Secretariat and his enduring legend of 50 years later | NBC Sports

[@tn7183]

Who else got goosebumps?? this horse was the GOAT!!.

[@leecowell8165]

no doubt about that AT ALL!

[@briannahernandez6627]

Yes I did 🤩

[@michaeldinkins9145]

Best ever

[@jm1657]

Forever goosebumps.

[@AmbassadorScorpio]

Go SHAM!!... lol

[@joemacinnis1972]

I never tire of watching him run that Belmont Stakes. It was absolute perfection! A record that may stand forever 😮

[@bigdbohnen]

A horse being named a top 100 athlete of all time shows how special this horse was. A legend period

[@N.S.56]

His 1973 season was the most dominating season in history in any sport…. The fact that he still holds the record for ALL 3 triple crown races 50 years later, is utterly amazing. Advances in breeding selection, genetic markers, nutrition, training and recovery, none of that can catch Big Red

[@hattiem.7966]

The vets were all crying over his body when he died.They were shocked that his heart weighed around 25 lbs.

[@jamespenny9482]

Well said!

[@richd3044]

I'm a Secretariat fan, but he was also defeated three times in 1973, two of which it's well documented that he was sick. Citation was undefeated in 20 races as a 3 year old, and Spectacular Bid was undefeated at 4 years old, setting track and world records. Although I think Secretariat at his best could have defeated just about any other horse in history, your comment about the most dominant season is debatable.

[@N.S.56]

@@richd3044 see your point but I’m not sure citation could’ve beaten sham….3 times in a row

[@richd3044]

@@N.S.56 Probably. Citation's competition not really eye opening in 1948. Coaltown for instance was clearly better at 4 years old.

[@janetgallo5720]

I had the thrill of being at Belmont stakes and 73 and watching the most magnificent horse win. He was so beautiful, like beauty in motion. There was no awkwardness or jaggedness or roughness. He just floated, his legs flowing under him. His body floated. God’s gift.

[@leecowell8165]

WOW I would have given anything to have been there in retrospect. Didn't keep a straight face that day, did you? Well I didn't either it just blew me away I was watching it live with my parents & it got to all of us.

[@N.S.56]

Incredible. I’ve watched the last race so many times I can’t count.

[@walkawaycat431]

Secretariat was Pegasus.

[@purplejesus-wt1nh]

God bless your soul I always dream what the air smelled like, how hot it was and I can almost feel it

[@Psyfi85]

@@walkawaycat431 in the flesh, once in an eternity.

[@leonardshevlin7260]

I met Mrs Tweedy and Lucien Lauren and Ron Turcotte in 1973. I was encouraged to pat Secretariat and he looked me in the eye. Chill dude.

[@Pengroves]

“Touches something in our souls,”, I think that line nails it

[@francesmeyer8478]

Still does, present tense!

[@florence775]

I had the pleasure of seeing him run. I knew when I first saw him he was something special. Also saw him at his farm, such a beauty, and he would pose, knowing his picture was being taken. Those records will never be broken and there will never be another horse like him. Amen

[@carolparr4062]

Wow! It is so wonderful you could be a part of Secretariat's life.

[@carariela]

Amen🙏✝️🙏

[@vyte6531]

Incorrect. There’ll always be records broken.

[@vickihunt8988]

AMEN ❤

[@robertpiel7250]

To this day and since 1973, Secretariat has given me goosebumps and is the greatest athlete of all time.

[@browningbelgium2326]

Brings tears to the eyes to think there won't be another like him.

[@Nurturing2]

Beautiful soul and a demonstration that greatness is within each of us and the possibility of tapping into our own is real. He inspires me to the depths of my soul!!! I respectfully disagree with the commenter regarding the Preakness. He wasn’t mad at himself for being last out of the gate. He was pacing himself. Ultimately, he ran his own race at the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths. We ♥️ you, Big Red!!! ~Penny Fairhart 😘

[@sl-rt5kv]

Not sure Secretariat was the greatest horse of all time, let alone the greatest athlete. For example, Citation won 19 races in a single season versus 9 races for Secretariat. There is no evidence that Secretariat had the ability to win 19 races in one season. It's unclear that he could win that many races in two seasons. That said, I wouldn't say Citation was greater than Secretariat. They were _different._ Citation is just one example. There are other horses who accomplished things that Secretariat never did and probably never could.

[@robertpiel7250]

I am not in disagreement with you about other great horses but to me, Secretariat is the greatest and Sea Biscuit is my number two. That is just the way I feel. I love Citation and he deserves every accolade he gets.@@sl-rt5kv

[@guayames]

Incredible it was 50 years ago. Seems like yesterday!

[@catherinefoster1481]

Still brings tears to my eyes! I remember these races very well.

[@CarolStJohn-ev9ry]

Yes.

[@robertpiel7250]

Absolutely and I remember those races like they were yesterday.

[@jhony2121]

I was on the truck also unforgeteable

[@niltomega2978]

50 years on and Secretariat reminds us of just how unique he was. He still holds all 3 track records of the triple crown. I was only 7 years old and remember because it was such big news.

[@Dec4AllTimeAlways]

Greatest athlete to ever walk this Earth. And he was a beauty to look at. Perfect horse that God ever created for us.

[@jesi3336]

There are legends...😮 ...and then there is Secretariat 💖⚡

[@mpiercearrow]

He ran like his heart was 2.5 bigger than his competition. He surely was about 3X faster than the field. What a beautiful, beautiful horse. Affirmed was great but Secretariat took it to the next level. His progeny have been pretty good, too.

[@Raptorman0909]

Defeating the other horses in the race was what made him a Triple Crown champion, setting records at those races that still stand made him immortal! It didn't hurt that he was a spectacularly beautiful being...

[@CrystalSanchez094]

Secretariat was god's horse, and he ran like it, he will forever be the king of horse racing, the father of the 73 season, to think that the record times that he left behind would still stand 5 decades later truely immortal

[@josebulang7981]

He must be Bucephalus reborn.

[@Psyfi85]

@@josebulang7981no, Sham was Bucephalus. Sec was Pegasus

[@ricksegal3065]

Tears. He will always be loved and never forgotten!! Love and miss you Big Red. One of the greatest athletes ever!!!!

[@AmbassadorScorpio]

He identifies as a they/Them now... change your comment or the LGBCDEFGHQBRANDON Swat Team will pay you a friendly visit

[@One10cc]

Heart that 2.5 size bigger than other normal racehorse is mind boggling and those triple crown track records he set i guess will never be broken 🔥🔥🔥

[@iadiramorales68]

This are the stories that matter most. What a phenomenal of a magical beautiful horse. She never gave up on him, everyone told her to sell that horse, Penny believed and took a leap of faith, oh what wonder, and look at what immersed. A GIANT ❤

[@AmbassadorScorpio]

a Male Giant..as MAtt Walsh would point out...

[@walkawaycat431]

@kozakoloko Zenyatta was 17.2 hands high and weighed over 1200 Lbs. Huge Filly. Of course, Secretariat is Pegasus.

[@cherylrichards8951]

I watched his three races on television when I was a teenager. Every year now, I watch the Derby and always come away, saying the records won't be broken this year. He was and still is the original GOAT. RIP, Big Red.

[@CODYj423]

Dammit. I cried when I saw this yesterday. And again today. 😢 That first turn in the Preakness is the most amazing thing I've ever watched in racing.

[@leecowell8165]

Well spoken. The immortal Secretariat. He set the bar that will ALWAYS be remembered. There will NEVER BE another like him... I didn't watch the Kentucky Derby but definitely watched the next two. They both made me cry... I noticed the pass on that first turn before Anderson did & I said to my Dad at the time there's no way a horse can do that! I mean these are the fastest horses in the world & he passed the entire field in 15 seconds around the outside. But the Belmont humbled us all... the greatest sports achievement of all time... by a horse. Why? because its a record that will NEVER be broken. Yep all records will eventually fall. but not this one... Turcotte is the only one remaining of that era. Anderson passed only a few years later. I wonder what Ronnie thinks?

[@hattiem.7966]

There is a statue of the famous Ron T looking back at the field while crossing the finish line .It was erected in 2015 in his hometown of Grand Falls, New Brunswick.

[@sl-rt5kv]

*I noticed the pass on that first turn before Anderson did & I said to my Dad at the time there's no way a horse can do that* Actually there a plenty of horses that have run as fast or faster than Secretariat did on that turn. Dr. Fager ran the 2nd quarter of his world record mile in 20.6 seconds. Secretariat never exhibited that kind of speed. Secretariat's speed around that turn looks faster than it is because the pace up to that point in the race was very slow

[@luciendhooge7361]

Amen Lee. Amen.

[@tzu2146]

There would have been no Secretariat without Penny Chenery. She made him happen and she rarely gets mentioned. It really is a magical story.

[@makula5543]

Chic Anderson's call of Belmont 1973 was legendary! Love that call and love the Greatest Horse of All-Time!

[@Poko0Chan]

This horse and the story behind it was so amazing. and this horse had a good life after becoming 3 years old

[@ethanchadwick1566]

That Belmont win is one of the greatest athletic performances of all time!

[@HHIto]

I love Secretariat forever, the greatest horse of all time! ❤❤❤

[@chakett76]

He captivated the nation. If we could only recapture that feeling again today.

[@equinegirl369]

We love you so much Secretariat! You will forever be a king of the racetrack! We miss you so much! 😭

[@carolkelly8848]

I will never forget how excited I was that day at the Belmont race track. I never thought I would see the race of my life. I have never forgotten it. I and the world fell in love with this magnificent horse.

[@marywinn8953]

I was 18 and watched every race on tv. I was jumping up and down, yelling for Secretariat to win. I still watch these on KZbin every year. The greatest,most beautiful horse.

[@jamesbernardin4052]

Never before, and never again, will there be a horse like Secretariat.

[@maryanneevans9563]

The greatest athlete of all time!

[@glenne1]

He'll always be the Greatest.#1. Our BigRed.

[@cvent8454]

I feel in love with Big Red when I first watched him run in 1973 and have been in love with him ever since. The greatest horse ever.

[@Stephen-ou2lm]

What an incredible horse, had everything, speed, intelligence and beauty

[@leecowell8165]

AND on top of it all he was also very personable.

[@sal4856]

For one shinning moment inthe Belmont the country was united and cheering

[@ontargetthomunclesam3926]

Thank you for the video never get tired of hearing or watching anything on Secretariat it takes me back when I was 12 years old and watching all three races with my DAD (RIP) it was a magical and memorable summer 73 I'm able to relive it as often as I can thanks to people like you Thanks again

[@horsinaroundwithaudrey2313]

I love him so much, my favorite horse in the entire world 😢❤❤

[@johnf5967]

secretariat was great, but we also shouldn't forget the great achievement of Sham. He was 2nd in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and only faded in the Belmont because of an injury. He ran the second fastest Kentucky Derby in history. A great horse that in any other year would have been a triple crown champion!

[@ehoffman2260]

You can certainly say that Sham was born at the wrong time. He was a great horse.

[@kimberlytyrcha5930]

Sham was a good horse, but I don't know if he would've won a Triple Crown. He couldn't handle the Belmont. He finished dead last.

[@KellyRussell-xg2lx]

He was 2nd

[@rappar191]

He finished last in the Belmont Pincay was instructed to take him out fast to keep up with Big red. he faded badly after tiring in the streach.@@KellyRussell-xg2lx

[@gyges5495]

Any other time and Sham would’ve been triple crown winner

[@rufust.firefly4890]

I watched all 3 Triple Crown races on tv. Most amazing horse ever.

[@carol-us4xn]

She was a born champion. The right owner and stable was everything. She was the greatest and best horse ever to have with her speed. ❤️

[@Johnny53kgb-nsa]

I was at the Ky Derby in 1973 and witnessed greatness. Still the greatest race horse ever.

[@ursulatevis5146]

What a beautiful horse. The ultimate racehorse. The very best of the best of the best. There are others who are brilliant, but they do not, I'm sorry to say, are close to the mighty Secretariat !

[@fifiladu2659]

Watching this wondrous horse still brings literal tears to my eyes. What a magnificent creature. ♥️

[@donwest8031]

i haven't watched a single triple crown race since 1973- there's no need, i'll never in my life see another horse like Big Red!! he was & will always be the greatest horse ever!!

[@jm1657]

NBC SPORTS, please don’t ever remove this video. Thank you ❤

[@kathyhurt4476]

He is the greatest racing horse ever.

[@antoniomartin3769]

Let him run! It gives me goosebumps when I watch Secretariat winnings in triple Crown races...❤❤❤

[@gyges5495]

Best horse ever! Absolute perfection- wish he was still alive. Big Red is always in our hearts!

[@ddduva4440]

I remember watching all three races….and the Belmont was breathtaking.

[@coco0789]

Greatest athlete of all time

[@buckfan1969]

Every year at Derby time I go back and re-watch those races. Feel privileged to have seen them back then. One of 3 sporting achievements that I feel stand out above all the others I've seen in the last 72 years, along with the Miracle on Ice and Nicklaus at the 1986 Masters.

[@terencem8795]

Magnificence. Period.❤

[@CarolStJohn-ev9ry]

Well done, thank you. Secretariat is truly the Greatest Of All Time.

[@susiekeel6732]

Legend! 🌟 Still brings a tear to my eye. Phenomenal Thoroughbred. 💖

[@tomlarnie2581]

the fact that he owns all three track records 50 years later tells you the story. When you see the story, most will fall in love with the horse.

[@sl-rt5kv]

Actually Secretariat does not hold the track record for 1 3/16 miles at Pimlico where he ran the Preakness. Instead the track record belongs to Farma Way who ran the distance in 1:52.4.

[@sarajanesmith3892]

I saw all 3 races, and I still am in awe!

[@anandguruji83]

R.I.P SECRETARIAT

[@anandguruji83]

R.I.P SECRETARIAT

[@williamwimer2074]

He was a horse like no other

[@orriechristopher862]

You got that Secretariat was considered the greatest racehorse that ever lived

[@chrisskates1038]

Beautiful tribute to a magnificent champion!

[@jbrammell1]

Secretariat. Greatest athlete of all time. And if you disagree you’re wrong.

[@barbaraweddleton]

One of the most exciting things you'll ever see in a lifetime!

[@patgarrett811]

I loved this horse So much!! Still Do.

[@donsampson9076]

Remember watching with my Dad,one of those moments that you will always remember.

[@jimturnbull2343]

I watched him live and I still tear up and marvel at what I witnessed what a horse

[@JohnKing-ik2ns]

An amazing animal...truly a legend in horse racing!!!

[@nealbennett4950]

The way horse racing is going it may be another fifty years before another horse wins the triple crown . But I don't believe no other horse will ever do it the way he did .

[@elizabethburnham4692]

There will never be another Secretariat. ❤❤

[@JohnCritch-tf4mb]

The greatest athlete of all time.

[@jm1657]

Mr. Layden - This piece is so beautiful & touching. Makes me tear up. So true; Secretariat stirred one’s soul, then & still today. Thank you for putting together this timeless tribute & your lovely narration. Secretariat, Now & Forever ❤🌟🌈

[@2CalaLilly]

I love you Red. I always will.

[@victormorales4507]

Secretariat the Goat of racing. Big red ❤

[@LadyDragonsblood]

I was 11 years old, and glued to the TV for anything on Big Red. He was my childhood sport hero. I will admit, I cried through this tribute. I have always said, every record is made to be broken... but, I think Big Red's records will stand for eternity. He was a creature, truly touched by God, at a time when the world was broken. Secretariat, gave us hope... he will live in the hearts of generations to come. Thank you, Lord, for blessing us with such a beautiful creature. God Bless you, Big Red.

[@FinnishLapphund]

The simple fact that all these years later no horse has yet beaten his race records in either of the 3 Triple Crown races says it all. A true legend.

[@johnhebert3986]

I was supposed to attend the Belmont, with my father. That race would have been my introduction, to horse racing. I was just 9 years old, but understood the significance of the event. Unfortunately, my mother thought, it would be a better idea if I was to go on a class field trip, to the Catskill Game Farm, in upper state NY. I remember my mother, and father having daily discussions, during the week leading up to the race, about what event I was going to attend. Of course I was rooting, for the Belmont. In the end, my mother won out, and it was off to the game farm for me. Only missed the greatest performance by a race horse of all times. All was not lost though, as I was able to attend the 73 Marlboro Cup, with my father, later that summer. Secretariat, did not disappoint. He trounced one of the greatest fields of older horses ever assembled, including his stablemate, Riva Ridge. He also did so in world record time for 1 1/8th. 1:45 2/5ths. Of course I have forgiven my mother, all though, I still sometimes tease her, about missing that race. It sure would have been great, to be in attendance for the 73 Belmont.!

[@ceilingunlimited-cp5kq]

Had the privilege to get up close and personal with him many times

[@henrywasserman]

Tell us your story.

[@nealbennett4950]

Very very lucky person .

[@touchofgrey5372]

@0:34 "...as if angry at himself..." What a statement! He was a very smart horse.

[@saravanderhoek4024]

I agree. I would replace the word 'anger' for 'love'.

[@ktm9202]

Beautiful testimony for a spectacular legend!

[@graceradcliffe4044]

A real tear-jerker for sure! Love this!

[@Dana-eq5nz]

Truly the GOAT forever and always.❤❤❤❤❤

[@marymarseglia4536]

Great gorgeous horse!!

[@laurettagarrett5444]

I love the text written for this piece. Nicely done.

[@sophiaschommer7337]

Gotta love Secretariat. One of the best racehorses in history.

[@keithgreenan638]

Not one of the. The best in history

[@sophiaschommer7337]

@Keith Greenan Well, not everyone agrees with that, which is why I said one of the best. He truly was great, but you can make arguments for other horses.

[@genemars5158]

There is ONLY ONE horse that MIGHT have been Secretariat's equal: Man O' War. But we'll never know. The two were very much alike. Other than that, though, I think Secretariat IS the best ever. His times in all three of the Triple Crown races have never been equaled - and it's been 50 years since he set those records! His 2 minutes & 24 seconds in the Belmont stakes is still the WORLD record for a mile-and-a-half on a dirt track.

[@keithgreenan638]

@@genemars5158 secretariat holds all three triple crown records. Secretariat holds the belmont states record by 2 full seconds

[@nickjohnson811]

@@sophiaschommer7337 When another horse wins the Triple Crown while setting race records for all 3 races, then there will be a better horse than Secretariat.

[@rebeltvr6046]

The legend, greatest athlete of all time, Secretariat.

[@JPHOUSTONWOLF]

So awesome I saw that race!

[@kingfish6116]

Greatest horse of all time hands down!!

[@diannacarey6508]

SECRETARIAT IS IN HEAVEN.!!! RIP FOREVER THE GREATEST HORSE THAT EVER LIVED.. WE LOVE YOU.

[@AnaMariazander]

He knew who he was!!! Pure magic!!!

[@marylawson6060]

Secretariat's record still holds after 50 years and going for 50 more. Beautiful horse with long stride and the heart of a champion. I couldn't have sold him as she did because Secretariat saved her dad's horse farm. The

[@nealbennett4950]

She didn't sell him she sold breeding rights .

[@marylawson6060]

@@nealbennett4950 I thought someone else did that. Thanks

[@justiceprevail1552]

Actually, it was Riva Ridge that saved the farm, which allowed Secretariat to be trained there. Riva Ridge won both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes in 1972. He also was Secretariat's stable mate.

[@marylawson6060]

@@justiceprevail1552 Someone else said that. Was going by the movie.

[@robindelude3787]

He was an amazingly spectacular creature!

[@lightofthejul]

One like no other , once in many hundreds of years we mere mortals are given a glimpse of perfection , a gift that only God could have made ! A magnificence that only heaven could give and we were blessed to know ever so briefly ! I will never forget , he was part of youth yet untarnished at that point and an understanding even though I was young that I had seen a moment of what immortality looked like ! I saw Secretariat and I lived in breathed and rejoiced in his time ! Now as a Grandmother those moments still bring tears to my eyes ! I only hope to share his story and those films with my Grandchildren! And yes ! Big Red still means that much to all of us who were part of his time ! Thank you for this brief but eloquently put video ! ❤️🥰❤️🥰🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻And thank you Penny ( in your heaven now ) and thank you RED for letting us glimpse heavens perfection even if only for a little while ! Thank you ! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@ValleyoftheRogue]

Tim Layden wrote a great piece for Sports Illustrated about track announcer Chic Anderson and his call of the 1973 Belmont.

[@christinematton4125]

❤ still loving this horse ❤

[@bethfiori4708]

You can tell he was happy when he ran, and that happiness made him even more beautiful.

[@BlackbettyBamdalam]

That photo😢😢😢😢bringse to my knees ...OMG it just brings me back to the best story my dad every told me

[@valubell]

Watched the movie Secretarit 31/07/2023,what a wonderful horse ,was enthralled throughout the whole movie,such a beautiful horse, lovely story.

[@robinwilson2238]

Queen elizabeth stood in awe when she meet him.

[@Bleedblackandgold51]

WHAT A GREAT PIECE! Secretariat will live forever.