Secretariat is still the only horse to win the Derby in under 2:00. Both he and Sham, the horse who finished 2nd to him that day 33 years ago, crossed the wire in under 2:00 minutes. Secretariat still holds the record for the Derby and Belmont. In fact, his time of 2:24 in the Belmont is still a world record on dirt for 1 1/2 miles. For quite a few years, he also held the world record on dirt for 1 1/8 miles, which he set in the first Marlboro Cup, a race created specifically to showcase Big Red against the best older horses in the country.
Secretariat won his Kentucky Derby in 1:59 2/5, achieving the unheard-of feat of running each quarter-mile segment fractionally faster than the one before it. The successive quarter-mile times were: 25 1/5, 24, 23 4/5, 23 2/5 and 23. The very game, superb racehorse, Sham, crossed the wire in 1:59 4/5, a time that would have won any other running of the Kentucky Derby, before or since.
THAT was the greatest Kentucky Derby ever. Barbaro has to look of greatness about him, and he might turn out to be a Triple Crown winner, but his Derby was ordinary by comparison to the 1973 Derby.
Another remarkable thing about Secretariat was that he was equally as magnificent on turf as on dirt. His last two races were on grass. He won them both, the Man o'War Stakes at Belmont, setting a new record for 1 1/2 miles on turf, and the Canadian International at Woodbine. In both his racing seasons, he won all of the year-end honors for which he was eligible. Horse of the Year twice, Champion 2-year-old, Champion 3-year-old and Champion Turf Horse.
Named by ESPN and one of the top 100 athletes of the 20th Century, he was and always will be the greatest horse I have ever seen, and I'll always love him.
Those who are interested can visit Secretariat.com
What was amazing in the Derby is that the jockey didn't even use the whip on Barbaro at the end!
Hair, good job on the thread!
Barbaro FTW!
Don't forget Secretariat's Preakness run, which many think was also the fastest ever, but failure of the electronic timing left him with a slower hand timed mark. I agree, best horse ever!
No, Monarchos won the Derby in 1:59 4/5.
I was 12 years old in 1973 and living in Baltimore, when I watched the Triple Crown races on TV. I fell in love with Secretariat and dreamed of being jockey; feeling the wind in my face and the thud of pounding hoofs on the track matching the beat of my heart and seeing nothing but the finish line ahead. Hell, I really wanted to be Secretariat. But dreams of being a jockey were not meant to be since at 12, I was already a healthy 5’5”.
I still live in Maryland and I’ve been to the track a couple of times and to some steeplechases and equestrian events, but I’m not into gambling. I just like watching the horses run.
I also thought that Seabiscuit, another great American story, was one the best movies I’ve ever seen, definitely in my top ten.
Secretariat was the most amazing horse I ever saw. Thinking of how beautiful he was still brings tears to my eyes. Thanks for the link Wolfstar.
You know, I’ve been thinking lately of taking riding lessons. It’s never too late to fulfill a dream. I’ll never be a jockey but I do still love horses.
Barbaro trains in Fair Hill, Maryland, not far from me so he is my sentimental favorite today.
His name is like music to my ears
I cried when he passed
In fact I get teary eyed just thinking about him
Truly one of a kind
Thanks for the link
Yes, Secretariat was a great horse, I remember so well, especially the Belmont.
Thanks for mentioning Sham, second fastest Derby ever, with Latiffe Pincay riding. Not many people know that.
Do you remember Cañonero II, who held on to his Preakness record? That Triple Crown was wild.