Fifty Years Later, Secretariat’s Triple Crown Run Still Seems Unbeatable

[DGUtley]

Fifty Years Later, Secretariat’s Triple Crown Run Still Seems Unbeatable - Humans in other sports hold records, but Secretariat’s dominance in 1973 has stood the test of time and is, in a word, unassailable.



Sometime after 4:30 p.m. on the afternoon of May 5, 1973, groom Eddie Sweat unlatched the front of Stall 21 in Barn 42 at Churchill Downs. Out came Secretariat.

The strapping chestnut colt likely already knew it was a race day. He had been fed less than his usual prodigious quantity of oats—Big Red had a Ruthian appetite—and the hay bundle tied up outside the stall door for snacking had been taken away. Secretariat was walked a few times around the Barn 42 shed row under the nervous gaze of trainer Lucien Laurin, then led away from the barn area to the backstretch of the Louisville, Ky., landmark. More than 130,000 people created a hum of boozy revelry that emanated faintly from the other side of the world’s most famous racetrack.

About 45 minutes before post time, Secretariat and the other 12 contenders for the 99th Kentucky Derby were turned over to lead ponies for the walk around the first turn toward the fabled Twin Spires. Cheers went up at the sight of the horses, and anticipation swelled in the ancient grandstand. Saddled in the paddock and jockeys now onboard, the 13 thoroughbreds returned to the track to the strains of “My Old Kentucky Home” and turned left, jogging toward the starting gate.

The gates sprang open at 5:37, and history was written in real time.


th-3542083754.jpg

200-1889955197.gif


th-1882453904.jpg


th-3180089934.jpg







https://www.si.com/horse-racing/2023...er-daily-cover

[DGUtley]

[Omar]

Superhorse. I remember that Triple Crown, it was crazy. I had a girlfriend who had been on vacation and seen Secretariat. She said he was a beautiful horse. Not the most profound comment, I suppose, but I've always remembered it.

[carolina73]

When I lived in Lexington, the only scar on his name was that he was born in Virginia instead of Kentucky.
They get picky that way. So Secretariat still does not have a street named after him in the home of horse racing. But he did rank a statue.

[DGUtley]

When I lived in Lexington, the only scar on his name was that he was born in Virginia instead of Kentucky.
They get picky that way. So Secretariat still does not have a street named after him in the home of horse racing. But he did rank a statue.

Uh... cough... cough.... cough...



i.jpg



https://www.espn.com/horse-racing/st...oads-named-him

[carolina73]

Uh... cough... cough.... cough...



Attachment 57238



https://www.espn.com/horse-racing/st...oads-named-him

Still zero in Lexington, KY as stated. I also checked with Google Maps since it has been awhile since I lived there before I made the comment.

[DGUtley]

I thought that you meant Kentucky. I'd never heard Lexington called 'home' of horse racing.

[carolina73]

I thought that you meant Kentucky. I'd never heard Lexington called 'home' of horse racing.

It is. It is where the spring sales happen every year. Queen Elizabeth used to fly in. Arab princes...
Keeneland is the traditional old fashion race track track (no announcer) that is only rivaled by Saratoga for grounds. The horse farms surround the city.

After 2 weeks there, i realized that I had to learn to speak horse racing and UK basketball to belong.

[DGUtley]

I sure wish someone would restore that 1973 clip.

[carolina73]

That guy was really lucky. I moved there in 89 and you could not see anything but empty pastures from the road but you were not able to stop very long before someone would move you along.

I never thought about being bold enough to just drive up the driveway.