Grew up a couple miles away from secretariat. Spent several hours with my moms photographing him. He always liked to socialize with us. He was incredible!
I watched the Triple Crown races of 1973, when they were happening and Secretariat was amazing. If he had wings he would have been flying. He was so FAST! I loved watching him. He is the greatest of all time!
I watched all of Secretariat’s races on tv as a teenager. Watched the Belmont with a group of people and when Secretariat started really pulling away, the entire room got quiet. We couldn’t believe it was possible! All these years I’ve remembered “he is moving like a tremendous machine “ and the video makes me choke up. I’m so thrilled you mentioned Ruffian. Many experts thought she would be just as great a racehorse. Her loss was a tragedy.
@@iamshebeeloloindigenous no wonder people, can't figure it out, no brain power no insight no clue, just follow like sheep, be a sheep, see you in the field with the rest of the herd.
He lost to the great trainer Allen jerkins 3 times 0it of those. 5 loses his first race then being disqualified in the champagne at 2 and they put stop the music Green tree stables.
Several years ago, I had a lengthy discussion with Jockey Ron Turcotte who rode the mighty Secretariat. What most people do not know is that Turcotte made only one slight move with the horse during this race, and that was to urge him to the outside at the beginning of the 1st Pimlico turn. This move was ever so slight. Secretariat did what was impossible at the Preakness. Last to 1st on the first turn AND finishing the race easily being hand ridden! Our Native jockey commented that he knew Secretariat was coming because he sounded like a freight train approaching.
Very cool. What a great race that was as well. The steam coming out of his nostrils like a locomotive as he turned for home. What a racehorse and what an animal! Thanks for the comment!! Please subscribe to the channel I have more horseracing videos dropping soon!
Really, wake up, and look at all the horses, like man o war, citation, northern dancer, the BID, fager, mill reef, sea the stars, nijinsky, phar lap, sceptre, domino, colin, pretty polly, kinscem.
I was blessed to watch Secretariat race all three races of the Triple Crown. My dad had cancer and was dying...Secretariat was like my whole family's joy to watch him win all three races while our dad was still able to be with there with us. I will always love Secretariat, for what he accomplished and the sheer joy we all had while Dad was still with us and we all cheered that beloved horse on!!!
The Preakness and Belmont still give me goose bumps watching Secretariat. People were crying at the race knowing they just saw something that was near unbelievable
Roger that Phil. It's spooky how fast he ran that Belmont. And Ronnie never even thought about bringing out the whip. What a run... thanks for the comment!!
@@sylivalancer8292 Turn 1 at the Preakness is the greatest athletic moment I've seen in my life. Last place to first on the outside no less,..in 180 yards!!
Thanks for the comment! I agree 100%. Not to mention he did that after record times at the Derby and the Preakness and was not touched by the whip at all in that amazing Belmont run. WOW.
Secretariat all the way. With the Derby he proved he ran faster as he went along. Every quarter faster than the previous. The Preakness he showed he could overtake the field whenever he wanted, with ease. The Belmont, he proved he could start at the front and just run and see if any other horse could maintain what he was doing. I doubt I will ever see another like him in my lifetime and I'm good with that.
Agree. His move on that first turn in the Preakness was breathtaking. 50 Years on he still holds all 3 Triple Crown times. That’s amazing. At his peak, no one beats Secretariat. He could run on both turf and dirt, which makes he a more versatile runner than the other top 3 on this list. He was an amazing horse, beautiful chestnut. A true gift from God.
@@johnwalsh3215 that tells me that when it comes to discourse, many give in, and dont produce any facts, to support their opinions, on any matter, horseracing or jumping rope.
@@howie9751 yeah howie but sec never raced against a horse like northern dancer, remember sebiscuit racing against another triple crown winner, or how obout nashua going toe to toe with swaps, thats a fact, swaps had 4 world records at the time, thats a fact, do you want more, we can go back to 1870 if you want to talk about fact, howie, and by the way, NORTHERN DANCER with his racing "facts" and breeding, 60% of horses racing around the world today 2022 trace their lineage to dancer, not goose rumped sec.
I was only 11 but I saw him run in 73. Penny Tweedy sent me an autographed photo of him to me before the Derby. Signed by her, Lucien Lauren and Ron Turcotte. I wrote her in crayon and she was so very kind to write back to a kid who loved her horse. I will never forget her kindness. Lifetime memorable events watching him make history. Greatest racehorse of all time.
Secretariat. The most amazing horse ever. I watched the Triple Crown in 73, not knowing who Secretariat was before then. When he broke last in the Preakness, I thought, shyt, no Triple Crown winner this year. To see him take off, not only coming from behind, but dead last, was truly poetry in motion, as he easily passed all the horses taking the lead. But his opus was the Belmont. As he put more and more distance between himself and Sham, I stood up in my living room, clapping, with tears streaming down my face. I could not believe what I was seeing - and we will never see it again. Fifty years later, his records have still not been broken and I don’t think they ever will be. When he died, I cried for days. There will never be another Secretariat. He was just the most perfect horse ever born. Shoemaker may have ridden a lot of winners and thinks Spectacular Bid was the best horse he ever rode, but he never rode Secretariat.
I'm from the UK and I've watched all of Secretariats races and I for one am extremely impressed with what he achieved. Like Brent says he did the impossible in the Belmont and broke track records too. Brent also said the 70s was the best era for great racehorses not only in the USA but in the UK too with Nijinsky, Mill Reef and Brigadier Gerard.
Interesting fact: Mill Reef, like Sham, was a cousin of Secretariat. All three had the same had the same grandsire Princequillo. All three feature in the 5 largest thoroughbred hearts ever measures, I recall: 1. Secretariat 2. Sham 4. Mill Reef. Third place was another cousin, Key To The Mint, whom Secretariat also raced and beat. Secretariat had the combination of Mill Reef's stamina and Brigadier Gerard's explosiveness, and then some.
Excellent points! Key To The Mint was a 4-year-old during Secretariat's Triple Crown year, and he won the 1972 3-Year-Old Horse Of The Year award over Riva Ridge.@@connorduke4619
I was 15 when I watched Secretariat win the Belmont. At that time, I rode and showed horses. I practically lived at the stable with my friends -- such happy times. Me and my friends gathered at the big house to watch the race in June 1973. We knew Secretariat was special, but no one expected what we witnessed. Secretariat was often slow out of the gate as a young horse (as was Man o" War), but you could see him becoming bolder, stronger and more confident with each of the Triple Crown races. Secretariat broke well and took the lead early -- next he ran the equivalent of a match race with Sham, and then, summoning even greater strength, he began to pull away. That's three herculean efforts in one race! As he rounded the turn, he steadily opened the distance and everyone in the room was silent, our mouths hanging open. I got chills and knew I was watching history. 50 years later, I watch the race over and over. And as that big red horse comes around the turn, moving like a tremendous machine, tears well up. I know I was blessed to have lived to witness greatness like his.
Great memories! I turned 17-year-old the day before the Belmont. Sham fractured a cannon bone during the Belmont and Pincay, Jr. knew something was wrong and slowed him down to avoid further injury. Pincay probably saved Sham's life that day.
I was 22 in 1973 and like so many others, I was caught up in the Secretariat hoopla gathering steam during the Triple Crown run leading up to the Belmont Stakes. I don’t think I will ever witness a more breathtaking performance by any athlete of any species than I watched that day. To this day, I cannot watch the motion picture “Secretariat” or even RU-vid videos of this event without tearing up. Secretariat was truly God’s horse. I can’t imagine what it must have felt like to be Ron Turcotte on that ride. That was the “Immaculate Reception” of horse racing. A moment in time that will never come again.
Turcotte never once had to resort to the whip as Sham’s jockey did to try to save face. Big Red knew he was the best and loved to prove it. And did he ever prove it.
I was only 7 so didn't know about it at the time. I was thinking recently about how it was when American Pharoh ended the 37 year drought with a close race to the end. and how wild it must have been to see the 25 year drought ended it such a completely different fashion. Complete dominance.
@@mengiaboy there have been many great fantastic three year olds but in head to head simulation Big Red beat all by at least two seconds, including Man o War. 110 degree stride angle is unmatched. Absolutely the GOAT in all of sport history. Chamberlain and Brady can take a seat.
@JohnFleming Imagining how Turcotte felt during that magical ride I've thought about too. I'd bet anyone especially someone that's rode a horse at a gallop or just rode can only imagine it.
@@mengiaboy I thought there never really was much doubt American Pharaoh would win once the race started.... at least, I remember the newspaper saying that.
Secretariat is the greatest athlete I’ve ever seen. If there is a God, he proved it by creating that horse. I saw him then and 49 years later he still makes me cry. I’ve never seen perfection before or since. My word, he was stupefying.
Thank you GOD for loaning us your horse, we called him Secretariat! Secretariat ran Belmont as if GOD had whispered into Secretariats ear… ok boy so you like to run, show me, make me proud!
I agree 100%. You are not alone about the crying. He still does it to me every time. I saw him run in1973. What most folks don't get is that the Belmont is the only time the owners and jockey turned him loose and let him run as he wanted to. All the others he was held back so he wouldn't tire and lose at the end. They didn't know what he could do. The Belmont the jockey just let him run and he said afterward "I didn't do a thing. I just sat there and went along for the ride. When asked after the race if he was tiring at the end he said NO! He was still running easy and could have gone a lot faster. His 2nd half of the Belmont he had nothing to run against and the jockey said after Sham fell back he just galloped along the rest of the way but he could have gone 2 to 4 seconds faster if asked to. just thinking bout him can bring tears to my eyes. I always say he was so great! and that he did the running because he wanted to. not for an award or fame. just becuse he wanted to.
@@johnthomas6506 We saw the guiding hand of the universe when we watched that horse. The best things I’ve seen are him, the Beatles, the moon walk and the Berlin Wall crumble. Cripes, he was something brother, I totally agree.
Merrylee Lanehart, Secretariat loved competing anywhere and he greatly hated losing. Eddie Sweat, his caretaker/groomer stayed, many times, that Secretariat was the most intelligent he ever met/seen in his life. Eddie was with Secretariat more than any human ever was. Eddie also stated that Secretariat was often a goofball in the barn and the paddock/pasture.
American Pharoah almost came within two seconds of Secretariat. But NO HORSE has, or will ever again, make a crowd actually weep at what they witnessed. It was a real life miracle.
Fungoorstitch this horse doesn't come close to even other triple crown winners but what sends him packing is the load of great talent from the past whose careers was just too overwhelming to have AP close. The horses he ran against were subpar. Frosted best at a mile even when he won the Whitney still only 1/8th longer it was a weak field. The competition was mediocre even the Breeders Cup. Man did AP fall into a soft patch of opponents. No one in there right "dry" mind would have him above so many greats unless it's the only triple crown they witnessed and so they have a love and bias for him.
Spectacular Bid still holds the world record for the fastest 1 1/4 mile in history. Secretariat is the greatest horse ever, Spectacular Bid is the greatest horse to never win the Triple Crown. I'd put Slew in 2nd all time behind Secretariat.
Great list. I thought I was the only one to cry watching Secretariat. I was 14 . Watched horse racing all the time. Then came Secretariat. Still cry watching him run on RU-vid.
Your video was not too long. I enjoyed every minute of it. Your analysis was thoughtful and thorough. I'm glad you mentioned Ruffian, my second favorite horse I was 28 when I watched Secretaariate's jaw-dropping performance. Neil Armstrong setting foot on the moon and Secretariate at the Belmont are the two best things I've ever watched on TV. Secretariate brought the country together and made everyone happy. The world needs more Secretariates.
50 years later and all three of the triple crown time records are still held by Secretariat. That makes him the best racehorse that has ever been and may ever be
My all time favorites are Sea Biscuit, Seattle Slew, Zenyatta, and last but not least by far is the best ever in my heart is Secretariat, he was the horse with more heart, speed and power than any other horse I ever saw!
That was an amazing sight to see as Secretariat moved so fast from the back that it looked like I was watching a car race. What tremendous speed and stamina this horse had.
You hit the nail on the head talking about the second leg of the triple crown.Secratariat is going for the lead & he wants it now!He just hit another gear that no other horse had.
Watched another video where someone explained how his stride changed when he started the run for the lead in the Preakness. When he changed stride, that was him shifting gears. He had a gear none of the other horses had.
Your right. I remember, and always will, watching that race on TV. On that race I could not stay in my seat. I was up and jumping around the Living room with amazing tears in my eyes watching him pull away from the rest of the horses like they were standing still. I doubt I'll ever see another horse or race like that again.
I was old enough to watch Secretariat. Mind blowing. The Belmont was the most amazing race ever. What a beast. I couldn’t believe what I’d seen. I watch it over & over again because it’s so brilliant. Breath taking. I agree with you completely.
I will forever remember the Secretariat. The first horse's name I ever known before following horse racing. I watched at the time, without understanding/comprehending the feat and the greatness of the Secretariat during the Triple Crown. I was at awe of the 31 length of the win. The sight was "incompresible" for me at the time. I've since come to understand what a "feat" it really was. Whenever, I speak of the GOAT of horse racing, I do not hesitate proclaiming Secretariat the GOAT.
Secretariat The most incredible horse 🐎 on Planet,every race running faster and strong ❤️❤️❤️Biggest heart it improved everything to all peoples lives…Blessing Your Miracle Heart Secretariat ❤️❤️❤️Thank so much blessing you
Thanks for the honorable mention of Ruffian. She was a marvel and a warrior and I cried so hard watching that race unfold. Her loss is one of the greatest "what if"'s in racing. Just imagine the foals she could have produced with the best studs of the era. Such a loss.
Spectacular Bid, Dr. Fager,, Man O' War, Secretariat, Swaps. In that order. Ruffian was the greatest filly. I've been a racing affectionate for 60 years.
Great list. I have never cried in my life watching any hose race and I’m 56 years old. When I watch secretariat to this day i still cry every time I watch the Belmont he just makes you feel like he just makes you feel all these emotions.
Loved this list Brent. I was 11 years old in 1973, not a horse racing fan at all. But I knew about Secretariat and witnessed perfection on our families' old black and white tv. Watching youtube videos of that Belmont still brings me to tears. I consider it the greatest athletic performance of all time. Now I am off to check out some of these other great horses you mentioned. Also, I became aware of Zenyata about 2/3 of the way thru her winning streak. She was fun to watch, always spotting the field a head start before reeling them in.
One race doesn't mean much. I saw the race and I also saw all of Mission Brief's races and believe you mean Mission Brief had more raw speed than Secretariat.
Absolutely Secretariat, I was 9 when I watched him win the Belmont Stakes. Even then I knew I was watching greatness. Best athlete ever, regardless of species.
It wasn't just an eternal track or Belmont Stakes record -- IT WAS THE WORLD RECORD FOR 1.5 MI ON DIRT. And there is absolutely no sign of its being broken. The GOAT.
All numbers aside Zenyatta was more than just a racehorse. Her wins from behind brought gut wrenching drama. Her personality drew thousands to her. She is a once in a lifetime beauty, huge girl over 17 hands, she fed off the love of so many, a high spirited filly. Her 2009 win over an all male field showed what she could do. She belongs on this list. She is spectacular in confirmation and temperament
She belongs further up the list. . although, at 58 yrs old, I'm likely too young and too green to even qualify as to comment. But the fashion in the way she raced and always seemed to know where the finish line was, in the History of horse racing there's not too many that could a beat her. She just out ran whoever was on the track.
I’ve been watching horse racing since the 1950s and by far, the greatest horse out there was Dr Fager. To beat him other trainers had to enter rabbits to wear him out before the finish.
You make a great argument Gary. He was a beautiful freak of nature. I should have put him higher on the list. After looking at this list for almost 2 years now.....If I could do the list over, the only change would be the BID at # 6, Dr Fager at #7, and Seattle Slew at # 8. Thanks for the comment and your seven decades of passion for the sport!!
Lukas put a rabbit vs HOLY BULL in the Travers and still couldn't beat him, and the 46.1 opening half is the fastest 1st half in 50 years of travers stakes.
Thanks for the comment. I believe the 70's was the best decade for horseracing. I will be putting out a few more videos soon. What a horse Spectacular Bid was. Forgoe was a beast as well. People forget he came in 4th in the 73 Kentucky Derby. But as a 4 and 5 year old he was just an incredible closer who carried a ton of weight.
@@brentmagnussen3173 Yes FOREGO was fourth his trainer had said he was a late bloomer odds showed it he was 22-1 but knew he had fire in him when in the race he slammed the fence and recovered then showed burst of speed which showed them a different side of him and kept that in mind when part of his 4 yo campaigned sprinted FOREGO who went on to win the Carter defeating Mr.Prospector. Just the beginning.
oh my goodness, not a horse racing fan and was 23 years old in 1973. but sports pages was full of articles, pictures and almost everyone became a fan of Secretariat and followed and pulled for him. I am so amazed by him and it makes me emotional watching veidos of him. Love Basketball, Drag Racing, Football, etc. and SECRETARIAT!!!
"AFFIRMED" beating the much more hyped up "alydar" 3X to win the 1978 Triple Crown is my personal all-time favorite. He never truly received the respect he deserved.
Thank you for pointing out that the Belmont was the single greatest performance in horse racing history - past and future. For all time. Debate settled for #1 - open for discussion as to who is #2.
Whirlaway was another great horse, and fun to watch. And the Affirmed-Alydar battle through the Triple Crown & Travers was amazing. I miss Jack Whitaker & Charlsie Cantey!
Secretariat is my #1. I wish I’d seen him run in person,but seeing him run even on TV was amazing. In person would be phenomenal. It’d be like seeing Streisand sing in person when she came back to the stage after decades away.. People flew in from around the globe. We handed tissues to each other. No embarrassment. The people who heard her sing after such a long time started crying. When sang ”I don’t know why I’m frightened..I know my way around here.”, you knew you were experiencing a talent that defies description or logic.That was Secretariat.
Secretariat never had to be wipped once he just ran for the love of running greatest of all time and it's not close broke all three track records in a five a weak span that still stand today!
You can't make a list like this without controversy. It's the nature of the beast. I do agree that Secretariat as #1. I watched all 3 races of the Triple Crown. The picture of Turcotte looking back over his shoulder scares me every time. Turns out it scared him too but he said he couldn't resist.
Thanks so much for the memories! As a very small child, I saw Citation run (and win.) I'll never forget it. (My memory was helped by re-watching and re-watching my father's film of the race.) And several times, even though I wasn't big on dog shows, I went to the Saluki Nationals held at the Kentucky Horse Park. I'd walk my dogs through the Park before the tourists showed up and got acquainted with Forego and Rambling Willie and several times I saw Cigar and John Henry have a match race in their adjoining paddocks. John Henry's groom got to know me and let me feed him the peppermints he loved.) Such great memories!
I agree about the Preakness. Secretariat lowered that big butt and got tremendous thrust with his hind legs and easily, but spectacularly shot to the lead. What a burst of speed. Then he calmed down for a little bit as if awe of himself and to let it sink in to the losers he had just blasted past. For some reason he reminded me of John Wayne.
Brent - great job, cannot disagree with your #1. I'm convinced that Secretariat is not only the greatest racehorse of all time, but the best athlete I have ever seen. Most people don't realize the microscopic probability for one horse to not only win the Triple Crown, set the race record in all three races, but to have them as still standing records 49 years later. Just incomprehensible. Glad to see that you noted in the comments about Secretariat's continuous acceleration in the Derby (each 1/4 mile faster than the one before) and not getting hit once by his jockey in the Belmont (ditto in his Preakness, btw). One interesting tidbit I'll add is that his Marlboro was a very underrated win. Secretariat beat one of the greatest fields ever, breaking the world record for a mile and an eighth by 4/5ths of a second DESPITE the fact that the track was only listed as "good" that day. There is an old article I found from the day after the race (NY Times, if memory serves me correctly), that cited the "good" track condition with the comment that one only could imagine what Secretariat's time would have been that day if it had been a fast track.
when you factor in that those 3 races are all more than100 years old now, i don't know the average number of horses that ran in each, lets just say 10 to make it easy. 100 years, so 300 races give or take, 90 horses ran each year so 9,000 world class race horses. What are the odds that 1 horse would own all 3 records and still be holding them 50 years after setting them? Not to mention he was only turned loose 1 time (Belmont) and even then Turcott said he didn't do anything but sit there. He never asked him to run, run faster keep going nothing! After Sham dropped back Turcott said Secretariat just galloped the rest of the way, not even running hard. Yet still increased his lead the last 1/4 mile from 18 lengths to 31 at the wire. That was God showing what he could build a horse to do!
Secretariat is, without a shadow of a doubt, the GREATEST racehorse to ever live. Big Red came at a time when the American public was down and out, with the Vietnam War coming to an end and President Nixon on his way to resigning. Secretariat gave people something to cheer about and something to be proud of. As with other men who have commented on Big Red, I STILL get choked up and misty-eyed EVERY time I watch Secretariat in the three Triple Crown races. God Bless Big Red!!!
One race means nothing. Dan Patch and "the freak of nature" Mission Brief use to win by the length of the toteboard against the best in the world not one race but every race.
That’s a big call considering he never raced against another horse that had a heart two times bigger than other horses, Phar Lap! That would have been something to see the two of them at there best in a match race! 🍻
I think this is a really good list. I think if Ruffian had had a longer career, or War Admiral or Seabisquit had won a greater number of the total races. But clearly...a great list. And Secretariat was THE greatest athlete/race horse I have ever had the privledge to meet. (was lucky enough to pet him as a child).
Thanks for the great comment!! Love Ruffian. She never gave up the lead. For me she will always be the female Secretariat. She was incredible and I hate that her career was cut short.
@@brentmagnussen3173 Ruffian,1st at every call in every race.Set or tied 7 track n Stakes records in just 10 starts was pulling away from Foolish pleasure n would have beaten him. Fastest hosre I ever saw n she was never asked for extra. . .
@@noelharris1177 well said. Ruffian was incredible. There is very good argument with only 10 full races that she is the best filly ever. People will say Personal Ensign or Black Caviar, Lady's Secret, the great Winx, Makyeb Diva, the awesome Rachael Alexandra, Kincsem, and Rags to Riches. Ruffian just didn't have enough time to prove herself against the boys and whoever. At tge end of tge day, if Ruffian is your #1 filly of all time, I won't argue with you. Thanks for the comment!
@@brentmagnussen3173 Wait a sec. Rachel at 3? Won't happen again. Just like Secy. Her physicality's were/are ridiculous. Monster Goddess. WOW!!! She loped around Churchill without being asked to run in 1:48+... The Preakness from the 13 hole with Breeders Cup Sprint winner Big Drama & American Pharaohs daddy (Pioneer of the Nile) floating her. What She did in the Preakness was r i d i c u l o u s. Ever see the head start the outside gets in a Track Meet? lol The Mother Goose in 1:46 totally 'eased' the last ""1/16th"". lol The Haskell in 1:47 against super stallion Munnings & the Belmont winner Summer Bird...lol In the slop. SIX lengths! lol The Woodward? Ever see the Beyers of her competition in that race? The ONLY mistake with Rachel was Jackson taking her out of training for SIX months after Woodward. They were scared to risk her bringing her back at FOUR. Rachel might of thought she did something wrong only winning by a neck. But ultimately that lay-off was too much. At 3, Rachel the female Secretariat. At 4, Spectacular Bid best EVER! Check out what John Nerud (Dr. Fager fame/trainer) had to say about Rachel. She was the Super Freak filly at 3. GL Good Work
Your number one pic is right on! No one can argue with his unmatched record times. Not to mention the best in the business referring to him as "The Horse That God Built"!!!!❤❤❤
I enjoyed your list! I’m a very amateur horse-racing fan, but I loved horses as a little girl/teenager and read young adult books about great horses like Exterminator and Man O’War. Racing in the early to mid 1900s was a different world indeed! Anyway, I wanted to mention (for your audience, since I’m sure you know) that Man O’War also carried a tremendous amount of weight as handicappers tried to even up the odds a little. I think one of the reasons he was retired early was because of the greater and greater weight he was being asked to carry.
@Robin M Yes you are right and in addition, Man O’ War was essentially unbeaten and became one of the most influential sires of all time. Overall, I think Man O’ War is the greatest both because of his achievements both on the track and in the breeding shed.
Thank you. I just watched the 1973 Belmont and I was as excited watching as if I saw it on TV live. How very awesome, and indeed the numbers do not lie.
Agree with your list and appreciate the nod to Ruffian. I was blessed to see many of the greats you mentioned race and Secretariat still brings me to tears, he was perfection.
@@Deznutz6969Ruffian at distance would get crushed by rachel Alexandra. The ONE time Ruffian ran vs a male, she had to run so hard because she was SO OUTCLASSED she hurt herself. Rachel destroyed males THREE times....
@@marklewen9384 Bwahhhh ,outclassed? No horse ever even got in front of her in any race male or female till she broke down , Just look at her fractions and race times . Every one has opinions. She was the best 2 yr old this worlds ever seen . Racheal was a great horse but come on she wasn t even on Ruffians level...
@@Deznutz6969 no, she wasn't. MANY 2 yos fillies go undefeated(Song Bird, echo zulu etc) She ran vs GARBAGE. Foolish Pleasure one of the worst Derby winners in history, and she couldn't keep up with him. Rachel Alexandra beat males THREE TIMES in GR 1s, and is the only 3 yo FEMALE in history to win a grade 1 vs OLDER MALES on dirt around 2 turns. Ruffian was a good NY horse who never ran against anything, male or female. And as far as accomplishments go, she doesnt belong on the same page as the best american female of all time, LADYS SECRET...
Man I am jealous you were there David. What a race that was! And what a move she made to go outside and close like that. 17 hands and over 1200 pounds of pure awesome horsepower!!! She was incredible. I really wish we could have seen her and Rachael Alexandra go head to head. What a race it would have been. Thanks for the comment and please subscribe!
She was a synthetic star who ducked males her whole career unless its was at her quirky synthetic track. The best female of all time, LADYS SECRET, faced males at 7 different tracks in 6 states....
Hi Brent. Great video. When you see a legend in the flesh then it really blows your mind. in the UK we have been very lucky to have had Frankel whom i saw live win in his final 2YO race and before him the ultra professional See The Stars in recent years. Two amazing horses who just smashed the opposition. Frankel was extremely flashy and was your Sugar Ray Leonard, whilst See The Stars just was a machine and won within himself like Floyd Mayweather. We hope Baaed or Desert Crown, our side of the pond, take the big step to become the next ethereal champion but when you see one just enjoy them as they come so rarely and there are many pretenders. Just another comment is that in UK and Ireland we have the jumps racing where horses run from 4 until 10 or 11. This is really where the true horse racing fans flock to as we get to see our heroes lock horns for many years and become household names. This is why the Cheltenham Festival is much much much bigger than Epsom, Royal Ascot, Longchamp and the crowds are huge for 4 very drink fueled days. It also explains the huge following Enable had as she was kept in training to try to win that 3rd eluisve Arc. I assume flat racing is king in US, but would be good to know if jumps racing's profile in US. If you asked an irishman they consider flat racing as dull and their top 5 would be all jumps horses with Arkle being their Secretariat.
Hard to argue with your picks. I think Secretariats fastest quarter though was that Preakness move -- but the screwup on the timers that day cost him the track record at Pimlico until they finally reviewed the film and fixed the times.
I would give any penny I own to watch Secretariat run live !! At least I have videos of him throughout the internet.. I get chills and tears of joy just watching him . Lucky the ones who did watch him performed !!! ❤🐴
As far as Secretariat Lets not Forget how Absolutely DOMINANT he was on Grass/Turf as Well and Against TOP Turf Company..He was so GREAT on Dirt that his Turf Races get Overshadowed and his Turf Races were BRILLIANT...He could do it ALL
jack woods, the best part is that Secretariat loved doing what he did. Ron Turcotte stated many times that the whip was only there because it was required but he never once had to use it. He only talked to Secretariat with words of praise/encouragement. Nothing else was ever needed. Eddie Sweat, his caretaker/groomer was with Secretariat more than any other human ever was. Eddie stated that Secretariat was the most intelligent horse that he'd ever seen/met. Secretariat was often a goofball in the barn.
@ jack woods. Agreed. Secretariat beat the best turf horse in the country at the time, a horse named Tentam, in his 1st start on the grass, laughingly by 5 1/2 in the Man O' War Stakes. He also still holds the course record @ Belmont Park, for that 1 1/2 mile effort. 2:24 4/5. Not bad, for your 1st start on the turf. He then goes to Woodbine for his 2nd start on the turf, the last race of his career of course, and wallops a quality field of turf horses, that included Kennedy Road, Canada's turf champion, and eclipse award winner, and Big Spruce a very good horse in his own right, winning by 6 1/2. Turcotte claimed that Secretariat would have been a faster horse on the turf, then he was on the dirt, if given more of and opportunity. Will never know of course, but that is one scary thought. I know you know all of this already, but it is fun to reminisce. Secretariat truly could do it ALL, and then some.
When Jack Nickolas who watched the race from his home cried when he saw Secretariat cross the finish line at the Belmont he understood what perfection was all about.
@@tonynaccarato4751 He understood what perfection meant. He over his entire career he tried for perfection in his game and at the end of the Belmont he saw it.
@@marklewen9384 His perfection was the triple crown and he has never been challenged by any horse to better all three times in those races. No one remembers who he lost to in those five races but they do remember every year that the triple crown races come up that no horse has ever beaten his performances or could do what he did in the Belmont that day.
@@brianwhitney9181 he lost to ONION...i remember. Secretariat had a heart(which is a muscle) TWICE the Size of an average horse ONE year after the East German women swimmers STEROID scandal of 1972. EVERYONE here in NY knows he was on anabolic steroids admitted to him by one of the great cheats in racing history(Lucien Laurin). But in '72, Steroids were "quasi" legal. BIG red didn't get " big" by accident...
Excellent list. I was very fortunate to see Secretariat race in person. His final race at Woodbine. Not mention I was fortunate to see him in person at Claiborne Farms. A photo I’ll always cherish. Big Red his caretaker and me! I agree with you about the turn at the Preakness. An amazing burst of speed. If that doesn’t give you goosebumps then you’re not a horse racing fan. The Belmont it’s truly one of the greatest athletic performances ever!
Great comment Jim. He is #12 on my list of the top 25 which I will be dropping soon. What a horse. The 2 losses to Seattle Slew hurt him, but the win over Speculator Bid makes him a legend. Let's also not forget just how good Alydar was. Any way you look at it, Affirmed was an absolute monster on the track.
I was at Zenyatta's Breeders Cup win in '09. May be the most electric sporting event I've ever seen in person, not to mention one of the greatest wins.
Most over rated accomplishment misunderstood by simpletons. She was racing over a synthetic track that none of her opponents ever ran on. She had an ENORMOUS advantage...
I was at the 73 Preakness. I had just turned 18 and went for the in-field party. I missed the race because you couldn't see the track from the in-field. I never realized the significance of Secretariat. I just went for the party. I never went to the in-field party again, but no horse at Pimlico was comparable to the great Secretariat. I still kick myself for not going to the stands that day, but I was 18, graduating in a few days and we were all in a celebratory state. They still play Secretariat's race on a loop in the Pimlico Clubhouse to this day.
You have a great list there. I am not an expert on horse racing but I love the history of especially the Triple Crown. I've watch most of of docs of the greatest horses. Whirlaway was a great story. Goofy horse, but also an inspiring time in history. Uplifting inspiration to the service men in ww2.
You are so right about the Super horse Secretariat! To watch him run gave me goose bumps. But, what I appreciated more than his racing was his beauty. When the sun would shine on his coat it became a shiny copper. I love Bill Nack’s description. You couldn’t pick him apart. His coat seemed a size to small, you could see his rippling muscles, a great jowl, he was the perfect horse. Seth Hancock had another great description. At the first click of the camera the ears went up, he would swell up and as if to say, look at me, I’m the man. And he was! As far as I’m concerned there isn’t a horse that could even warm Secretariat up. I’ve seen a lot of great horses. I’m sure Seth had, he was the owner of Claiborne Farms. Watching Secretariat run in the pasture took my breath away.
Sir, your list is superbly accurate, and having seen Big Red at Woodbine, is the most dreadful conditions-that God for EP Taylor and his influence. My $5.00 ticket is in laminate, showing its age. Most people don't realize the great field he mowed down. Before The International was ruined, he was a champion. After the race, it was like having seen The Beatles. Eddie Maple knew what he had. That type of stamina, with speed might never be seen again.
Alan Jerkins said that both Spectacular Bid and Citation were better than Secretariat,who he twice defeated in back to back grade 3 races in 1973 with very average horses in Onion and Prove Out....Willie Shoemaker said that Spectacular Bid was by far the best horse he ever rode or saw,and his horse J.O.Tobin defeated Seattle Slew by a pole in the 1977 Hollywood derby causing the owners of Slew to fire his trainer Billy Turner...Secretariat retired after racing on the turf in Woodbine in the fall of 1973 and was retired to stud shortly thereafter and did not race as a four year old...Do you really think that Secretariat would have gone 9 for 9 as a 4 year old if he raced in 1974 as a 4 year old all in grade 1 stake races like Spectacular Bid did facing the likes of Forego,Sham,Honest Pleasure and Ruffian and forced to carry 136 pounds in each race the way that Spectacular Bid did?
Very nice review. I grew up hearing how there would never another horse to even compare with Man-O-War. My Fathers family is all from Kentucky (settling there from the Carolina’s in the early 1800’s). We never had the money to do anything except watch horse racing, but talk about a bunch of obsessed fans! I was still in the service and out of the Country 1973. When I came back home my Dad’s family were all talking about Secretariat. I don’t know enough about horses or racing to have a qualified opinion, but my Dad’s cousins all lived and died over “The Sport of Kings.” For ALL of them to say that Secretariat was the GOAT, would have me agree with you!
I am not a horse racing expert and I do not claim to be. But I have watched and listened to many horse racing experts discuss which horse is the best, and I think it is fair to say Secretariat is among the top 2-3 horses of all time. There is an interview done in 1976 with Eddie Arcaro and Ron Turcotte (may be online) and they discuss which horse was better, Citation or Secretariat. Both thought their horse was better, but Eddie did say, there is not a horse that ever existed that would have beaten Big Red on that particular Belmont day, June 9th, 1973.
I would have had Spectacular Bid at #1 or 2 because his only loss after the 1979 Belmont was to the 1978 Triple crown winner Affirmed in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and his nine races in 1980 were all equal to any of Secretariats 21 races (in which he was defeated 5 times)...,His Ragozin speed figures in all 9 of his races are still among the very fastest and best of all time!
You make some great points. If I could only make one change to my list, I would have The Bid at #5, Native Dancer at 6 and The Slew at 7. But I put it out there so I will stick to my guns. I am as big a Spectacular Bid fan as you will find. I have a video coming up in July about him and two other special horses. You will love it I promise. Thanks for the comment and please subscribe.
@@brentmagnussen3173 I look forward to seeing your upcoming posts...If Spectacular Bid hadnt stepped on a safety pin the night before the 1979 Belmont and been horrably ridden by his 19 year old jockey (who was high on Coke during this time and was arrested in the parking lot at Disney land and was thrown in jail) than Spectacular Bid would have won the 1979 Belmont by a pole...If that had occured than The Bid would have been a triple crown winner and racing historians would view The Bid the same way that they view Secretariat..The Bid easily defeated Coastal (the horse that beat him in the 1979 Belmont) in the 1979 Jockey Club Gold Cup,and totaly crushed all of his competition in 1978,1979 and 1980 multiple times...In Secretariats career he lost to several grade 3 types in Angle Lite,Onion,Prove Out and Shecky Green what do you think Spectacular Bid would have done to these wimps with Willie Shoemaker riding him instead of that drugged up kid from Dundalk Maryland who had no business riding such a great race horse?
@@lgen2458 hard to use a race where a great three year old races against a great older horse. It's a huge disadvantage and many more knowledgeable than myself do not detract a horse for a loss against an older champion.
You nailed it. But, number one was tough. I just can't choose from the absolute greatests of all time. Loved horse racing 🐎 in the 70s, too. And, I was alive and watching. Thank you for memories and tears. Great list.
I love them all. Learned last night that Rags to Riches (one of three fillies to win the Belmont) and daughter of AP Indy, granddaughter of Seattle Slew, g-g of Secretariat, had a foal by American Pharoah. What will he do? I'm sorry you missed Secretariat; I saw him on TV and almost pounded a hole in the den floor.
Secretariat set records with all three TC wins, records that still stand to this day. His first two records, Kentucky Derby & Preakness, were basically just 'warm-ups' for his Belmont performance. During his Belmont performance, he actually built momentum with each lap, his final lap being the quickest. Epic performance.
Been into horse racing for 50 years, and though I could nit pick a little and go for Ruffian over Zenyatta (Ruffian never was involved in a close finish. To the front and good bye), overall this was a good list. By the way, for Secretariat, you should mention the one time he ran on grass, the surface he was best bred for. I'm not sure they've broken his record at the distance to this day. And the 70s were the best.
Good job putting Secretariat first- I completely agree! Set track records at Kentucky Derby (each 1/8 of mile faster than previous), Preakness, & finally The Belmont
There will always be debate when it comes to selecting the greatest thoroughbred racehorse of all time (GOAT). What can never be questioned is the individual performances of each racehorse. Secretariat, like you stated here on your list, holds the fastest times in each of the Triple Crown races. Those times haven’t been broken in almost 50 years. I don’t think they will ever be eclipsed. Secretariat was touched by the finger of God. He had the unparalleled talent to pass the greatest thoroughbreds of his time like they were setting still. His Belmont race was something to behold, a once in a lifetime achievement. Love you Secretariat, and hope/pray to see you doing the same thing in heaven as you did here on earth!
