In a somewhat slow decision, the Maryland Racing Commission has awarded Secretariat the record for running the all-time fastest Preakness Stakes. This means Big Red is the record-holder in all three triple crown races. His official time for the 1973 race is now 1:53.
Jockey Ron Turcotte didn’t use a whip. After blowing past the field beginning at around :40, Secretariat cruised the rest of the way.
What changed their minds? Do you know? Glad they did that. He was so great!
I remember that long-ago spring very well, and watching all 3 of the races. I’ll never forget his run at the Belmont – it looked like the other horses were running through water compared to him, when he won by, what was it, 39 lengths, or something equally rediculous?
I remember a photo of him, and the rest of the pack, which illustrated how dominant a performance that was. You see him crossing the wire, and the rest of the field looked like they were a football field behind him. AMAZING!!!
Secretariat was the greatest, most dominant athlete I’ve ever seen.
And then, 4 years later, we were treated to the epic battles between Affirmed and Alydar, with poor Alydar losing all 3 close TC races – by about a nose at the Belmont. I remember that photo, too.
Those of us who can remember 1973 will never get over Secretariat. People tend to overlook the Preakness race, but in the video you see him come from behind early in the race, blowing past the other horses as if they were standing still. And then he widens the lead while galloping easily, Turcotte just riding him without using a whip or seeming to ask him for anything.
There’s a video from ESPN on Secretariat that says that many people who were in the stands for the Belmont were weeping in awe after the race.
Yes. I had to rewatch the Belmont. What an incredible set of races those were. I will never forget.
I have the movie, which is great. Penny Chenery selected the horse to play Secretariat. It’s a great movie befitting the great horse. This is an issue when I defend television because I never would have seen Secretariat without TV. What a sight he would have been to see in person. I worked with a woman who had traveled to Kentucky and visited the stables where Secretariat was. She had about 30 photos she had taken. I was in seventh heaven when she brought the pictures in for me to look at. Great! I feel really lucky to have see that great horse.