The Meadow was extended into young bloodstock but not 'broke', given RR was already worth, well, he syndicated for $5M and Big Red only went for $6M, after '73, but Bull had already let it be known Claiborne was buying RR in the real-time chronology when Disney alleged The Meadows were 'broke'.
The movie also would have been better served to portray the adulterous affair between Miss Penny and Lucien Laurin. LOL at Malkovich climbing on top of Diane Lane.
I loved the negative review that revealed Disney's 'interference' to force the "Oh Happy Day" horse bath scene to Disney-fy the horseshit, Iger -- not a bad guy -- loved it so much he insisted that it become the movie's theme.