Did Secretariat Lose the Wood Memorial? An In-Depth Look at the Surprising Upset that Preceded a Legendary Career
Secretariat. The name alone evokes images of racing glory and Kentucky Derby perfection. Considered by many to be the greatest thoroughbred of all time, Secretariat earned immortality during his triple crown-winning three-year-old campaign in 1973. But his path to legend status hit an unexpected bump at the Wood Memorial Stakes just weeks before his iconic Derby win. This surprising upset remains a minor footnote in Secretariat‘s otherwise brilliant career arc.
Setting the Stage: Secretariat‘s Promising Two-Year-Old Season
Before analyzing the Wood Memorial upset, it‘s important to understand Secretariat‘s background. Foaled at Meadow Stable in Virginia in 1970, "Big Red" was the grandson of legendary Bold Ruler on his sire‘s side. As a two-year-old, Secretariat showed immense talent right from the start, breaking his maiden by a stunning seven lengths.
He went on to win 7 of his 9 starts at age two, including five stakes races. His most notable wins came in the Sanford and Hopeful Stakes, where he set new track records. With these performances, Secretariat was named champion two-year-old male for 1972. Entering 1973, hopes were sky-high for another Bold Ruler – the last Triple Crown winner in 1948.
Secretariat‘s Key Results at Age Two (1972)
| Race | Finish |
|-|-|-|
| Laurel Futurity | 1st |
| Sanford Stakes | 1st (track record) |
| Saratoga Special Stakes | 2nd |
| Hopeful Stakes | 1st (track record) |
| Belmont Futurity Stakes | 1st |
| Champagne Stakes | 1st |
| Laurel Futurity | 1st |
| Garden State Stakes | 3rd |
| Young America Stakes | 1st |
Understanding the Wood Memorial Stakes
The Wood Memorial Stakes has been held every year since 1925 at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York. Run in early April, the Grade I race spans 1 1/8 miles and is open to three-year-olds. It serves as a historic stepping stone to the Kentucky Derby, with past Wood Memorial winners like Count Fleet and Assault going on to Derby glory.
For Secretariat in 1973, the Wood Memorial offered a chance to cement himself as the top Derby contender before heading to Louisville. Coming off a six-month layoff since his last race in November 1972, he entered the Wood lightly raced but brimming with talent. Expectations were understandably high.
How the Upset Unfolded: Secretariat Stumbles in the Wood
On April 28, 1973, Secretariat was installed as the heavy 3-5 favorite in a field of eight at the Wood Memorial. Though he had proven himself in previous stakes company, this was his first attempt at the 1 1/8 mile distance. He also carried a burdensome 130 pounds, conceding 16-26 pounds to his rivals.
When the gates opened, Secretariat broke well but was pinned on the inside by the pace-setting Human. Down the backstretch, jockey Ron Turcotte angled Secretariat off the rail in an attempt to launch his bid. But they were stuck in tight quarters until finding clear running room around the far turn.
By that point, there was too much ground to make up on Angel Cordero Jr. and 65-1 shot Angle Light. Though Secretariat turned on the jets late, he couldn‘t run down the front-runner, falling three lengths short at the wire. My Gallant and Belmont-bound Twice A Prince filled out the top four.
Despite the loss, Secretariat turned in quick opening splits and generally ran well apart from traffic trouble. But the defeat left doubts about his ability to handle top rivals at the 1 1/8 mile distance. For the first time, his Derby coronation seemed uncertain.
Reactions to the Upset: Concern Entering the Kentucky Derby
In the immediate aftermath, Secretariat‘s connections expressed disappointment but credited the effort. Ron Turcotte said Secretariat simply needed the race after the six-month layoff. Trainer Lucien Laurin worried he may have trained the horse too sharply entering the race.
The media and fans, however, were less convinced. Respected turf writer Charles Hatton noted Secretariat‘s fatigue late and lack of battle-hardening at longer distances compared to Angle Light. Some questioned if Secretariat was overhyped based on his stellar two-year-old campaign. For the first time, his Derby prospects seemed doubtful.
Comparisons were inevitably drawn to Man o‘ War‘s only career loss in the 1919 Wood Memorial under similar circumstances. But Secretariat‘s supporters such as owner Penny Chenery retained faith in his talent, chalking up the defeat to the weight impost and inexperience. Either way, the pressure escalated massively entering the Kentucky Derby.
Redemption: Secretariat‘s Legendary Kentucky Derby Performance
After the Wood Memorial, Secretariat had just one more Derby prep in the Stepping Stone Purse on April 21, which he won convincingly. With two weeks until the Derby, buzz grew about whether he could rebound from the Wood upset. Sent off as a 3-2 favorite on May 5, 1973, Secretariat stumbled at the start, nearly going to his knees.
The poor break dropped Secretariat dead last early on over the sloppy track. But amazingly, he passed the entire 19-horse field by the end of the backstretch. Rounding the final turn, Secretariat found another gear, opening up a daylight lead under a hand ride. His margin widened with every massive stride as he powered home in track record time.
The final time of 1:59 2/5 shaved over two seconds off the previous Derby mark set by Northern Dancer in 1964. To this day, no horse has come within a second of that time in the Kentucky Derby. It was the performance of a legend in the making.
Aftermath: Cementing Legendary Status
Secretariat left no doubt about his greatness after the Kentucky Derby redemption. He dominated the Preakness and Belmont Stakes to sweep the Triple Crown, setting more records along the way. Though he raced just once more after the Belmont, his spectacular three-year-old campaign made Secretariat a household name.
Retired to stud in 1973, Secretariat sired over 600 foals throughout his career. He was euthanized in 1989 at age 19 due to laminitis, but his legend lives on. Consistently ranked among the top racehorses in history, Secretariat‘s otherworldly talent lifted him to mythical status in just two years of racing.
While that brief window included a surprising Wood Memorial defeat, Secretariat proved it the exception, not the rule. His Kentucky Derby record still stands as an untouchable measure of excellence. When handicapping the greatest thoroughbreds ever, Secretariat remains the crown jewel – thanks to a legendary career launch at Churchill Downs.