Secretariat (horse)

Secretariat (horse)

Secretariat was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who, in 1973, became the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years. His record-breaking victory in the Belmont Stakes, which he won by 31 lengths, is widely regarded as one of the greatest races in history. During his racing career, he won five Eclipse Awards, including Horse of the Year honors at ages two and three. Secretariat died in 1989 due to laminitis at age 19.

About Secretariat (horse) in brief

Summary Secretariat (horse)Secretariat was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who, in 1973, became the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years. His record-breaking victory in the Belmont Stakes, which he won by 31 lengths, is widely regarded as one of the greatest races in history. During his racing career, he won five Eclipse Awards, including Horse of the Year honors at ages two and three. In the List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century, Secretariat is second only to Man o’ War, who also was a large chestnut colt given the nickname “Big Red” Secretariat was sired by Bold Ruler and his dam was Somethingroyal, a daughter of Princequillo. His daughters produced several notable sires, including Storm Cat, A. P. Indy, Gone West, Dehere and Chief’s Crown, and through them Secretariat appears in the pedigree of many modern champions. Secretariat died in 1989 due to laminitis at age 19, and is recognized as one the greatest horses in racing history. He was officially bred by Christopher Chenery’s Meadow Stud, but the breeding was actually arranged by Penny Chenery, who had taken over the running of the stable in 1968 when her father became ill. The Phipps family owned most of the mares to which Bold Ruler was bred, and few of his offspring were sold at public auction. To bring new blood into their breeding program, the Phippses sometimes negotiated a foal-sharing agreement with other mare owners: Instead of charging a stud fee for Bold Ruler, they would arrange for multiple matings with Bold Ruler.

In 1969, the winner of the coin toss would get first pick of the foals due to the spring of 1969, while the loser of the toss wouldget first pick in 1970. In 1970, Cicada did not conceive, leaving only one foal to be produced in the breeding season. She was then sent to Bold Ruler in 1968, Hasty Mateal in 1969, and then Cicada in 1969 and 1970, which produced a colt, a filly and a fillty. In 1973, the winning mare in the 1969 breeding season, Something Troyal, was sent to Cicada and Cicada would not conceive in 1970, leaving one colt and filly to be bred. The winner of that breeding season was Cicada, and in the fall of that year, the two mares were born. The colt was named Secretariat, and he went on to win the Triple Crown in 1973. He also won the Preakness Stakes and American Champion Sprint Horse honors in 1958, and was the leading sire in North America from 1963 to 1969 and again in1973. He is the only horse to have won all three Triple Crowns. His time in the Kentucky Derby still stands as the Churchill Downs track record for ​1 1⁄4 miles. His win in the Gotham Stakes tied the trackrecord for 1 mile, he set a world record in the Marlboro Cup, and further proved his versatility by winning two major stakes races on turf.