I saw all the Triple Crown races that year on tv. The first 2 legs I was off work. The Belmont, I was at work. I didn't care who needed me, i was going watch the Belmont. I was not disappointed. I watched him ain by 31 lengths &set a record that still stands today, 50 yrs later.
At that time, I was excited to see him win. The 1st Triple Crown winner in 25 yrs. Now, I cry when I see him win the Belmont. Why? I often have wondered. Because I saw perfection. I seriously doubt if I ever see perfection again.
I was an athlete and love sports but horse racing wasn't really s thing in my area, Boston back in the 60's,70's, I was 12 when I watched secretariat win by 24 lengths and I'll never forget the announcer got really excited and said, "He's moving like a tremendous machine" to this day I get chills hearing that call, it was very emotional and I'm not an emotional person, but that horse was so special to me.
Yes, the greatest horse that ever lived. Unquestionably. But watching the triple crown races you see that Sham played a major part in bringing the best out of Secretariat. He was second in both the Derby and the Preakness and pushed Secretariat to record times. Secretariat's times would likely not have been so historically fast were it not for Sham. And then in the Belmont, Sham made a courageous push to the front which ignited Secretariat into a performance that was the greatest of all time. Secretariat broke Sham's psyche in that race and Sham ended up last, but he should get a lot of credit for pushing Secretariat to a level of greatness never seen before.
For anyone who questions Secretariat's dominance, his time at the Belmont would have defeated these other TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS by the following margins that day, based on their Belmont times: American Pharoah - 13 lengths; Affirmed - 14 lengths; Count Fleet - 21 lengths; Citation - 21 lengths; War Admiral - 23 lengths; Seattle Slew - 28 lengths; Omaha - 33 lengths; Assault - 34 lengths; Whirlaway - 35 lengths; Gallant Fox - 38 lengths (source: ESPN).
None horse couldn't beat him easily. It was a difficult competitor. Sham was a good competitor. I am in doubt if Flightline could beat secretariat in any of his race
Such a pity he couldn’t race as a four-year-old. He loved to run, and he was getting better as he was getting older. And they shut him down. A real pity because you know he could’ve gone to stud a year or two later.
It shouldn’t even be a question, Secretariat! In a about a 3 month span he set the world record for a 1 1/8, and a 1 1/2 mile and that one still stands today with no horse anywhere in the world being within a second (that’s 40ft)
First thank you for the video. I watched all three races on tv and probably someday his records will be broken but I don't think it will ever be done the same way by one horse . If you watched the Belmont Stakes you would have noticed he broke the Derby record by 2/5ths of a second which to me was truly amazing .
The choice the maker of this video made was a pretty easy one on who the best is! For those of you still not sure I’ll spell it out for you S E C R E T A R I A T
Those records he set will last forever!! I saw a video on here listing the 10 best American racehorses ever and Secretariat was #2 after Man O War. Seriously??? So not true, Big Red was simply the best there ever was and ever will be. #35 of the 100 best athletes of 20th century, the only non human ever on the list. What a joy it was to watch him run back then, I was a horse crazy teenager and loved watching him.
Easy Goer Had All The Talent...He Had Career Ailing Ankle Issues...Prior to 89 Classic The Connections Discussed Scratching Easy Goer From The Big Race as His Ankles Were Swelled up The Size of Grapefruits
"ESPN counted Secretariat as one of the top 50 athletes of the twentieth century (ahead of Mickey Mantle)." Mickey Mantle never ran a mile and a half in 2:24!
Greatest flat horse runner of all time, triple crown winner soo young, record beating time at all distances, enough said but as an English man the greatest horse has to be Red Rum as he was the greatest steeplechaser ever won the grand National 3 times which was considered impossible for any horse to achieve. Sorry Secretariat but I go for Red Rum if jumps were involved, still loved the video thanks.
I can't find any evidence that Secretariat ever ran a steeplechase so who knows what he might have done. For me, it kind of makes that comparison apples to oranges.
This is a big call considering the was another horse from New Zealand called Phar Lap that had a heart twice as big as a normal horse just as secretariat did so to all the Americans on here saying he was the the best period…you’re all high! Phar Lap in his peak ran with 10 stone extra. That’s the same as two jockeys! So I’d say that these two horses are the best two to ever grace a track and what a match race it would have been!
I agree. What a match race it would have been. Secretariat did have a bigger heart but Phar Lap was amazing. Wonder how his times at certain distances compair to secrétariats triple crown records?
@@navyster732 good point!…it’s a shame we weight the horses 😡 yeah I know why but think of the times without them!! Times over distance doesn’t mean much when this factors in😔 I’d love to see no weights, just let the race then you’d see some times😂
@@navyster732 wouldn’t it be fantastic for racing world wide to have the balls to have a couple races a year where the best of the best raced without weights…just let them go and be race horses! Do you think people would still bet on that? Fuck yes!! Then maybe we could all stop guessing and the horses could do it for us🙏
Actually, Phar Laps heart was just under 14 lbs. Secretariats heart was near 22 lbs. That said, it was Secretariat's hindquarters that were the main source of his power, with a sloped croup that extended the length of his femur. When in full stride, his hind legs were able to reach far under himself, increasing his drive. His ample girth, long back and well-made neck all contributed to his heart-lung efficiency.
Phar Lap unquestionably one of the greatest race horses ever. Such a shame of his untimely death when he was still such a young horse. And the mystery still remains surrounding his death.
That’s not what his jockey said. He said no horse would have beat Sec that day🔋. Remember he didn’t even need anyone to push him, and Turcotte said he could have run faster
Although he absolutely had nothing to prove; If he had run as a 4year old he would have set records that would have astounded all. He would have won the Arc de Triumph, any two mile race in America, mile and a half, or mile and a quarter race. He was the genetic master- piece of the breeding of Federico Tesio, Christopher Chenery and Bull Handcock. And I will add Gladys Livingston Mills Carnage Phipps who bred the great Bold Ruler.
The answer to that Question is easy. Not even close. His record in open company was mediocre at best. He also is quite slow in comparison with many others. Dr Fager, Noor, Swaps, Spectacular Bid are light years faster. Faster with weight to boot. Example. Secretariat best time at the classic 10 furlong distance is 1:59.45. He achieved that with a 126 lbs. Dr. Fager ran the 10 furlongs in a faster time 1:59.00 with a staggering 139 lbs. Spectacular Bid, the world record holder at the distance with a jaw dropping 1:57.65 . This was done with the Bid eased up at the wire. It could have been faster!! What Secretariat had the others didn't, was a marketing division. Hype was built. It is still going today in fact. But run with the likes of Spectacular Bid or Dr. Fager....it is laughable.
For sure, the Bid and the Doctor were great champions. However, your comparison is flawed. They were both 4-years old when they set those times you posted. Secretariat didn't race at 4. At age 3, Secretariat recorded faster times at every distance than either Spectacular Bid or Dr. Fager. Besides the triple crown records that he still holds, Secretariat set several other records that year on dirt AND grass.
@@kenwaring not flawed at all. Not the faster horses fault that Secretariat didn't run at 4. Which in most circles would disqualify him from any conversations of the greatest. But we did get a glimpse of Secretariat in open company after his triple crown run. When he went up against older horses. Losing the Whitney to the decent, but no world beater, Onion..and received light weight in that race. The got Smoked by another solid but unremarkable Phone out in the Woodward. Also with light weight. The writing was on the wall..they went to Canada for an obscure turf race..with no other American horses. He did win that. Maybe he would have been a good turf horse. But it sure looked like ja had peaked out. He would have to have gotten much faster than he was, and proved he could carry weight at the same time. Citation never won with the threshold weight of a 130 lbs. Many..most 3yo champions buckle under that weight. The Bid set records with as much as a 136 lbs. And Dr Fager..well we already covered that.. it would have been a herculean task for Big Red to compete with that...maybe he would've. Doubtful. But maybe. So as of today, Many historians, trainers and fans don't agree with all the Secretariat hype is all. I honestly think that most people who make the claim, have no idea what these other champions achieved. It's like watching CNN these days. You obviously do. So it is a bit mystifying. If you want to a most remarkable race..you tube the 79 Florida Derby.with Jim McKay and Eddie Arcaro. .track record the hard way..might get you thinking a bit. Have a good day.
@@davidbracher8322 Maybe you don't remember Secretariat was ill when he ran against Onion and he wasn't training for the Prove Out race, he ran in place of Riva Ridge because of the slop. He came back the next week and smoked older horses in the Man O' War, setting a record on the turf. Secretariat was much faster at 3, which is a fair comparison. Secretariat was much faster at 2. He beat older horses in the Marlboro and the Canadian. Judging from his obvious superior status at 2 and 3 a fair observer might assume he could dominate again at 4. BTW, only a CNN viewer could possibly believe a two time Horse of the Year and five Eclipse award winner with multiple track records doesn't have the resume to be called "greatest of all time."
Secretariats unofficial time when training in the Mile and a quarter before the Marlboro Cup 1:57.80 Which would later be tied by a 4 year old Spectacular Bid. Secretariat was not going at his full speed in the Kentucky Derby. THIS IS SECRETARIAT AT FULL SPEED. Get over it No other horse has been able to run every quarter faster than the one before, let alone in distances like Mile and a quarter and eve THE MILE AND A HALF. Do your research
@@goldenminecard1723 No you do your research.."estimated" "unofficial" and still slower than the Bid by a length is the hopeful Speculation is accurate. Then of course the Bid had 9 more lbs on his back, than Secretariats Marlborough, and the Bid was under wraps the final 1/8th of his still standing record that is OFFICIALLY 1:57.66.. where the Bid galloped out in 25 flat. Which would have beaten Secretariats Belmont by 6 lengths without even trying. He also was just 2/5ths off of Dr Fagers Mile mark. As a fraction..incredible!!
