Secretariat set records that are still standing today. Accelerating with each quarter-mile segment, he crossed the finish line at 1:59 2/5th, a new (and still standing) course record. In the 40 years since, only one other horse, Monarchos, has finished in under 2 minutes.
One of Secretariat's defeats was to a horse named Sham, another one of history's greatest race horses. Sham beat Secretariat in the Wood Memorial, just weeks before the Kentucky Derby, so each of the horses' connections was eager and anxious to face one another, again, on the first Saturday in May.
The time for the race was not only a record, it was the fastest 1+1⁄2 miles on dirt in history, 2:24 flat, breaking by more than two seconds the track and stakes record of 2:26 3⁄5 set 16 years earlier by Gallant Man. Secretariat's record still stands as an American record on the dirt.
Secretariat set speed records at multiple distances and on different racing surfaces. But the Guinness World Record recognizes Winning Brew as the fastest horse ever.
In stud, Secretariat sired such future champions as 1988 Preakness and Belmont winner Risen Star and 1986 Horse of the Year Lady's Secret. But none of his offspring came close to matching the standard he set. He remained a popular figure even after Secretariat Mania subsided.
His winning time of 2:26.65 was the sixth-fastest in Belmont history, the second-fastest for a Triple Crown winner, and his closing quarter-mile was run in 24.32 seconds, which was over a half-second faster than Secretariat's final quarter-mile time of 25.00 when the 1973 winner set a world record and won by 31 lengths ...
This is a Guinness World Record was achieved by a horse called Winning Brew. She was trained by Francis Vitale in the United States. The race was recorded at the Penn National Race Course, Grantville, Pennsylvania, United States. Winning Brew covered the quarter-mile (402 metres) in 20.57 seconds.
Secretariat (1973)
We all know the story about Secretariat; it's even been made into a movie. Along with Man o' War, he is considered to be the best horse of all time. Even ESPN counted Secretariat as on of the Top 50 Athletes of the 20th Century during their countdown in 1999.
In 1999, The Blood-Horse magazine convened a panel of seven racing experts to rank-order the 20th Century's top 100 racehorses. Man o' War beat out Secretariat for the top spot, each garnering three first-place votes.
Secretariat had more than 650 registered foals when he died, the last group born in 1990. Today, there are two living Secretariat offspring: 34-year-old Border Run and 33-year-old Trusted Company, both of whom celebrated birthdays on Jan. 1, reports Thoroughbred Racing Commentary.
Secretariat was a famous racehorse and the childhood hero of BoJack Horseman. He won the Triple Crown in 1973 and then months later committed suicide after being banned from competition for illegal betting, and learning of the death of his brother.
Sham (April 9, 1970 – April 3, 1993) was an American thoroughbred race horse and leading three year-old in 1973, who was overshadowed by his more famous peer, Secretariat.
It is interesting to see that a horse like Secretariat (24.5ft) had a foot shorter average stride length than American Pharoah (25.23ft) but was able to win in faster time.
Although Seabiscuit was a great racehorse with amazing heart and stamina, it's doubtful he could beat Secretariat in a race at any length. Secretariat could come off the pace or run from the front, traits that make Secretariat great.
Secretariat gave the finest performance of his career in the Belmont Stakes, completing the 1.5-mile race in a record 2 minutes and 24 seconds, knocking nearly three seconds off the track record set by Gallant Man in 1957. He also won by a record 31 lengths.
If you want to hear a story about a huge heart, look no further than the great Secretariat. The average Thoroughbred's heart weighs about 8.5 lbs. Secretariat's heart weighed nearly three times that number! Watch this video to learn how Secretariat's big heart likely contributed to his stamina on the racetrack.
When Secretariat died at 19 in 1989, Ms. Chenery, who oversaw his fortunes as the manager of her family's Meadow Stable in Virginia, recalled how he had enthralled so many in troubled times. “In 1973, the country was in an emotional slump,” she wrote in The New York Times.
Conversation. How fast is Secretariat's derby time of 1:59.4, which is still the record 49 years later? Secretariat would have beaten today's winner Rich Strike by 13 lengths!
Secretariat's hindquarters were the main source of his power, with a sloped croup that extended the length of his femur. When in full stride, his hind legs were able to reach far under himself, increasing his drive. His ample girth, long back and well-made neck all contributed to his heart-lung efficiency.”
Helen “Penny” Chenery, owner of 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat and a well-loved figure in her own right as a champion of Thoroughbreds and women in business and sports, died Sept. 16, in her Colorado home following complications from a stroke. She was 95.
Man O' War's record was 20 wins, 1 place. Secretariat had 16 wins, 3 place and 1 show.
"I was feeling like he was weak. I tapped him again and I had nothing," Pincay said, initially thinking Sham was bleeding. He checked and didn't see any blood. Approaching the quarter-pole, Pincay knew Sham was injured.
Legendary Triple Crown winner Secretariat owns the fastest-ever clockings in the Derby, Preakness and Belmont, and his Belmont victory ranks as one for the ages.