47 years ago today

[AzPaul]

All these years later and I still regard it as the most impressive performance I've ever seen in sports. And as the years go by, seem to marvel at it more and more. His time of 2:24.00 broke the previous Belmont Stakes record by 2 3/5 seconds (about 16 lengths) and the mark still stands, with Easy Goer coming the closest in 1989, still a full 2 seconds behind.
Believe it was the fastest 1.5 mile ever run on dirt.

Here's to you Big Red

[-lenny-]

I’m not into horse racing, but that is impressive!

[Xenon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfCMtaNiMDM

[shaunylw]

That’s insane!


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[RW16610]

Wow, that's impressive and certainly something to be remembered.

[GradyPhilpott]

I remember all the hoopla about Secretariat winning the Triple Crown, although, I think today is the first time I'd seen that race.

I'm not a horse racing fan, although, I do like to see a good race, when I happen catch one, but watching that old clip, I just kept thinking what a phenomenal horse.

Thanks for posting.

[brandrea]

That is indeed impressive, although I don’t follow horse racing as such, and with NO disrespect I struggle with calling it a sport.

I think the difficulty in ranking the greatest sporting events is that as time passes so too does the memory and new achievements fill the void.

That, and depending on your interest, sports cover such a broad spectrum of activities no one will ever agree.

For me (52 years old) the greatest sporting event I witnessed was the miracle on ice 1980. That team had NO CHANCE of winning, (so everyone thought) yet they beat us

[Boothroyd]

I remember how excited I was for that race. For my money, one of the very best sports moments in US history. At the time, maybe #1.

[THC]

Iconic horse, that I remember well.. sport of Kings indeed

[Dougiebaby]

Originally Posted by brandrea

That is indeed impressive, although I don’t follow horse racing as such, and with NO disrespect I struggle with calling it a sport.

I think the difficulty in ranking the greatest sporting events is that as time passes so too does the memory and new achievements fill the void.

That, and depending on your interest, sports cover such a broad spectrum of activities no one will ever agree.

For me (52 years old) the greatest sporting event I witnessed was the miracle on ice 1980. That team had NO CHANCE of winning, (so everyone thought) yet they beat us

Do you call auto racing a sport? Motorcycle racing a sport? Boat racing a sport?


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[Boothroyd]

Originally Posted by Dougiebaby

Do you call auto racing a sport? Motorcycle racing a sport? Boat racing a sport?


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Yes, you see, the Greeks and Romans didn't have auto racing, motorcycle racing or motorized boat racing.

Entry below from Wikipedia:

"Horse racing has a long and distinguished history and has been practised in civilisations across the world since ancient times. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. It also plays an important part of myth and legend, such as the contest between the steeds of the god Odin and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology.

Chariot racing was one of the most popular ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine sports. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC and were important in the other Panhellenic Games. It continued although chariot racing was often dangerous to both driver and horse, which frequently suffered serious injury and even death. In the Roman Empire, chariot and mounted horse racing were major industries. From the mid-fifteenth century until 1882, spring carnival in Rome closed with a horse race. Fifteen to 20 riderless horses, originally imported from the Barbary Coast of North Africa, were set loose to run the length of the Via del Corso, a long, straight city street; their time was about ​2 1⁄2 minutes.

In later times, Thoroughbred racing became, and remains, popular with aristocrats and royalty of British society, earning it the title "Sport of Kings".

Historically, equestrians honed their skills through games and races. Equestrian sports provided entertainment for crowds and displayed the excellent horsemanship needed in battle. Horse racing of all types evolved from impromptu competitions between riders or drivers. The various forms of competition, requiring demanding and specialized skills from both horse and rider, resulted in the systematic development of specialized breeds and equipment for each sport. The popularity of equestrian sports through the centuries has resulted in the preservation of skills that would otherwise have disappeared after horses stopped being used in combat."

[martinr]

I was 18 Scanned Image 1.jpg


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[Boothroyd]

And here is the call, Heywood Hale Broun and Chic Anderson:

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Dougiebaby

Do you call auto racing a sport? Motorcycle racing a sport? Boat racing a sport?


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I see your point and I assume you say they are which I respect.

We can agree to disagree. I think of sports as being more something like football, hockey, track and field, MMA, etc.

Again no disrespect meant to the OP. The accomplishment of the rider and the horse in this case is of course outstanding.

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[Griswald]

I grew up in Lexington. Claiborne Farm is where Secretariat stood at stud. I have the picture in the OP's post right next to the one of me at 12 years old with Secretariat. He was an amazing horse. I grew up in the thick of that industry and there will never be another like him. American Pharoh and Man O'War were close. He is buried at Claiborne where they buried him whole, normally they just bury the Head, Heart and Hoof...I still get goose bumps watching that race...

[Secretariat]

Secretariat, The Horse that God built.

[Blansky]

I wasn't into horse racing either but I remember the hoopla.

When we moved to Sonoma County and the movie Seabiscuit came out we found out the Seabiscuit stables/museum was just up the road.

I probably have more admiration for a Seabiscuit "underdog" story than for a specimen like Secretariat. But they're both great stories.

I've only seen one horse race live and I picked the best looking horse who soon came in last.

[dba]

My wife owns two of Secretariat's great-grandsons. She got them at a Thoroughbred rescue as 5-year olds. Both have had successful careers as 3-Day Event and Dressage horses.

Although she rides them everyday, both now approaching 20; they lead a very nice, mostly retired, life in our pasture.

[TheVTCGuy]

I wasn’t born yet....









OK, so I’m a liar

[Slimpee]

I wasn’t alive for the race but I’ve watched it several times. The call is one of the greatest in sports history.

“He is moving like a tremendous machine!” gives me chills.

[SemperFi]

In my opinion, the greatest thoroughbred ever.
His autopsy revealed a heart 2 1/2 times the size of a normal race horse. Truly a super horse with a Turbo engine.