by The Original Maverick

Created on: January 19, 2007   Last Updated: March 12, 2007

Secretariat ran 21 times and got beat 5 times. Still, he is generally regarded as the greatest thoroughbred ever. This article is for digging into some specifics that separate a champion from the rest. Many are quick to say Secretariat when asked who was best but even many that watched him race are not totally clear on just what it is that does separate Secretariat from the rest. So lets reflect.

First, he was supposed to be great. He had the hype of being Horse of the Year at age two! Along with that honor he was syndicated for a huge record of six million in 1972 dollars. Thats right, before Secretariat even stepped on a racetrack at Derby age three, he was foretold as the first Triple Crown winner since Citation in 1948! And his trainer, arrogant Frenchman Lucien Lauren told the world his horse would do it. So he did do it. Secretariat came through. It's one thing to win but another when you are SUPPOSED to win. That alone lends great weight to Big Reds rep.

Second point was that Secretariat, although impeccably bred, was always suspect at whether he would "stay" the distances if the Triple Crown. The Belmont Stakes in particular is 1 1/2 miles. A grueling challenge for young three year olds. Secretariat was more bred to be a miler or even a sprinter but this was all overlooked at the very sight of Big Red. They knew what they were getting when they paid six million back then for an unproven distance horse. So he transcended his breeding expectations.

Secretariat had a west coast rivalry with Sham, a Frank Martin trained horse who many thought would take the Kentucky Derby, the first leg of the series and deny Secretariat the Triple crown. Lucien Lauren knew he was up against a good one in Sham and ran Secretariat who had a major tooth infection, an abscess in an important Derby prep race. Secretariat ran third that day but got conditioning he needed to face Sham. So with all these questions about Secretariat and the fact he lost the race prior to the Derby and that Sham stood in his way, what happened? Well Secretariat isn't bet so overwhelmingly and even pays a nice price as he let Sham think the race was his halfway down the stretch and then like turning on the water faucet, he blows by Sham near the wire and sets a new track record!

His move in the Preakness, the second leg in a series that had seen 24 unsuccessful attempts for the Triple Crown, was a move that convinced every seasoned handicapper who may have had doubts. Not only do you never want to move

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