I love all of them, but, Big Red is my greatest love. I watched him win the Triple Crown and, even now, my heart swells when I re-watch those races. I still grieve at his death. For me, he will always be the best. Seattle Slew was my second favorite. He could have came from my neighborhood...a tough scrapper, who wouldn't quit.
On any other year we'd have been singing Shams praises. He was a wonderful horse but Secretariate made every horse seem ordinary. He will always be my Perfect horse.
Rest in peace darling angel secretariet You are a true champion of the ages. You are God's gift with your beautiful spirit. You fly with angel wings l love you
@NDRonin1401 BTW, I want to share one fact with you that you may not know. The day at the 1973 Belmont when Secretariat set the fastest time in history...it was over 90 degrees at the race track that day. And he was running a mile & half speeding up throughout the entire race. It was truly a supernatural performance. We'll never know what he was capable of...he was retired before he peaked in age. And yet he still holds these records is completely mind blowing. You can't duplicate a miracle:-)
@@parkerbohnn You can’t compare harness racing to thoroughbred racing. For example, Dan Patch’s best time for a mile was 1:55. The all time best record for a mile is 1:32 by Dr. Fager.
This horse is my God on earth. We'll never see this miracle of nature again. God made only one creature genetically & physically perfect...and with heart, intelligence and confidence that no human could ever achieve on his own. This God-like perfection came once...his name was Secretariat. I will always think of him as the "supernatural" being. I will always be in awe of what true perfection can do for the human spirit...in the form of a horse.
Maybe we’re about due for another “super horse” soon. Secretariat came around a little over 50 years behind Man o War. Secretariat was foaled 50 years ago, so maybe in 3 years we’ll see another horse that’s similar. Somehow I doubt it though.
@bruce robbins Sour grapes Bruce, I feel sorry for the way you feel! Won the three races in the triple crown ,and you sir will not live to see the Belmont record broken ,nor will I !Secretariat the super horse!
Some johnnycomelaetly asked Steve Haskins from Bloodhorse talking horses did he think Big Brown will break Secretariat Belmont record. He laughed and said that would be to much to ask of any horse.
I don't know anything about horse racing, but of course I've heard of the legendary, Secretariat!! And I recognize when I'm watching one of the most amazing events my eyes will ever see...even tho it was a long time ago, it was the first time I had ever seen it.And the magnificence of this horse just hit me like a ton of bricks...I've watched probably everything on youtube about him! I can't stop.I'm so in love with this horse....
Laughs at fear, afraid of nothing. - Secretariat no horse like you, you are the best horse in the world. Secretariat fan Zenyatta fan California Chrome fan Bayern fan Ria Antonia fan Hurricane Fly fan My main 4 horses.
SS, no one has forgotten Affirmed, I can assure you! Affirmed had to earn his triple crown like no other horse. He had a tremendous heart and will to win! Great courage that horse!
This greatness will never be seen again on this Earth...Secretariat was the chosen one. No man, or horse, has or ever will rival this miracle of nature. Supernatural is the understatement of what we all witnessed with Secretariat.
I have watched and appreciated the great Secretariat from when he was a two year old. I was so disappointed he wouldn't race at 4 because like one of the commentators once said " His limits would know no bounds". He raced against himself. 50 yrs later his triple crown races still stand. I don't assume you are the granddaughter of Mr. Chenery(social media being what it is) but that man was a magnificent breeder. Too bad he didn't get to see one of his last and probably greatest thoroughbred creation fly around the track.
Here is a FACT for you to digest - NO CONJECTURE: "No horse has ever run a 12F race on a dirt track in race horsing history like Secretariat did on June 9, 1973" & I will leave it at that. NO HORSE...NO WHERE....NO TIME.......CASE CLOSED!!!!!!!!!
What you need to understand my friend is that some horses actually run FASTER on the mud, especially if the lower surface/level is hard. I TOO was always fooled by the "running in the mud concept", but if there is a firm lower level, the mud actually HELPS speed, serving as a surface to "glide on". It is a wet TURF surface that serves as a nightmare because horses will tend to slip/slide on wet grass. Don't kid yourself....NO WAY was Prove Out's 2;25.8 on an equal par w/SEC's Belmont!!!!
No question about it: late May 1973 @Pimlico: " Laffit Pincay has a very strong left-handed whip on Sham & he goes to it time & time again but Ronnie Turcotte has his whip put away & Secretariat has him put away, he opens again to win by 3 lengths!!" ....mic drop
For 25 years they said that no horse will match Citation in the triple crown. Now they say that no horse will match Sec's records in the triple crown. It has been almost 40 years. I really believe that no horse will ever match Big Red and what he did in 73. If there is I hope that I am alive to see it.
affirmed was a worker for sure and one of the greats.big red had the extra something you do not often see.a belmont for the ages..records were set that still hold.he made the hair on the back of your neck stand straight up!
Oh, and by the way, while you are compiling your fractional mph's, have your baked in the FACT that Frankel NEVER had to run on extremely sharp turns (such as Pimlico, etc.) that incredibly impede the speed of an accelerating 1/2 ton+ mammal. Did you ever hear of centrifugal force because a 1/2 ton+ beast going several horses wide on a sharp turn is drastically hindered by such force to complete their turn. Many of Frankel's runs were on predominately straighter paths, a HUGE advantage..
What a horse, I will never forget his races - he was perfect. No horse has done what he did, to break 3 records in the Triple Crown and the Belmont especially by 2 and 3/5 seconds, its hard to believe we will see that again.
Another negative dirt surface factor is that it serves as a nightmare on sharp turns. DRY turf provides much better grip/traction. When a horse running between 37 to 40 mph makes that turn, dirt simply does not allow for the required traction to sustain the centrifugal force exhibited by a 1/2 ton+ animal. E.G.- In the Derby & Marlboro, watch SEC's final stretch turns & how much ground he lost before eventually straightening out & running past Sham & Riva Ridge. Had to cost him .6 to .8 seconds.
@Julio Chavez lol I completely forgot about this comment! But yeah I don't know that, however, the opposite is also true. Also, Riva Ridge is very important to the survival of the Meadow Stables.
@@harveyhorwitz1346 wow old comment lol. but good point. However, I still think Sham got the real short stick and should be recognized as a better horse. Also just noticed my poor spelling
@@FanuilosLinwen I think Sham was recognized as a great horse, but was overshadowed by Secretariat. Hard to overcome a Triple Crown winner that set a new time record in each of the races. Secretariat was also visually dominant.
Some say Dr Fager could have beaten Secretariat at a mile? we'll never know.....Secretariat's Preakness was amazing; his burst at the first curve was ASTONISHING! Sec might have won against the expertly gifted miler, Dr Fager. But clearly Sec's real GIFT was SPRINTING for 1 1/2 MILES! I love Secretariat; He's the KING! Dr Fager is also up there with the classic GREATS. But I think Dr Fager is a PHENOM in his own right! A GREAT HORSE! LOVE Dr Fager!!!
@jkmooreelle Measuring devices were hard to come by back in the days & using body parts like a hand was simply the best way to do it & it became a standard. Secretariat was actullay 16 hands & 2 inches tall & weighred 1175 lbs in his racing prime.
Nice comment about beautiful Affirmed... he did have to earn his TC like no other horse. Some people think Secretariat didn't have to earn his because they think he had no competition to speak of, except Sham. Yet he set records in all 3 races and in context of grueling 5 wk period and being only hand ridden except for a couple of whacks on last Derby turn. 2 records not yet broken and one only tied twice. And if that's not astounding enuf, he never raced at more than 85-90 % of capacity.
As far as I'm concerned I look @ the times/speed & how good their competitors were that they beat, to determine their talent. I mean racehorses could run against donkeys & have no real competition & have a spotless-win record. Look @ Sec speed records & the talented field he had to race alot..Sham for the TC & see Marlboro Cup. He's the king. imho
The other issue with dirt is that it is EXTREMELTY trying on horses legs. Turf allows for less bone friction at contact which is why I think more American horses break down than in Europe. E.G. - After my back surgery several years ago, my neurologist clearly stated to avoid running on pavement/dirt/clay type surfaces, and if I had to jog, try and utilize turf type surfaces. For that reason, I always wondered in Ruffian would have broken down so fast as a European thoroughbred???
FYI, who said SEC was sprinting throughout the Belmont??? Yes, maybe from a modest perspective from the 2nd to the 7th furlong, but after that SEC coasted. What is AMAZING about the Belmont is that after that 6/7th furlong, virtually ANY horse EVER would have CRASHED after 8/9 furlongs, NOT coasted which is the TRUE beauty of SEC's Belmont Stakes run. Add in the fact, Turcotte didn't push SEC until the final furlong (when he saw the time), it is virtually unfathomable!
Head to head with the great sham and then big red kicked to second gear and then into overdrive sham ran out of gas ...the some thing would have happened to any other horse including frankel.
Sadly some believed Secretariat never had a chance as a 3 year old, but they saw how he proved him wrong. I am in love with the big red horse, and there is no telling to whether or not we shall see the likes of his grace and stamina again.
I never get tired of watching Secretariat run. None like him before, none will ever be like him again! However I did mute that aaahoooheeeewooooiiiiooooohaaaaah noise!
❤ he was hero to so many of us will be over in our youth young and old he was hero too young and old we cheered him on as we did Riva Ridge his stablemate
If Secretariat came back to Earth, I'd give my last dime to see the true miracle of nature that God put on this Earth....Secretariat. This perfect "10" was a gift from GOD. He was perfect aesthetically, athletically & his personality. He had a level of confidence, intelligence & free will that no man on Earth can ever match. God gave us a chance to see what perfection would embody. Secretariat was supernatural and a true miracle of nature. God gave us what humans couldn't achieve ...perfection.
@NDRonin1401 U may want to watch BB when he lost in the Belmont..the longest of the 3 races.The end made him look like he was going in slo-mo. Sec was speeding up. Also BB's 2 sec diff. in KD doesn't even place him as 2nd in history. He broke no records in the TC races. Like MANY before him & after. Spitz set Olympic records & then Phelps came along & matched him (1 race did not break a world record). Not 1 horse in history of TC races has matched what occurred in the 1973 TC races. Never again.
You make it sound like 37.5 mph over a 12F dirt track is the standard in the industry? Wake up and smell the coffee because NO HORSE EVER has even approached hat mark. It took YOUR PRECIOUS Frankel 4+ years to FINALLY run more than 1 mile & he STILL never exceeded 10.5 furlongs so why do you continue to minimize Secretariat's Belmont??? Virtually EVERY racing analyst openly admits SEC's Belmont was the most amazing achievement EVER in a single race so what is your problem?
If you'd like to see Sec's performance in cold slop, take a look at his final race at Woodbine - another dramatic win for Sec in adverse weather. RE: BB "jogging at the conclusion of race" - apparently Sec didn't jog. Instead, he tore it up - he RACED. Maybe Sec thought 'jogging' was declasse for a thoroughbred?
wow - This is terrible! Here I am thinking Secretariat was a PHENOMENON, and he was a nag!....NO, protar, you are wrong! Secretariat remains The King - he ran like no other horse BEFORE or AFTER him in the KDERBY, Preakness & the Belmont. I gotcha; he slowed in the last part of the 1.5 mile Belmont..(He ACCELERATED as he ended THE KDerby - but ONLY THE KD!). I'd slow down too, if I had run 1.5 miles in 2.24. Call it what ever you want - He 'covered' 1.5 miles in 2.24. No other horse has done so.
He was not just the greatest racehorse that ever lived. He was perfection from the hand of God. He ran for the pure joy of running. God put him in the hands of a woman who believed in herself and believed in him. Together they gave us a glimpse of what we will never see again.
There likely isn't anyone alive who saw MOW race to share their appreciation for such magnificence; but God must have thought we needed a reminder of what perfection looks like in Sec; hopefully we as a species have the ability to recognize perfection when we witness it. Is there really an argument for what we saw on May 9, 1973?
You are smokin' something to even ponder the question. IHA might be the next Triple Crown Winner, but that doesn't mean he's in Secretariats class, or a lot of horses class either.
@rscarbro100 You are right there, I messed up this discussion with one about different racing surfaces in Europe and America. I was talking about the Kentucky Derby, so you should have known it was a mistake..
@sexymonimone well said.... reading you learn Sec took after maternal grandsire, the magnificent Princequillo who gave large heart gene to his dam SomethingRoyal. In Bill Nack's unbelievable biography of S, you read that "blue hens", the valuable and best broodmares of a breeding operation are it's foundations. Secretariat produced several as you point out. Wayne Lucas, the guy who bought Terlingua said the same thing. He wanted her, S was his favorite colt as was Crimson Saint her dam.
Your numbers are 100% accurate, but after running a 1:09.8 3/4 mile and 1:34.2 mile, the final 4 furlongs still amount to an amazing time, and I know you are on board with that concept. FACT also remains no horse has ever got within 9 lengths of SEC's 2:24 12 furlong dirt track time and that my friend says it all...how your performances measure up against your peers Peace!
Another way to put it: at Secretariat passed the 10f in 1:59 flat. That time will win you 99% of 10f Grade 1 races, after which a horse moving at such a speed is usually fully expended. But Sec kept coasting along as if a 1:59 10f was a training run.
I sometimes pity Sham, he would have won the Triple Crown too if it wasn't for Big Red. Gotta give credit where credit is due. He was just born at the wrong time poor guy. No one knows what happened to him afterwards either is the sad part. Wonder if he wouldve had better times as a stud then Big Red?
You make a valid point with the inconsistency of 180 degree planes on European tracks. So let's put down our weapons and actually consult for a change. I am curious about your thoughts regarding the negative impact variance between sharper turns versus somewhat uphill/downhill anomalies? Simply stated, how do you measure the obstacle level between the two?
@CasperFriendly1 We will not leave out the Dr.` but was no Secretariat as you should know. The doctor own jockey did not say he was the best ever. He was one of his favorites he ever rode but said Buckpasser the best he ever rode. He called Secretariat a Super, Super horse. What else I can say or he could say?
A sound assessment for sure. God, I really wish Frankel would have been run at further distances (12/13F). It would have been awesome to see how he handled the extra real estate. Typically, I would say he would have been just fine because of his outstanding 10.5 furlongs. However, look at Spectacular Bid who was one of the fastest/finest 10F horses EVER, yet was not a peak performer at 12F. Amazing what those extra 1,320 feet can/will do to a horse's performance!
People keep kidding Belmont mixed up with his Derby. Secretariat ran the Derby going faster and faster in each quarter, not the Belmont. However the quarter times in that Belmont are astounding themselves. You can find them on pg 324 of Nack's biography. In that mile and a half 2 quarters were the slowest at 12 and 4/5ths seconds. The rest were between 11 sec flat, thru 11 4/5two at 12 flat and the rest fm 12 1/5 up to 12 4/5. Even easing up he broke record for 1 5/8 miles at 2:37 3/5 !!
Also, with respect to Prove Out, he wasn't running for a record but he was RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE trying to hold-off the greatest horse on the planet (look at his Jockey beating him to death!). I would think the latter translates into much more speed than the former....don't you agree???
Only 2 SECONDS??? An 'average thoroughbred' will race a furlong (220 yards) in about 12 seconds; so that puts Sec out front (EASILY) by 36 yards! Subtract 10 YARDS for slop! (This is OVERLY generous!!) 26 yards = 78 feet = 7 lengths. So Sec demolishes him! And it is sad! Because Big Brown was DRUGGED; the Humans who handled his life & career were not very nice! BB was more honest, noble, & courageous than his People! BB the Racehorse did the best he could to win! But his people were unethical.
@NDRonin1401 What makes a legend is by the records he sets. I look at athletes differently than you. Clocks don't lie...nor have opinions. His record performances still stand. 33 years of NON Triple Crown winners..since 1978. All the other race horses are just competing against each other...and never raising the bar.What I find interesting is that you think that's an improvement. Secretariat still holds 2 of those records & one is still the world record. Even MOW makes today's horses look lame.
CONT1) It's the same with the IFHA WR. DB/138. PC/137 3 on136/ They ran that rating once. Frankel 8/130+ 6 x136+. 2x140. Globeform had Frankel at 142+Sussex and After the Judd Sabell said Frankel’s performance was impossible to assess.“This phenomenal horse simply cannot be rated because no other horse is good enough to test him,” Stabell said. “He Could he have won by 12to 16 lengths? Who knows. I certainly don’t. All I know is I am happy to use ?’ as his rating from now on.” LOL
Many Europeans insist SEC was "hyped up" but that is certainly not the case. I FIRMLY believe MOW was "hyped up" because there was NOTHING ELSE at the time! True, MOW was a super horse but I truly believe SEC, Dr. Fager, Kelso, and Spectacular Bid were better with Citation and Count Fleet right there with MOW. That is why Babe Ruth will forever be baseball's greatest player because he stood so tall alongside some of the game's greatest players such as Cobb, Hornsby, Gehrig, Foxx, etc.
I thought he made Time magazines top 10 athletes of the 20th century as well, didn't he? And out of curiosity who were the other 9 on the list? Anybody out there wants to help me with this one?
The Belmont! Simon Rowland TF, gave a personal assessment which he did in between jobs of 153. He confirmed this in a tweet I had with him last November. He said "Forget the time it was the performance that was spectacular. He did run a couple at 140 He also said if Frankel was had have been pushed more 153+ He also said no other horse has ever been consistently brilliant. TF. Horse rated 140+ did it once. Frankel's last 6 races were all 140+ . (Cont!
Ok so if Frankel ran considerably faster than what he demonstrated he would habve been the GOAT. The same logic applies to any horse. If I could run 100m 10 seconds faster than what I can I would be greater than Usain Bolt.
They’ll still be talking about him 100 years from now.
That close up of him approaching finish at the Belmont gives me chills
It’s breathtaking watching him run, brings a tear to your eyes! I’ll never get board watching his videos!
"Secretariat was God's creation...A creature beyond words..."
Tears. Every time I see him.
Secretariat was a beautiful horse. There will never be another rip big red❤️❤️
No argument from me on the name of this video! I don’t believe we’ll ever see anything like him again!! A once ever horse!!!
Rest In Peace Big Red....
We all miss you...
I totally agree, Big Red was magic!
We lost the greatest who ever lived, my big boy secretariat
He’s not lost as long as we remember him!
I love all of them, but, Big Red is my greatest love. I watched him win the Triple Crown and, even now, my heart swells when I re-watch those races. I still grieve at his death. For me, he will always be the best. Seattle Slew was my second favorite. He could have came from my neighborhood...a tough scrapper, who wouldn't quit.
On any other year we'd have been singing Shams praises. He was a wonderful horse but Secretariate made every horse seem ordinary. He will always be my Perfect horse.
Rest in peace darling angel secretariet
You are a true champion of the ages. You are God's gift with your beautiful spirit. You fly with angel wings l love you
@NDRonin1401 BTW, I want to share one fact with you that you may not know. The day at the 1973 Belmont when Secretariat set the fastest time in history...it was over 90 degrees at the race track that day. And he was running a mile & half speeding up throughout the entire race. It was truly a supernatural performance. We'll never know what he was capable of...he was retired before he peaked in age. And yet he still holds these records is completely mind blowing. You can't duplicate a miracle:-)
Secretariat... the GREATEST horse EVER...
Most list "The Great Dan Patch" as the greatest horse that ever lived. His records put Secretariat to shame.
@@parkerbohnn That is because Secretariat had yet to make his appearance
@@parkerbohnn You can’t compare harness racing to thoroughbred racing. For example, Dan Patch’s best time for a mile was 1:55. The all time best record for a mile is 1:32 by Dr. Fager.
Big red set a standard for all people and especially for my heart. He was the greatest ever, and I go back to continuously watch his greatness.
This horse is my God on earth. We'll never see this miracle of nature again. God made only one creature genetically & physically perfect...and with heart, intelligence and confidence that no human could ever achieve on his own. This God-like perfection came once...his name was Secretariat. I will always think of him as the "supernatural" being. I will always be in awe of what true perfection can do for the human spirit...in the form of a horse.
Secretariat, the horse that all others are measured against. None have measured up and probably never will against the greatest racehorse of all time.
Maybe we’re about due for another “super horse” soon. Secretariat came around a little over 50 years behind Man o War. Secretariat was foaled 50 years ago, so maybe in 3 years we’ll see another horse that’s similar. Somehow I doubt it though.
Never before ,never since ,never again ,a horse like Secretariat !
Only if God wants it to be
@bruce robbins Sour grapes Bruce, I feel sorry for the way you feel! Won the three races in the triple crown ,and you sir will not live to see the Belmont record broken ,nor will I !Secretariat the super horse!
@bruce robbins Ok Mr. Robins , geeezzz!
Man O War was a great champion but the horse I saw in Secretariat is the most amazing horse I have ever seen. I doubt anyone will ever see anything.
Some johnnycomelaetly asked Steve Haskins from Bloodhorse talking horses did he think Big Brown will break Secretariat Belmont record. He laughed and said that would be to much to ask of any horse.
Still the best..the beautiful Secretariat 💯 2020
thank you to the whole chenry family for sharing seceriat with us rest in peace penny
I don't know anything about horse racing, but of course I've heard of the legendary, Secretariat!! And I recognize when I'm watching one of the most amazing events my eyes will ever see...even tho it was a long time ago, it was the first time I had ever seen it.And the magnificence of this horse just hit me like a ton of bricks...I've watched probably everything on youtube about him! I can't stop.I'm so in love with this horse....
Laughs at fear, afraid of nothing. - Secretariat no horse like you, you are the best horse in the world.
Secretariat fan
Zenyatta fan
California Chrome fan
Bayern fan
Ria Antonia fan
Hurricane Fly fan
My main 4 horses.
SS, no one has forgotten Affirmed, I can assure you! Affirmed had to earn his triple crown like no other horse. He had a tremendous heart and will to win! Great courage that horse!
This greatness will never be seen again on this Earth...Secretariat was the chosen one. No man, or horse, has or ever will rival this miracle of nature. Supernatural is the understatement of what we all witnessed with Secretariat.
We lost the greatest champion that ever lived.
Kate Tweedy see you at the Meadow in March m.facebook.com/ShamSigmundSommer/
You are really right 😢😭
I have watched and appreciated the great Secretariat from when he was a two year old. I was so disappointed he wouldn't race at 4 because like one of the commentators once said " His limits would know no bounds". He raced against himself. 50 yrs later his triple crown races still stand. I don't assume you are the granddaughter of Mr. Chenery(social media being what it is) but that man was a magnificent breeder. Too bad he didn't get to see one of his last and probably greatest thoroughbred creation fly around the track.
Here is a FACT for you to digest - NO CONJECTURE: "No horse has ever run a 12F race on a dirt track in race horsing history like Secretariat did on June 9, 1973" & I will leave it at that. NO HORSE...NO WHERE....NO TIME.......CASE CLOSED!!!!!!!!!
@ Joe, That is common knowledge.
12 perfect 12 second furlongs. They didn’t even think it was possible before he did it. The only other time it was done was on a downhill track!
The timer let the clock run and when Secretariat crossed the mile and 5/8 wire he obliterated that record as well
Facts
God this is bloody depressing. Love him and will miss him. He is a tremendous horse no doubt about it.
Champion of Champions. The Creme de la Creme . Perfection. 👏👍
Simple: the greatest racehorse who ever lived. By far.
Belmont Park put a blue and white pole in 2017 to commemorate the 31 lengths that secretariat won by
The day that some horse breaks Red's Belmont record is the day I'll stop saying he is the greatest horse that ever lived.
What you need to understand my friend is that some horses actually run FASTER on the mud, especially if the lower surface/level is hard. I TOO was always fooled by the "running in the mud concept", but if there is a firm lower level, the mud actually HELPS speed, serving as a surface to "glide on". It is a wet TURF surface that serves as a nightmare because horses will tend to slip/slide on wet grass. Don't kid yourself....NO WAY was Prove Out's 2;25.8 on an equal par w/SEC's Belmont!!!!
Will always be in awe of this great athlete, he was a one & only...what a horse!
If the history of this horse had been far from today, and was not documented, no one would believe it, it is a real legend, an incomparable horse
No question about it: late May 1973 @Pimlico: " Laffit Pincay has a very strong left-handed whip on Sham & he goes to it
time & time again but Ronnie Turcotte has his whip put away & Secretariat has him put away, he opens again to win by 3 lengths!!" ....mic drop
For 25 years they said that no horse will match Citation in the triple crown. Now they say that no horse will match Sec's records in the triple crown. It has been almost 40 years. I really believe that no horse will ever match Big Red and what he did in 73. If there is I hope that I am alive to see it.
Time is not the best measure since tracks were bone hard in '73 and they have been slowed since.
affirmed was a worker for sure and one of the greats.big red had the extra something you do not often see.a belmont for the ages..records were set that still hold.he made the hair on the back of your neck stand straight up!
we don't know what we had tell he was gone love you red
Oh, and by the way, while you are compiling your fractional mph's, have your baked in the FACT that Frankel NEVER had to run on extremely sharp turns (such as Pimlico, etc.) that incredibly impede the speed of an accelerating 1/2 ton+ mammal. Did you ever hear of centrifugal force because a 1/2 ton+ beast going several horses wide on a sharp turn is drastically hindered by such force to complete their turn. Many of Frankel's runs were on predominately straighter paths, a HUGE advantage..
What a horse, I will never forget his races - he was perfect. No horse has done what he did, to break 3 records in the Triple Crown and the Belmont especially by 2 and 3/5 seconds, its hard to believe we will see that again.
Secretariat. The best there is the best there was the best there ever will be.
In reference to all the previous posts.........2:24 & 1:59.2 for 40+ years. End of conversation.
not to mention the changed time in the Preakness. All 3.
Big Red was the Horse of the century...
Nicely done. The horse was awesome. Good choice of music. Cheers.
Another negative dirt surface factor is that it serves as a nightmare on sharp turns. DRY turf provides much better grip/traction. When a horse running between 37 to 40 mph makes that turn, dirt simply does not allow for the required traction to sustain the centrifugal force exhibited by a 1/2 ton+ animal. E.G.- In the Derby & Marlboro, watch SEC's final stretch turns & how much ground he lost before eventually straightening out & running past Sham & Riva Ridge. Had to cost him .6 to .8 seconds.
Thanks for the compliment. The music is from the movie "The Guardian"
Sham was Secretariats greatest rival, if he had been born a year befre or after he would have won the Triple Crown.
@Julio Chavez lol I completely forgot about this comment!
But yeah I don't know that, however, the opposite is also true.
Also, Riva Ridge is very important to the survival of the Meadow Stables.
Absolutely!
Not necessarily. Would have faced different competition and not placed in the same pole position. Too many variables.
@@harveyhorwitz1346 wow old comment lol. but good point. However, I still think Sham got the real short stick and should be recognized as a better horse.
Also just noticed my poor spelling
@@FanuilosLinwen I think Sham was recognized as a great horse, but was overshadowed by Secretariat. Hard to overcome a Triple Crown winner that set a new time record in each of the races. Secretariat was also visually dominant.
Some say Dr Fager could have beaten Secretariat at a mile? we'll never know.....Secretariat's Preakness was amazing; his burst at the first curve was ASTONISHING! Sec might have won against the expertly gifted miler, Dr Fager. But clearly Sec's real GIFT was SPRINTING for 1 1/2 MILES! I love Secretariat; He's the KING! Dr Fager is also up there with the classic GREATS.
But I think Dr Fager is a PHENOM in his own right! A GREAT HORSE! LOVE Dr Fager!!!
*goosebumps* ♥
@jkmooreelle Measuring devices were hard to come by back in the days & using body parts like a hand was simply the best way to do it & it became a standard. Secretariat was actullay 16 hands & 2 inches tall & weighred 1175 lbs in his racing prime.
Nice comment about beautiful Affirmed... he did have to earn his TC like no other horse. Some people think Secretariat didn't have to earn his because they think he had no competition to speak of, except Sham. Yet he set records in all 3 races and in context of grueling 5 wk period and being only hand ridden except for a couple of whacks on last Derby turn. 2 records not yet broken and one only tied twice. And if that's not astounding enuf, he never raced at more than 85-90 % of capacity.
He won the triple crown and now he is dead
As far as I'm concerned I look @ the times/speed & how good their competitors were that they beat, to determine their talent. I mean racehorses could run against donkeys & have no real competition & have a spotless-win record. Look @ Sec speed records & the talented field he had to race alot..Sham for the TC & see Marlboro Cup. He's the king. imho
and your humble opinion it is
There will never be another like him.
The other issue with dirt is that it is EXTREMELTY trying on horses legs. Turf allows for less bone friction at contact which is why I think more American horses break down than in Europe. E.G. - After my back surgery several years ago, my neurologist clearly stated to avoid running on pavement/dirt/clay type surfaces, and if I had to jog, try and utilize turf type surfaces. For that reason, I always wondered in Ruffian would have broken down so fast as a European thoroughbred???
FYI, who said SEC was sprinting throughout the Belmont??? Yes, maybe from a modest perspective from the 2nd to the 7th furlong, but after that SEC coasted. What is AMAZING about the Belmont is that after that 6/7th furlong, virtually ANY horse EVER would have CRASHED after 8/9 furlongs, NOT coasted which is the TRUE beauty of SEC's Belmont Stakes run. Add in the fact, Turcotte didn't push SEC until the final furlong (when he saw the time), it is virtually unfathomable!
Head to head with the great sham and then big red kicked to second gear and then into overdrive sham ran out of gas ...the some thing would have happened to any other horse including frankel.
we lost the best there ever was love you red
Sadly some believed Secretariat never had a chance as a 3 year old, but they saw how he proved him wrong. I am in love with the big red horse, and there is no telling to whether or not we shall see the likes of his grace and stamina again.
I never get tired of watching Secretariat run. None like him before, none will ever be like him again! However I did mute that aaahoooheeeewooooiiiiooooohaaaaah noise!
❤ he was hero to so many of us will be over in our youth young and old he was hero too young and old we cheered him on as we did Riva Ridge his stablemate
If Secretariat came back to Earth, I'd give my last dime to see the true miracle of nature that God put on this Earth....Secretariat. This perfect "10" was a gift from GOD. He was perfect aesthetically, athletically & his personality. He had a level of confidence, intelligence & free will that no man on Earth can ever match. God gave us a chance to see what perfection would embody. Secretariat was supernatural and a true miracle of nature. God gave us what humans couldn't
achieve ...perfection.
@NDRonin1401 U may want to watch BB when he lost in the Belmont..the longest of the 3 races.The end made him look like he was going in slo-mo. Sec was speeding up. Also BB's 2 sec diff. in KD doesn't even place him as 2nd in history. He broke no records in the TC races. Like MANY before him & after. Spitz set Olympic records & then Phelps came along & matched him (1 race did not break a world record). Not 1 horse in history of TC races has matched what occurred in the 1973 TC races. Never again.
You make it sound like 37.5 mph over a 12F dirt track is the standard in the industry? Wake up and smell the coffee because NO HORSE EVER has even approached hat mark. It took YOUR PRECIOUS Frankel 4+ years to FINALLY run more than 1 mile & he STILL never exceeded 10.5 furlongs so why do you continue to minimize Secretariat's Belmont??? Virtually EVERY racing analyst openly admits SEC's Belmont was the most amazing achievement EVER in a single race so what is your problem?
Big red was accelerating at every mark even up to the finish line at the Belmont. I never seen any horse do that not even frankel
If you'd like to see Sec's performance in cold slop, take a look at his final race at Woodbine - another dramatic win for Sec in adverse weather. RE: BB "jogging at the conclusion of race" - apparently Sec didn't jog. Instead, he tore it up - he RACED. Maybe Sec thought 'jogging' was declasse for a thoroughbred?
wow - This is terrible! Here I am thinking Secretariat was a PHENOMENON, and he was a nag!....NO, protar, you are wrong! Secretariat remains The King - he ran like no other horse BEFORE or AFTER him in the KDERBY, Preakness & the Belmont. I gotcha; he slowed in the last part of the 1.5 mile Belmont..(He ACCELERATED as he ended THE KDerby - but ONLY THE KD!). I'd slow down too, if I had run 1.5 miles in 2.24. Call it what ever you want - He 'covered' 1.5 miles in 2.24. No other horse has done so.
He was not just the greatest racehorse that ever lived. He was perfection from the hand of God. He ran for the pure joy of running. God put him in the hands of a woman who believed in herself and believed in him. Together they gave us a glimpse of what we will never see again.
There likely isn't anyone alive who saw MOW race to share their appreciation for such magnificence; but God must have thought we needed a reminder of what perfection looks like in Sec; hopefully we as a species have the ability to recognize perfection when we witness it. Is there really an argument for what we saw on May 9, 1973?
You are smokin' something to even ponder the question. IHA might be the next Triple Crown Winner, but that doesn't mean he's in Secretariats class, or a lot of horses class either.
I’ll take one of the, “Big Reds” and leave with a victory.
@rscarbro100 You are right there, I messed up this discussion with one about different racing surfaces in Europe and America. I was talking about the Kentucky Derby, so you should have known it was a mistake..
@sexymonimone well said.... reading you learn Sec took after maternal grandsire, the magnificent Princequillo who gave large heart gene to his dam SomethingRoyal. In Bill Nack's unbelievable biography of S, you read that "blue hens", the valuable and best broodmares of a breeding operation are it's foundations. Secretariat produced several as you point out. Wayne Lucas, the guy who bought Terlingua said the same thing. He wanted her, S was his favorite colt as was Crimson Saint her dam.
Your numbers are 100% accurate, but after running a 1:09.8 3/4 mile and 1:34.2 mile, the final 4 furlongs still amount to an amazing time, and I know you are on board with that concept. FACT also remains no horse has ever got within 9 lengths of SEC's 2:24 12 furlong dirt track time and that my friend says it all...how your performances measure up against your peers Peace!
Another way to put it: at Secretariat passed the 10f in 1:59 flat. That time will win you 99% of 10f Grade 1 races, after which a horse moving at such a speed is usually fully expended. But Sec kept coasting along as if a 1:59 10f was a training run.
I think gods recreating him again in I'll Have Another, 3 big red machines.
did y'all hear that IHA is scratched from the the race tomorrow?
BTW, lengua92...loved the musical background:-)
@whennif Looking over some old posts. I see you ran away when confronted with detail Quite fitting.
What is the name of this song...? I love this tribute to Secretariat! Thank you :)
I sometimes pity Sham, he would have won the Triple Crown too if it wasn't for Big Red. Gotta give credit where credit is due. He was just born at the wrong time poor guy. No one knows what happened to him afterwards either is the sad part. Wonder if he wouldve had better times as a stud then Big Red?
Tresa Lamb That's nice to know, thanks.
You make a valid point with the inconsistency of 180 degree planes on European tracks. So let's put down our weapons and actually consult for a change. I am curious about your thoughts regarding the negative impact variance between sharper turns versus somewhat uphill/downhill anomalies? Simply stated, how do you measure the obstacle level between the two?
...there may be another; watch the Breeders Cup Classic this year from Keeneland: a horse named Flightline.
i too loved ruffian..i have been very reticent to compare rachel to her..but the horse with the broken blaze has earned that right!
@jkmooreelle Thanks for clearing that up for me. I always wondered what they meant by x-amount of hands tall.
@CasperFriendly1 We will not leave out the Dr.` but was no Secretariat as you should know. The doctor own jockey did not say he was the best ever. He was one of his favorites he ever rode but said Buckpasser the best he ever rode. He called Secretariat a Super, Super horse. What else I can say or he could say?
A sound assessment for sure. God, I really wish Frankel would have been run at further distances (12/13F). It would have been awesome to see how he handled the extra real estate. Typically, I would say he would have been just fine because of his outstanding 10.5 furlongs. However, look at Spectacular Bid who was one of the fastest/finest 10F horses EVER, yet was not a peak performer at 12F. Amazing what those extra 1,320 feet can/will do to a horse's performance!
@80cathryn Small correction. It was June 9, 1973
People keep kidding Belmont mixed up with his Derby. Secretariat ran the Derby going faster and faster in each quarter, not the Belmont. However the quarter times in that Belmont are astounding themselves. You can find them on pg 324 of Nack's biography. In that mile and a half 2 quarters were the slowest at 12 and 4/5ths seconds. The rest were between 11 sec flat, thru 11 4/5two at 12 flat and the rest fm 12 1/5 up to 12 4/5. Even easing up he broke record for 1 5/8 miles at 2:37 3/5 !!
Also, with respect to Prove Out, he wasn't running for a record but he was RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE trying to hold-off the greatest horse on the planet (look at his Jockey beating him to death!). I would think the latter translates into much more speed than the former....don't you agree???
Only 2 SECONDS??? An 'average thoroughbred' will race a furlong (220 yards) in about 12 seconds; so that puts Sec out front (EASILY) by 36 yards! Subtract 10 YARDS for slop! (This is OVERLY generous!!) 26 yards = 78 feet = 7 lengths. So Sec demolishes him! And it is sad! Because Big Brown was DRUGGED; the Humans who handled his life & career were not very nice! BB was more honest, noble, & courageous than his People! BB the Racehorse did the best he could to win! But his people were unethical.
@NDRonin1401 What makes a legend is by the records he sets. I look at athletes differently than you. Clocks don't lie...nor have opinions. His record performances still stand. 33 years of NON Triple Crown winners..since 1978. All the other race horses are just competing against each other...and never raising the bar.What I find interesting is that you think that's an improvement. Secretariat still holds 2 of those records & one is still the world record. Even MOW makes today's horses look lame.
Sec actually holds all three TC records as of the Preaknes timing review, including: 1WR and 2TRs.
CONT1) It's the same with the IFHA WR. DB/138. PC/137 3 on136/ They ran that rating once. Frankel 8/130+ 6 x136+. 2x140. Globeform had Frankel at 142+Sussex and After the Judd Sabell said Frankel’s performance was impossible to assess.“This phenomenal horse simply cannot be rated because no other horse is good enough to test him,” Stabell said. “He Could he have won by 12to 16 lengths? Who knows. I certainly don’t. All I know is I am happy to use ?’ as his rating from now on.” LOL
Big red would have ran out frankel like he did sham and Kennedy running
this Amazing thanks for posting it :) what was the song called and do you mind if i were to use the song
Oh happy day?
Many Europeans insist SEC was "hyped up" but that is certainly not the case. I FIRMLY believe MOW was "hyped up" because there was NOTHING ELSE at the time! True, MOW was a super horse but I truly believe SEC, Dr. Fager, Kelso, and Spectacular Bid were better with Citation and Count Fleet right there with MOW. That is why Babe Ruth will forever be baseball's greatest player because he stood so tall alongside some of the game's greatest players such as Cobb, Hornsby, Gehrig, Foxx, etc.
A 'hand' was the size of an average man's hand.
I thought he made Time magazines top 10 athletes of the 20th century as well, didn't he? And out of curiosity who were the other 9 on the list? Anybody out there wants to help me with this one?
Four years later Seattle Slew happened
The Belmont! Simon Rowland TF, gave a personal assessment which he did in between jobs of 153. He confirmed this in a tweet I had with him last November. He said "Forget the time it was the performance that was spectacular. He did run a couple at 140 He also said if Frankel was had have been pushed more 153+ He also said no other horse has ever been consistently brilliant. TF. Horse rated 140+ did it once. Frankel's last 6 races were all 140+ . (Cont!
Ok so if Frankel ran considerably faster than what he demonstrated he would habve been the GOAT. The same logic applies to any horse. If I could run 100m 10 seconds faster than what I can I would be greater than Usain Bolt.
I suppose that at some moment i will. I have many tributes to make yet. To name just a few horses: Affirmed, Holy Bull, Skip Away, John Henry, Ruffian
lengua92
Please don’t forget the the ugly duckling that grew into a swan with afterburners- Seattle Slew!