Secretariat

Secretariat at the Belmont Stakes. (Tatrocapital.com (Secretariat Belmont Photos))

On March 30, 1970, a chestnut thoroughbred colt was born. He had a white star with a stripe down the center of his face. On his front right leg was a sock and they were also on his other three hind legs. His owners were Christopher and Penny Chenery. The foal's name was Secretariat and his parents were the champion racers Somethingroyal and Bold Ruler. Secretariat was also nicknamed "Big Red" because of his height and his bright red coat.

When Secretariat was about one or two, he began his training to be one of the greatest racers of all time. His trainer knew that he was great from the start. He was always eager and fast on the track. He was always ready to run. He was described as feisty, but easy to work with. The saddle and bridle breaking was the hardest because he was born fast. He could easily buck away with the saddle on his back.

Once Secretariat was three, it was time to begin racing. His first few wins were the Stanford Stakes, Hopeful Stakes, Garden State Futurity, and many more in 1972. In 1973, some of his wins were the Bay Shore Stakes, the Man O' War Stakes and the Canadian International. Of course his greatest win in 1973 was the Triple Crown. He was the first horse in 25 years to win all three races in a row. In all of his years of racing, Secretariat won $1,316,808 in purses.

In his retirement, Secretariat lived in Lexington, Kentucky as a stud horse. His children were great and won many races. Secretariat was sadly euthanized on October 4, 1989 because of laminitis, a joint and hoof pain in horses, from all of his years of racing.

I hope you learned something about my animal hero, Secretariat, and that he was the first American Thoroughbred in 25 years to win the Triple Crown. His parents and kids were great champions. There will never be a horse as great as Big Red.