In this article we're going to review the life and career of one of the greatest horses in horse racing history, Secretariat.
Let's dive right in.
The
Greatest Race Horse named Secretariat
If you were
around in the early 1970s, regardless of whether you were into horse
racing or not, you knew who Secretariat was. His name was
plastered all over every newspaper in the world.
There had never been a
horse like Secretariat before and will probably never be
another one like him again.
In June of 1973 Secretariat
came to the Belmont Stakes. With the chance to become the first
triple crown winner in 25 years. Not only was Secretariat on
the front page of every newspaper, but he was also on the cover of
Time, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated. This is something that had
never happened before or since.
Why
was Secretariat so Incredible?
Writers from all
over struggled to explain what it was about Secretariat that
was so incredible. In a book written by Marvin Drager, called "The
Most Glorious Crown", the author gathered a number of clips from
all around the country with words printed about this magnificent
horse.
Some of the comments about
Secretariat were one of a kind in themselves. For example,
Time magazine writer, sports columnist Pete Axthelm, who never saw a
horse race in his life said...
"Secretariat
generates a crackling tension and excitement wherever he goes. Even
in the kind of gray weather that shrouds lesser animals in anonymity,
Secretariat's muscular build identifies him immediately; his glowing
reddish coat is a banner of health and rippling power. Magnificent
enough at rest ... when he accelerates ... he produces a
breathtaking explosion that leaves novices and hardened horsemen
alike convinced that, for one of those moments that seldom occur in
any sport, they have witnessed genuine greatness."
The
Glowing Words Never Ended
But the glowing words
about Secretariat didn't end there. A columnist for the New
York Post by the name of Larry Merchant, who went on to become known
as the HBO boxing analyst with the sharp tongue, said...
"Secretariat is the kind of Big Horse that makes
grown men weep, even when they are flint-hearted bettors, even when
he goes off at 1-10. He is the apparently unflawed hunk of beauty
and beast they search for doggedly in the racing charts every day,
and never seemed to find. His supporters rhapsodize over him as
though he is a four-legged Nureyev, extolling virtues of his
musculature, his grace, and his urine specimens. If he were to lose
the Belmont the country may turn sullen and mutinous."
The
Popularity of Secretariat was Unprecedented
The
media explosion over Secretariat was simply unprecedented.
Certainly, horse racing had never seen anything like it before. Even
though nothing has quite come close to the furor over Secretariat,
the media did finally understand and recognize when something of this
nature was to be looked out for. That's why in 2003, when Funny Cide
was about to make a bid for triple crown glory, the media came out in
droves.
In no way are the stories of Secretariat and
Funny Cide alike. One was royalty and one was just an everyday
horse. But that's what makes headlines, when an everyday horse can
actually challenge royalty. It certainly does make for great
theater.
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