Secretariat – The Fastest Horse in Racing History

Without question, the fastest Triple Crown winner and racehorse in history is the legendary Secretariat. His stunning, record-shattering performances in the 1973 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes cemented his status as quite simply one of the greatest equine athletes of all time. Let‘s look at the incredible career of "Big Red" and why he still stands alone when it comes to speed nearly 50 years later.

The Records That Still Stand

In the Kentucky Derby, Secretariat rocketed to a record time of 1:59 2/5 – a mark that has yet to be approached in the nearly 50 years since. His times in all three Triple Crown races remain the fastest ever run:

But it was the Belmont where Secretariat etched his name in history forever. His 31-length victory in a mind-boggling time of 2:24 for 1.5 miles still stands as the world record on the dirt and one of sport‘s most iconic performances.

Andrew Beyer, who created the Beyer Speed Figure system that analyzes performances taking track condition into account, has called Secretariat‘s 1973 Belmont the greatest single performance by any racehorse in history. Using his scale, it would have earned a figure of 139 – the highest he has ever assigned.

Just How Overpowering Was Secretariat‘s Speed?

To better understand just how overpowering Secretariat‘s speed was compared to rivals, let‘s look at some key statistics:

• His 31 length victory at the Belmont is by far the largest margin ever in a Triple Crown race. The next highest was in the Preakness – 7 lengths by Smarty Jones in 2004.
• At each point of call during the Belmont, Secretariat kept extending his lead – he was ahead by 3 lengths at the halfway mark, 10 lengths after 1 mile, and a staggering 18 lengths at the far turn before accelerating away to a 31 length win.
• NBC announcer Chic Anderson described it best: "Secretariat is widening now! He is moving like a tremendous machine!"
• Secretariat ran each quarter-mile segment of the Belmont faster than the one before – unheard of after such a grueling race distance. His speed was actually building throughout.
• His last quarter-mile of 24 4/5 would have been competitive as a stand-alone race time itself for that distance.

"I‘d have to say it‘s the greatest performance of all time. Foot for foot, inch for inch, second for second, it‘s the best race any horse has ever run at Belmont." – Sports columnist Bill Nack who witnessed the 1973 Belmont in person

The Anatomy of a Racing Machine

So just how was Secretariat built to shatter speed records that had stood for decades? He was blessed with the perfect combination of raw talent and physical gifts:

Giant heart – Literally. Secretariat‘s heart was estimated to be 2.5 times larger than the average horse‘s – up to 22 lbs compared to just 8.5 lbs. This tremendous cardiac output enabled him to move incredible amounts of blood and oxygen to his muscles.

Long fluid stride – Secretariat‘s stride measured an enormous 24 feet at top speed. The more ground covered with each stride, the faster the race time.

Perfect conformation – With a sculpted body made for speed, Secretariat had ideal length of back, hindquarter muscle development, shoulder angle, and other structural attributes that maximized his efficiency and speed.

Precocious talent – Even as a young 2-year-old, Secretariat showed flashes of brilliance, breaking his maiden by over 7 lengths in his first start. He demonstrated the rare ability to carry speed over distance – a trait that would enable his Belmont triumph.

"Like a Tremendous Machine": Secretariat‘s Belmont Masterpiece

Secretariat entered the 1973 Belmont Stakes as a heavy favorite to win and complete the Triple Crown. But nobody could have predicted what was about to unfold.

In a performance for the ages, Secretariat seemed to levitate down the home stretch, pulling away from the field with every seemingly effortless stride. Despite running at world record pace, his action was still silky smooth even in the final furlong.

In the words of racecaller Chic Anderson, "He‘s moving like a tremendous machine! Secretariat by 12, Secretariat by 14 lengths on the turn! He is in a position that seems impossible to catch…Secretariat at the finish, an unbelievable, an amazing performance!"

Not only did he break the stakes record, Secretariat smashed the world record by an astonishing 2 3/5 seconds. To put that in perspective, in a major stakes race 2 3/5 seconds normally separates horses from 1st and 8th place.

"I‘m absolutely awestruck. I know he holds the track record here and I can‘t believe any horse could ever run as fast as he ran in any race over a mile and half. It was the most fantastic performance I have ever seen." – Jockey Eddie Arcaro who rode two previous Triple Crown winners

Secretariat Mania: A Hero‘s Welcome

Needless to say, after the Belmont theatrics Secretariat became a household name and national celebrity.

He landed on the covers of Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated. Fan clubs popped up all over the country. Children wrote letters to their hero. Suddenly horse racing entered the mainstream, its rising popularity due in large part to Secretariat‘s appeal.

At syndication shortly after the Triple Crown, Secretariat was valued at a staggering $6.08 million – over $40 million in today‘s dollars.

His popularity continues today through books, documentaries, and movies. 2010‘s "Secretariat" starring Diane Lane re-created his Triple Crown glory and re-introduced the legend to a new generation.

Could Any Horse Match His Feats?

Since 1973, only three horses have won the Triple Crown – Affirmed in 1978, American Pharoah in 2015, and Justify in 2018. None came close to breaking Secretariat‘s records. Only two have even managed to finish within 2 3/5 seconds of his Belmont mark – Easy Goer in 1989 and A.P. Indy in 1992.

Many experts firmly believe Secretariat‘s records may stand forever. The fact that after 50 years, nobody has come within even 2 seconds certainly lends credence to that notion.

As rival trainer Pancho Martin famously said: "Secretariat only set one unbreakable record: 2:24."

In my opinion as a racing historian, Secretariat‘s 1973 Belmont stands in rarefied air along with the greatest individual sporting achievements of all time. For a horse to dominate world class competition in such devastating fashion may never be repeated.

Secretariat passed away in 1989, but his name is synonymous with the pinnacle of equine speed, stamina and greatness. By any measure, he remains the gold standard by which all future champions will be judged.