Secretariat (horse) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Secretariat
Secretariat as an older stallion
Sire	Bold Ruler
Grandsire	Nasrullah
Dam	Somethingroyal
Damsire	Princequillo
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	March 30, 1970 Caroline County, Virginia, U.S.
Died	October 4, 1989(1989-10-04) (aged 19) Paris, Kentucky, U.S.
Country	United States
Color	Chestnut
Breeder	Meadow Stud (Christopher Chenery)
Owner	Meadow Stable (Christopher Chenery, Penny Chenery)
Racing colors	Blue, white blocks, white stripes on sleeves, blue cap
Trainer	Lucien Laurin
Record	21: 16–3–1
Earnings	$1,316,808
Major wins
Triple Crown race wins: Kentucky Derby (1973) Preakness Stakes (1973) Belmont Stakes (1973) Stakes wins: Sanford Stakes (1972) Hopeful Stakes (1972) Futurity Stakes (1972) Laurel Futurity (1972) Garden State Futurity (1972) Bay Shore Stakes (1973) Gotham Stakes (1973) Arlington Invitational (1973) Marlboro Cup (1973) Man o' War Stakes (1973) Canadian International (1973) ’’’
Awards
9th U.S. Triple Crown Champion (1973) American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt (1972) American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse (1973) American Champion Male Turf Horse (1973) American Horse of the Year (1972, 1973) Leading broodmare sire in North America (1992)
Honors
U.S. Racing Hall of Fame (1974) Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame (2007) Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (2013) U.S. Postage Stamp (1999) #2 – Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century

Secretariat (born March 30, 1970 – died October 4, 1989), also known as Big Red, was an amazing American thoroughbred racehorse. He was the ninth horse to win the American Triple Crown. Even today, he still holds the speed records for all three of these important races. Many people think he is one of the greatest racehorses ever.

Secretariat was the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years. His win in the Belmont Stakes was especially famous. He won that race by an incredible 31 lengths! This victory is seen as one of the best races in history. During his racing career, he won five big awards called Eclipse Awards. He was even named Horse of the Year when he was two and three years old.

In 1974, he was added to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. In a list of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century, Secretariat was ranked second. Only Man o' War was ahead of him.

When he was two years old, Secretariat finished fourth in his first race. But after that, he won seven of his next eight races. Five of these were important stakes races. His only loss during this time was in the Champagne Stakes. He finished first but was moved to second place because he got in the way of another horse. He won the Eclipse Award for the best two-year-old colt. He was also named Horse of the Year in 1972, which is rare for such a young horse.

At age three, Secretariat not only won the Triple Crown, but he also set speed records in all three races. His time in the Kentucky Derby is still the fastest ever at Churchill Downs for 11⁄4 miles. His time in the Belmont Stakes is the American record for 11⁄2 miles on a dirt track. His time in the Preakness Stakes was officially recognized as a record in 2012. Secretariat also tied a track record in the Gotham Stakes for 1 mile. He set a world record in the Marlboro Cup at 11⁄8 miles. He also showed he could race well on turf (grass tracks).

He lost three times that year, but his nine wins made him a true American hero. He won his second Horse of the Year award. He also won Eclipse Awards for best three-year-old colt and best turf horse.

Before his three-year-old year, Secretariat was sold in a special deal for a record $6.08 million. This deal meant he would stop racing at the end of the year. He became a father to many successful racehorses. But he was most important through his daughters' children. He became the best broodmare sire in North America in 1992. This means his daughters gave birth to many great racehorses. Secretariat died in 1989 at age 19 from a hoof problem called laminitis.

How Secretariat Was Born

Secretariat was officially bred by Christopher Chenery's Meadow Stud farm. But the breeding was actually planned by Penny Chenery, Christopher's daughter. She took over the farm in 1968 when her father became sick. Secretariat's father was Bold Ruler, and his mother was Somethingroyal. Somethingroyal's father was Princequillo. Bold Ruler was a very successful father horse, leading North America in 1963 to 1969 and again in 1973.

Bold Ruler was owned by the Phipps family. He was known for both speed and strength. He won the Preakness Stakes and Horse of the Year in 1957. He also won best sprint horse in 1958. Bold Ruler retired to be a stud (father horse) at Claiborne Farm. The Phipps family owned most of the mares (female horses) that Bold Ruler bred with. Not many of his babies were sold to others.

To get new blood for their horses, the Phipps family sometimes made a special deal. Instead of charging money for Bold Ruler to breed, they would share the foals (baby horses). This meant they would breed two mares in one year, or one mare over two years. If two foals were born, the Phipps family would keep one, and the mare's owner would keep the other. A coin toss decided who got to pick first.

Penny Chenery sent two of her mares, Hasty Matelda and Somethingroyal, to breed with Bold Ruler in 1968. She sent Somethingroyal again in 1969. The deal said that the winner of the coin toss would pick first from the 1969 foals. The loser would pick first from the 1970 foals. In the spring of 1969, a male foal (colt) and a female foal (filly) were born. In 1969, the other mare, Cicada, did not get pregnant. This meant only one foal was expected in 1970.

So, the coin toss winner would get only one foal (the first pick from 1969). The loser would get two foals (the second pick from 1969 and the only foal from 1970). Penny Chenery later said both owners hoped they would lose the coin toss! The toss happened in the fall of 1969. Ogden Phipps won the toss and chose the 1969 filly from Somethingroyal. This filly was named The Bride. She never won a race, but she did have successful babies later. Penny Chenery received the Hasty Matelda colt from 1969. She also got the foal from Somethingroyal that was due in 1970. This foal turned out to be Secretariat.

Secretariat's Early Life

On March 30, 1970, at 12:10 a.m., Secretariat was born at Meadow Stud in Caroline County, Virginia. He was a bright red chestnut colt. He had three white socks on his legs. He also had a white star with a narrow stripe on his face. The foal stood up just 45 minutes after being born. He nursed 30 minutes later.

Howard Gentry, the manager of Meadow Stud, was there for the birth. He later said, "He was a very well-made foal. He was as perfect a foal that I ever delivered." The young colt quickly stood out from the others. "He was always the leader in the crowd," said Robert Gentry, Howard's nephew. "To us, he was Big Red, and he had a personality. He was a clown and was always cutting up, always into some devilment." When Penny Chenery first saw him, she wrote one word in her notebook: "Wow!"

That fall, Penny Chenery and Elizabeth Ham, the farm's secretary, worked to name the young colt. Their first name ideas were rejected. The second set of names was sent in January 1971. These included Games of Chance, Deo Volente ("God Willing"), and Secretariat. Elizabeth Ham suggested "Secretariat" because of her old job with the secretariat of the League of Nations.

Secretariat's Look and Body

Diagram of a horse's body parts

Secretariat grew into a very big and strong horse. People said he looked like his great-grandfather, Discovery. When he was fully grown, he stood 16.2 hands tall. He was known for being very well-balanced. Experts said he had "nearly perfect" body shape and how he moved (stride biomechanics). His chest was so large that he needed a special girth (the strap that holds the saddle). He was also famous for his big, strong, and muscular back legs. An Australian trainer once said, "He is incredible, an absolutely perfect horse. I never saw anything like him."

It was important that Secretariat had no major body flaws. Horses with well-made legs and feet are less likely to get hurt. Secretariat's back legs gave him most of his power. They had a sloped croup (rump) that made his upper leg bone (femur) longer. When he ran at full speed, his back legs could reach far under his body. This helped him push off with more power. His large chest, long back, and well-shaped neck all helped his heart and lungs work very well.

How Secretariat's body parts fit together made his stride (how he runs) very efficient. This affected how fast he could speed up and how long he could keep going. Even small differences in bone length and angles can greatly change how a horse performs. Secretariat was well-built even as a two-year-old. By the time he was three, his body had grown more, and his running style became even smoother.

Secretariat's stride length was considered very long. This was true even for his large size and strong build. When he was training for the Preakness Stakes, his stride was measured at 24 feet, 11 inches. His powerful back legs allowed him to run with "amazing" speed. Because he was so muscular and had a large heart, he could simply outrun other horses at almost any point in a race.

Before the Gotham Stakes in April 1973, he weighed 1155 pounds. After the tough Triple Crown races, his weight on June 15 had only dropped 24 pounds, to 1131 pounds. Secretariat was known for eating a lot. During his three-year-old racing season, he ate 15 quarts of oats every day. To keep his muscles strong, he needed fast workouts. These workouts were so fast they could have won many races on their own.

Secretariat's Racing Career

The racing colors of Meadow Stable

Secretariat raced in Meadow Stables' blue-and-white-checkered colors. He never wore track bandages on his legs. But he usually wore a blinker hood. This helped him focus and also because he tended to run too close to the inside rail during races. In January 1972, he joined trainer Lucien Laurin's stable in Florida. Secretariat became known as a kind horse. He was friendly and calm in crowds. He also didn't get upset by the bumping that happens between young horses.

He had the body of a runner but was clumsy at first. Other horses in the stable often ran faster than him. He ran a quarter-mile in 26 seconds, while others ran it in 23 seconds. His regular exercise riders were Jim Gaffney and Charlie Davis. Davis was not impressed at first. "He was a big fat sucker," Davis said. "He wasn't in a hurry to do nothin'. He took his time. The quality was there, but he didn't show it until he wanted to." But Gaffney remembered his first ride on Secretariat in early 1972. He felt "this big red machine under me, and from that very first day I knew he had a power of strength that I have never felt before..."

Groom Eddie Sweat was another key person on Secretariat's team. He gave the horse most of his daily care. Sweat once told a reporter, "I guess a groom gets closer to a horse than anyone. The owner, the trainer, they maybe see him once a day. But I lived with him, worked with him."

Laurin sent Penny Chenery regular updates on Secretariat's progress. He said the colt was still learning to run. He also said he still needed to lose his baby fat. Chenery remembered that when Secretariat was training, Laurin once said: "Your big Bold Ruler colt don't show me nothin'. He can't outrun a fat man." But Secretariat got better steadily over the spring. On June 6, he wore blinkers for the first time to help him focus. He then ran a half-mile workout in a good 473⁄5 seconds. On June 24, he ran the fastest workout of the day. He ran 6 furlongs in 1:124⁄5 on a wet track. Laurin called Chenery and told her Secretariat was ready to race.

1972: Two-Year-Old Races

For his first race on July 4, 1972, at Aqueduct Racetrack, Secretariat was the favorite at 3–1 odds. At the start, another horse caused a chain reaction. Secretariat was bumped hard. His jockey, Paul Feliciano, said he would have fallen if he hadn't been so strong. Secretariat recovered but then ran into traffic. He was tenth at the top of the stretch. He closed fast and finished fourth, losing by only 11⁄4 lengths. In many of his next races, Secretariat started slowly. Laurin later said this was because of the bumping in his first race.

With Feliciano riding again, Secretariat raced on July 15. He was the 6–5 favorite. He started poorly. But then he rushed past the other horses on the turn. He won by six lengths. On July 31, in a race at Saratoga, Ron Turcotte became his regular jockey. Turcotte had ridden Secretariat in workouts but missed his first two races due to a fall. Secretariat's big win as the 2–5 favorite caught the eye of sportswriter Charles Hatton. He later said, "I never saw perfection before. I absolutely could not fault him in any way."

In August, Secretariat entered the Sanford Stakes. He faced Linda's Chief, a horse many thought was very good. Linda's Chief was the only horse ever favored over Secretariat in a race. As they entered the final stretch, Secretariat was blocked. But he pushed his way through "like a hawk scattering a barnyard of chickens." He won by three lengths. Sportswriter Andrew Beyer wrote, "Never have I watched a lightly raced 2-year-old stamp himself so definitively as a potential great."

Ten days later, in the Hopeful Stakes, Secretariat made an "amazing" move. He passed eight horses in a quarter-mile to take the lead. Then he pulled away to win by five lengths. His time of 1:161⁄5 for 61⁄2 furlongs was only 3⁄5 of a second slower than the track record. Back at Belmont Park on September 16, he won the Belmont Futurity by 11⁄2 lengths. He started his move on the turn. He then ran in the Champagne Stakes on October 14 as the 7–10 favorite. As he often did, he started slowly. Then he made a big move around the turn, passing his rivals to win by two lengths. However, race officials looked into the race. Secretariat was disqualified and placed second for getting in the way of Stop the Music. Stop the Music was then declared the winner.

Secretariat then won the Laurel Futurity on October 28. He won by eight lengths over Stop the Music. His time on a wet track was only 1⁄5 of a second off the track record. He finished his season in the Garden State Futurity on November 18. He fell back early. Then he made a powerful move around the turn to win by 31⁄2 lengths. Laurin said, "In all his races, he has taken the worst of it by coming from behind. A colt has to be a real runner to do this consistently."

Secretariat won the Eclipse Award for American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse. He also won the 1972 American Horse of the Year award. This was rare for a two-year-old. Only one other horse since then has won that award at age two.

1973: Three-Year-Old Races

In January 1973, Christopher Chenery, who started Meadow Stables, passed away. The taxes on his estate meant Penny Chenery had to think about selling Secretariat. Instead, she and Seth Hancock of Claiborne Farm made a special deal. They sold 32 shares of the horse for $190,000 each. This totaled $6.08 million, a world record at the time. Penny Chenery kept four shares. She would control his racing for the year. But she agreed he would retire at the end of the year.

Secretariat spent the winter in Florida. He didn't race until March 17, 1973. This was the Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct. He was the big favorite. One trainer said, "The only chance we have is if he falls down." Secretariat was stuck between other horses. Turcotte decided to go through a small gap instead of going wide. Secretariat broke free and won easily. But another jockey said Secretariat had fouled (done something wrong). Officials looked at photos. They decided Secretariat was actually bumped. So the win stood. This race showed Secretariat had gotten better and could handle tough situations.

In the Gotham Stakes on April 7, Laurin tried something new. There were no fast horses in the race. So Secretariat would set his own pace. Turcotte quickly sent Secretariat to the lead. They led easily. But down the stretch, Champagne Charlie came running. He was almost even at the eighth pole. Turcotte tapped Secretariat with the whip. Secretariat pulled away to win by three lengths. He ran the first 3/4 mile in 1:083⁄5. He finished the one-mile race in 1:332⁄5, matching the track record.

His last race before the Kentucky Derby was the Wood Memorial. He finished a surprising third. Angle Light won, and Sham was second. Laurin was upset, even though he trained Angle Light. Angle Light set a slow pace and "stole" the race. Secretariat's loss was later blamed on a large sore in his mouth. This made him sensitive to the bit (part of the bridle). After the race, there was some bad feeling between Laurin and Sham's trainer, Pancho Martin. This was made worse by comments in the news.

Because of the Wood Memorial, many people wondered about Secretariat's chances in the Kentucky Derby. Some questioned his stamina (how long he could keep going). This was partly because of his strong, blocky build, which is more common for sprinters. It was also because Bold Ruler was known for having fast, but short-distance, babies. Rumors spread that Secretariat was not healthy.

Kentucky Derby Win

The 1973 Kentucky Derby on May 5 brought 134,476 people to Churchill Downs. This was the biggest crowd in North American racing history at the time. Bettors made Secretariat and Angle Light the 3–2 favorites. Sham was the second choice. The start was messy. Twice a Prince reared up in his stall. He hit Our Native next to him. Sham hit his head on the gate, loosening two teeth. Sham started poorly and bumped into Navajo. Secretariat avoided problems by starting last from post position 10. Then he moved to the inside rail.

The early leader, Shecky Greene, set a good pace. Then Sham took over around the far turn. Secretariat came charging as they entered the final stretch. He battled with Sham down the stretch. Finally, he pulled away to win by 21⁄2 lengths. Our Native finished eight lengths behind in third.

Secretariat at the Derby

Secretariat set a track record of 1:592⁄5, which still stands. He ran each quarter-mile faster than the one before it. This means he was still speeding up at the end of the race. No other horse had won the Derby in less than 2 minutes before. It didn't happen again until Monarchos in 2001.

Preakness Stakes Win

Secretariat in the winner's circle after the Preakness, with Ron Turcotte, Lucien Laurin, Eddie Sweat and Penny Chenery (then Tweedy)

In the 1973 Preakness Stakes on May 19, Secretariat started last. But then he made a huge move from last to first on the first turn. A photographer captured Secretariat leaping in the air during this move. This photo was later used for a statue at Belmont Park. Turcotte later said he was most proud of this win. He made a quick decision going into the turn: "I let my horse drop back... I said, 'I don't want to get trapped here.' So I just breezed by them." Secretariat ran the second quarter-mile in under 22 seconds. After taking the lead, Secretariat was never challenged. He won by 21⁄2 lengths. Sham was second again, and Our Native was third. This was the first time the top three horses in the Derby and Preakness were the same.

The race time was debated. The electronic timer showed 1:55, but it was broken. The track clocker announced 1:542⁄5. But two other clockers said it was 1:532⁄5, which would be a new record. Videos of Secretariat and another horse were played side-by-side. Secretariat crossed the finish line first in the video. In 2012, the Maryland Racing Commission officially changed Secretariat's time to 1:53. This set a new stakes record.

As Secretariat got ready for the Belmont Stakes, he was on the covers of three national magazines. He had become a national celebrity. Penny Chenery needed a secretary to handle all the fan mail. She even hired an agency to manage public appearances. Secretariat seemed to enjoy his fame and learned to pose for cameras.

Belmont Stakes Win

Only four horses raced against Secretariat in the June 9 Belmont Stakes. These included Sham and three others that bettors thought had little chance. With so few horses, and Secretariat expected to win, there were no "show" bets (betting on a horse to finish in the top three). Secretariat was the favorite at 1–10 odds. A crowd of 69,138 watched, the second largest at Belmont at the time. The race was shown on TV and watched by over 15 million homes.

On race day, the track was fast, and it was sunny. Secretariat started well on the inside. Sham quickly ran up beside him. The two ran the first quarter-mile in a fast :233⁄5. The next quarter was even faster at :223⁄5. This was the fastest start in the race's history. They were ten lengths ahead of the other horses. After six furlongs, Sham started to get tired and ended up finishing last. Secretariat kept up the fast pace. He pulled further and further ahead. His time for the mile was 1:341⁄5. This was over a second faster than any other Belmont mile. But Secretariat did not slow down. Turcotte said, "This horse really paced himself. He is smart: I think he knew he was going 11⁄2 miles, I never pushed him." In the final stretch, Secretariat was almost a sixteenth of a mile ahead of the others. He won by an amazing 31 lengths! This broke the record for the biggest win in the Belmont Stakes.

The race time was not just a record; it was the fastest 11⁄2 miles on dirt ever. He finished in 2:24 flat. This broke the old track record by more than two seconds. Secretariat's record still stands as an American record on dirt. If a special speed rating system had existed then, Secretariat would have earned the highest score ever.

A huge crowd gathered hours before the Belmont. Many missed earlier races just to see the horses up close. Secretariat and Penny Chenery were cheered loudly. Secretariat remained calm. A big cheer went up at the start of the race. But as the race went on, people were in disbelief. They feared Secretariat had gone too fast. When it was clear Secretariat would win, the sound grew so loud it made the grandstand shake.

This race is seen as the greatest performance by a North American racehorse in the 1900s. Secretariat became the ninth Triple Crown winner. He was the first since Citation in 1948, a gap of 25 years. Many people who bet on Secretariat never cashed their winning tickets. They kept them as souvenirs.

Arlington Invitational Race

Three weeks after his Belmont win, Secretariat went to Arlington Park. He raced in the June 30th Arlington Invitational. Laurin explained, "If I don't run this horse he's going to hurt himself in his stall. So we decided it would be nice to race him in Chicago." The race was 11⁄8 miles long. Chicago's Mayor Richard Daley declared it Secretariat Day. A crowd of 41,223 people cheered when he arrived. Secretariat started poorly but soon took the lead. He set a slow early pace. He gained speed on the final turn. He won by nine lengths in 1:47 flat. This was just 1⁄5 of a second off the track record.

Whitney Stakes Race

Secretariat then went to Saratoga, known as "the graveyard of champions." He was getting ready for the Whitney Stakes on August 4. Here, he would race against older horses for the first time. On July 27, he had an amazing workout. He ran a mile in 1:34 on a wet track. This time would have broken Saratoga's track record. But on race day, he was beaten by Onion. Onion was a four-year-old gelding. The track was fast but running slow, especially near the inside rail. Secretariat started poorly. Onion led from the start, setting a slow pace away from the rail. Turcotte chose to move along the rail. Secretariat responded slower than usual. Turcotte used the whip. Secretariat got close on the final turn. But Onion pulled ahead to win by a length. A record crowd of over 30,000 saw this "astonishing" upset.

Secretariat's loss might have been due to a virus. He had a low fever and diarrhea. Penny Chenery said, "We knew he had a low-grade infection. But we decided he was strong enough to win anyway, and we were wrong." Secretariat lost his appetite and was sluggish for several days.

Marlboro Cup Race

On September 15, Secretariat returned to Belmont Park for the first Marlboro Cup. This race was supposed to be just between Secretariat and his stablemate Riva Ridge. Riva Ridge won the Derby and Belmont Stakes in 1972. After Secretariat's loss in the Whitney, more top horses were invited. The race included five champions.

It rained the night before, but the track was dry by race time. Secretariat stayed in fifth place behind a fast pace. Riva Ridge was just behind Onion and Kennedy Road. Around the turn, Secretariat raced wide and started to gain ground. Coming into the final stretch, Secretariat passed Riva Ridge. The other early leaders fell back. Secretariat pulled away to win. He ran 11⁄8 miles in 1:452⁄5. This was a world record on dirt for that distance. Riva Ridge was second, Cougar II third, and Onion fourth. Turcotte said, "Today he was the old Secretariat and he did it on his own." The Marlboro Cup prize was $250,000, the highest at the time. This win made Secretariat the 13th horse to earn over a million dollars.

Woodward Stakes Race

After the Marlboro Cup, the plan was for Riva Ridge to race in the 11⁄2 mile Woodward Stakes. Secretariat was supposed to train on turf for another race. But it rained before the Woodward, and the track was sloppy. Riva Ridge couldn't handle it, so Secretariat raced instead. Secretariat led into the final stretch. But he was passed by Prove Out, a four-year-old horse. Prove Out pulled ahead to win by 41⁄2 lengths. Prove Out ran an amazing race that day. His time was the second-fastest 11⁄2 miles on dirt in Belmont Park's history, even in the sloppy conditions.

Man o' War Stakes Race

On October 8, just nine days after the Woodward, Secretariat raced on turf. This was the Man O' War Stakes at 11⁄2 miles. He faced Tentam, who had set a world record on turf earlier that summer. Secretariat took the lead early. Tentam followed and slowly closed the gap. Tentam got within a half-length. But Secretariat responded and pulled away by three lengths. Tentam tried again around the far turn. But Secretariat again pulled away. He won by five lengths over Tentam. Secretariat set a course record time of 2:244⁄5. After the race, Turcotte said that when Tentam came close, he just "chirped" to Secretariat, and he pulled away.

Canadian International Stakes Race

Secretariat's special sale deal meant he could not race past age three. So, his last race was against older horses in the Canadian International Stakes. This race was 15⁄8 miles on the turf at Woodbine Racetrack in Canada. The race was chosen partly because of old ties between the Chenery family and the race organizers. It also honored Secretariat's Canadian connections, Laurin and Turcotte. Turcotte missed the race because of a suspension. Eddie Maple rode instead.

The day was cold, windy, and wet. But the turf course was firm. Despite the weather, about 35,000 people came to see Secretariat. His main rivals were Kennedy Road and Big Spruce. Kennedy Road took the early lead. Secretariat moved to second after starting from an outside position. On the backstretch, Secretariat made his move and took the lead. He rounded the far turn with a 12-length lead. Then he slowed down in the final part of the race. He won by 61⁄2 lengths. Again, many winning tickets were not cashed by fans who wanted souvenirs.

After the race, Secretariat was brought to Aqueduct Racetrack. He was paraded with Turcotte in his racing silks. A crowd of 32,990 watched his final public appearance. "It's a sad day, and yet it's a great day," said Laurin. "I certainly wish he could run as a 4-year-old. He's a great horse and he loves to run."

In total, Secretariat won 16 of his 21 career races. He finished second three times and third once. His total earnings were $1,316,808. For 1973, Secretariat was again named Horse of the Year. He also won Eclipse Awards as the best three-year-old male horse and the best male turf horse.

Secretariat's Retirement

Life as a Father Horse

When Secretariat retired to Claiborne Farm, he was bred to three non-thoroughbred mares in December 1973. This was to check if he could have babies. One of these mares gave birth to Secretariat's first foal in November 1974. The foal was named First Secretary. He was chestnut like his father, but spotted like his mother.

Secretariat's first official group of foals arrived in 1975. There were 28 foals. The best of these was Dactylographer, who won a big race in 1977. This group also included Canadian Bound. In 1976, Canadian Bound was the first yearling (one-year-old horse) to sell for over $1 million. He sold for $1.5 million. However, Canadian Bound was not a good racehorse. For several years, the value of Secretariat's babies went down.

Secretariat eventually became the father of many important race winners, including:

• General Assembly, who won the 1979 Travers Stakes. He set a track record that lasted for 37 years.
• Lady's Secret, who was Horse of the Year in 1986.
• Risen Star, who won the Preakness and Belmont Stakes in 1988.
• Kingston Rule, who won the 1990 Melbourne Cup and broke the course record.
• Tinners Way, born in 1990, won the Pacific Classic in 1994 and 1995.

Secretariat officially fathered 663 named foals. Of these, 341 were winners (51.4%) and 54 won important stakes races (8.1%). Some people have criticized Secretariat as a father horse. This is mainly because his male children were not as good as him. But his legacy is strong because of his daughters. Many of them were excellent racers. Even more of them became excellent mothers themselves. In 1992, Secretariat was the leading broodmare sire in North America. This means his daughters gave birth to the most successful racehorses that year. Overall, Secretariat's daughters produced 24 winners of the highest level races.

As a broodmare sire (father of successful mothers), Secretariat's most famous children were:

• Weekend Surprise, a race winner and the best mother horse in Kentucky in 1992. Her sons include 1990 Preakness winner Summer Squall and 1992 Horse of the Year A.P. Indy.
• Terlingua, a race winner and mother of the important father horse Storm Cat.
• Secrettame, a race winner and mother of the important father horse Gone West. His children include Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Smarty Jones.

Through Weekend Surprise and Terlingua alone, Secretariat is in the family tree of many champions. Weekend Surprise's son A.P. Indy was the top father horse in North America in 2003 and 2006. He is the father of 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft and 2007 Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches. He also started a successful line of father horses that leads to Kentucky Derby winners Orb and California Chrome. A.P. Indy's most famous descendant is Tapit. Tapit was the top father horse in 2014–2015. He is the father of Belmont Stakes winners Tonalist and Creator. Terlingua's son Storm Cat is also a top father horse. His children include Giant's Causeway, who was a top father horse three times. Both Storm Cat and A.P. Indy are in the family tree of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify.

Breeding horses that are related to Secretariat has also been successful. Many top race winners have Secretariat in their family tree. These include two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan and sprint champion Speightstown.

Secretariat's paddock (his fenced area) at Claiborne Farm was next to three other father horses. Secretariat didn't pay much attention to two of them. But he and Hall of Fame horse Spectacular Bid became friends. They sometimes raced each other along the fence between their paddocks.

Secretariat's Death

In the fall of 1989, Secretariat got a painful hoof problem called laminitis. After a month of treatment, his condition did not get better. So, he was put down on October 4, at age 19. Secretariat was buried whole at Claiborne Farm. This is a rare honor. Usually, only the head, heart, and hooves of a winning racehorse are buried.

When Secretariat died, the veterinarian who examined him, Dr. Thomas Swerczek, did not weigh his heart. But he said, "We just stood there in stunned silence. We couldn't believe it. The heart was perfect. There were no problems with it. It was just this huge engine." Later, Dr. Swerczek also examined Sham, who died in 1993. He weighed Sham's heart, and it was 18 pounds. Based on this, and having seen both horses, he guessed Secretariat's heart probably weighed 22 pounds. This is about 2.5 times bigger than an average horse's heart (8.5 pounds).

A very large heart is sometimes found in thoroughbreds. Some people think it's linked to a genetic trait called the "x-factor." This trait is believed to be passed down in certain ways. The x-factor can be traced back to the famous racehorse Eclipse, who died in 1789. Eclipse's heart was much larger than other horses' hearts. It weighed 14 pounds, almost twice the normal weight. People believe Eclipse passed this trait through his daughters. Some link Secretariat's success as a broodmare sire to this large heart theory. However, it has not been proven if the x-factor exists or if it helps with athletic ability.

Honors and Recognition for Secretariat

The life-size Secretariat statue by John Skeaping at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York

Over the years, Secretariat has been honored by Virginia's government. In 2023, his home county, Caroline County, received an honor. This was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Secretariat's record-setting Triple Crown win.

Secretariat was added to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1974. This was the year after his Triple Crown victory. In 1994, Sports Illustrated magazine ranked Secretariat #17 on their list of the 40 greatest sports figures of the past 40 years. In 1999, ESPN listed him 35th among the 100 greatest North American athletes of the 20th century. He was the highest-ranked non-human on the list. Secretariat was ranked second behind Man o' War in The Blood-Horse's list of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century.

On October 16, 1999, the U.S. Postal Service honored Secretariat. They released a 33-cent postage stamp with his picture. In 2005, Secretariat was featured in an ESPN Classic show called Who's No. 1? His Belmont run was ranked second among "Greatest Sports Performances." He was the only nonhuman on that list. On May 2, 2007, Secretariat was added to the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame. This was the first time an animal received this honor. In 2013, Secretariat was added to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. This was for his win in the Canadian International race 40 years earlier. Secretariat was also featured on 60 Minutes Sports in 2013. In March 2016, Secretariat's Triple Crown win was rated #13 in Sports Illustrated's list of the 100 Greatest Moments in Sports History.

Because Secretariat is still so popular, Penny Chenery remained important in racing. She worked hard to help retired racehorses and support horse health research until she died in 2017. In 2004, the Maker's Mark Secretariat Center opened. It helps retrain former racehorses and find them new homes. In 2010, Chenery created the Secretariat Vox Populi ("voice of the people") Award. Racing fans vote for this award. It honors "the horse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the American public." This award is special because it focuses on how much fans connect with the horse.

The Secretariat Stakes race was created in 1974. This was to honor his race at Arlington Park in 1973. The Meadow, the farm where he was born, is now a historic place.

According to ESPN, 263 roads in the United States are named after him. This is more than any other athlete. "Secretariat Drive" is the most common name.

Statues of Secretariat

The replica Secretariat statue at Belmont Park is draped in white carnations each year for the Belmont Stakes

In 1974, Paul Mellon ordered a bronze statue of Secretariat. It is sometimes called Secretariat in Full Stride. This life-size statue was in the center of the walking ring at Belmont Park until 1988. Then, a copy replaced it. The original is now at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

The Kentucky Horse Park has two other life-sized statues of Secretariat. The first, made in 1992, shows Secretariat as an older father horse. The second, finished in 2004, shows him being led into the winner's circle after the Kentucky Derby.

In 2015, a statue of Secretariat and Ron Turcotte crossing the finish line at the Belmont Stakes was shown in Grand Falls, New Brunswick. This is Turcotte's hometown.

On October 12, 2019, a new statue was unveiled at Keeneland in Lexington. This bronze statue shows Secretariat and Turcotte winning the Kentucky Derby. After a festival, it was moved permanently to a traffic circle. Keeneland was also used as a filming location for the Secretariat movie.

Secretariat's Racing Stats

Secretariat's earnings in 1973 were a record for a single season at that time.

Images for kids

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  Secretariat as an older stallion

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  Secretariat in the winner's circle after the Preakness, with Ron Turcotte, Lucien Laurin, Eddie Sweat and Penny Chenery (then Tweedy)

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  The life-size Secretariat statue by John Skeaping at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York

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  The replica Secretariat statue at Belmont Park is draped in white carnations each year for the Belmont Stakes