What color horse was Secretariat?
reddish brown
In 1973, arguably the greatest race horse of all time, Secretariat, won the Kentucky Derby. Nicknamed “Big Red”, for his reddish brown color, Secretariat broke several records in his 16 month racing career.
What was Secretariat’s top speed?
Secretariat holds the fastest finishing time at 2:24.00. In 1973, the Triple Crown-winning horse set a world record that still stands for a race on a mile-and-a-half dirt track. The horse reached a top speed of 49 mph.
How was Secretariat buried?
Secretariat was buried in a 6 by 6-foot oak casket lined with orange silk, the color used by Claiborne’s racing stables. He was buried near his sire, Bold Ruler, in a small graveyard behind the office at the farm. Secretariat won 16 of 21 races in two years, but most fans remember the Belmont best.
Did Secretariat ever win the Kentucky Derby?
He began the year by winning his first two races (The Bay Shore and The Gotham). In a shocking upset, he was defeated in the Wood Memorial by his stablemate Angle Light which seemed to diminish his star, at least for the time being. Secretariat went on to win the 1973 Kentucky Derby as the favorite.
Who rode Secretariat in his last race?
Secretariat ended his career with two wins over turf courses in New York and Toronto. For most of his career, he was ridden by jockey Ron Turcotte. But in his final race, he was ridden by Eddie Maple.
What happened to Secretariat’s jockey?
Turcotte was jockey of the year in 1973. Sadly, he fell off a horse at Belmont in 1978 in an incident that left him a paraplegic. Eddie Maple rode Secretariat to victory at the Canadian International Championship Stakes in October 1973, the final race of Secretariat’s career.
Was Secretariat the first horse to win the Triple Crown?
What’s more impressive was Secretariat’s response to the pressure of his fans and the media to be the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years. Just two weeks following the Kentucky Derby, Secretariat won the Preakness Stakes. Then, just a few weeks later, only 4 horses went on to challenge Secretariat in the Belmont Stakes.