PARIS, Ky.—
Secretariat, whose 1973 Triple Crown triumph stamped him as the people’s horse, was humanely destroyed at Claiborne Farm here Wednesday. He was 19, getting on for a horse but awfully young for a folk hero.
Secretariat’s 31-length victory in the Belmont Stakes gave America its first Triple Crown winner in 25 years. In a year of turmoil that included Watergate and Vietnam, Americans latched onto him as though he were human.
“Secretariat was like the Arnold Palmer or Sugar Ray Leonard of horse racing,” John Sosby, manager at Claiborne Farm, once said. “He’s a people’s horse.”
Helen Chenery, who owned Secretariat when he was racing, said: “Maybe he was not the world’s greatest race horse, but he was a charismatic person.”
Gus Koch, assistant manager at Claiborne, where Secretariat stood at stud, said the stallion suffered from an incurable condition known as laminitis, an inflammation of the inside of the hoof.
The condition was diagnosed on Labor Day but Koch said that Secretariat’s condition “rapidly worsened” Tuesday, putting the chestnut stallion in “extreme pain for the first time.”
Koch said that Walter Kaufman, resident veterinarian at the farm, put the animal to sleep.
“When the inflammation occurs, swelling results,” Koch said. “And since there is little room for swelling (in the hoof), this is a very painful condition.
“Nobody wanted the horse to suffer and that’s commendable. Secretariat had a lot of class and he knew it. It’s a thrill to work around a horse like that. He knew who he was and what he was all about.”
Secretariat was buried in a 6 by 6-foot oak casket lined with orange silk, the color used by Claiborne’s racing stables. He was buried near his sire, Bold Ruler, in a small graveyard behind the office at the farm.
The brass nameplate on Secretariat’s stall door will remain there.
“Secretariat was a lot different than other horses,” Koch said. “He was a very special horse to all of us. He was admired by the horse world and fans all over the country.”
Not only did Secretariat win the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes in record times, he probably also would have set a record in the Preakness if the timing equipment had not malfunctioned.
Secretariat won 16 of 21 races in two years, but most fans remember the Belmont best. Already a winner in the Derby and Preakness, Secretariat barreled down the stretch at Belmont Park, and, amazingly, he was alone. It was 31 lengths back to Twice a Prince.
Using the customary racing equivalent of one-fifth of a second per length, Secretariat was under the wire for 6 1/5 seconds before Twice a Prince came along.
Not since Citation won the Triple Crown in 1948 had any horse won all three races.
“To me, he was always No. 1, the greatest horse anybody ever saw,” said Lucien Laurin, who trained Secretariat. “Everybody thought he was going to be great before he ever started, and he was.”
Secretariat was also a bit of a ham. Spotting a camera, he’d strike a regal pose. Later, when visitors dropped by his 1 1/2-acre paddock, he charged down the hill, snorting and bellowing, putting on a show.
But Red, as the Claiborne farmhands referred to the burnished chestnut, was a slight disappointment in the breeding shed. He got 85% of his mares in foal but ranked only 25th among leading active sires.
His best offspring, Risen Star, won the Preakness and Belmont Stakes in 1988 before retiring.
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FAQs
In October 1989, Secretariat was put down due to an incurable hoof condition called laminitis, but he would be remembered as arguably the greatest racehorse in history. Throughout his life, Secretariat raced with heart – literally. After he was put down, a necropsy was done by Dr.
What disease killed Secretariat? ›
He had developed laminitis, a painful and debilitating hoof condition, which was first diagnosed on Labor Day of 1989. By October 4th, he would be dead.
Was Secretariat buried in a casket? ›
Secretariat was buried in a 6 by 6-foot oak casket lined with orange silk, the color used by Claiborne's racing stables.
Why was Secretariat euthanized at 19 years old? ›
Secretariat died in 1989 as a result of laminitis at age 19.
What was Secretariat's heart condition? ›
Secretariat's heart was estimated to be about 22 pounds and was not "pathologically enlarged," Swerczek said. The average horse's heart weighs about 8.5 pounds. “We were all shocked,” Swerczek told Sports Illustrated in a longform story following Secretariat's death.
Is Secretariat's bloodline still alive? ›
Border Run held the title of the eldest horse in Secretariat's bloodline for nearly two years, until he died in late 2022. The other sole known survivor is 33-year-old Maritime Traveler, who lives in Florida.
Why did Penny sell Secretariat? ›
Christopher Chenery, 86, died the first week of January in 1973, before Secretariat embarked on his 3-year-old season. The Chenery heirs were faced with paying a huge estate tax. Secretariat was syndicated for breeding purposes for $6.08 million. “That saved the day,” Penny Chenery said.
How many babies did Secretariat make? ›
Via the sprawling genetic tree bound to a 15-year stud career, Secretariat will always live on in some ways. He sired 663 named foals, those horses creating endless bloodlines that eventually wind their way back to Big Red.
Why are racehorses not buried whole? ›
Horses on average weigh 1000 pounds, which means, when a horse dies, it takes a significant amount of effort for a full burial. Because of this, the tradition to bury only the head, heart, and hooves of a racehorse, began. Only for the highest symbol of honor is a racehorse buried whole.
Was Secretariat given steroids? ›
The fact is Secretariat was never given performance-enhancing drugs. "What does explain his unrivaled speed and stamina is well known, if only Kelce had cared to find out before making his comments," their statement continued.
Moderator Nick Clooney's favorite question for each panelist was whether the movie was totally accurate to the real-life story it professed to tell. The prevailing answer was: not particularly. “No,” said Katie Chenery Tweedy, daughter of Secretariat owner Penny Chenery Tweedy.
What was wrong with Secretariat? ›
Secretariat was put down on October 4, 1989 at Claiborne Farm, after suffering from the painful hoof condition laminitis. He was 19.
Have any of Secretariat's offspring won races? ›
In the past 10 years alone, 19 different winners of 24 of the 29 Triple Crown races trace to Secretariat; 10 of them have Secretariat more than once in their pedigree. Recent Classic-winning Secretariat descendants include Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and Justify, plus Derby-Preakness winner California Chrome.
Why did Secretariat wear blinders? ›
The young horse was built for speed, but in his early years, he needed to wear a blinker hood to help him focus. Some believed the horse was too thoughtful, a trait believed to be a disadvantage since winning horses needed to concentrate on running, rather than strategy.
Was Secretariat a beautiful horse? ›
Chenery's Meadow Stable, near Doswell, Virginia, on March 30, 1970. Nicknamed “Big Red” (like the legendary thoroughbred Man o' War), he developed into a beautiful and powerful horse, with a heart more than twice the size of a standard horse and massive chest and hindquarters.
Who was Secretariat's best friend? ›
In 1973, he made headlines for being the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years. The 145th Kentucky Derby is Saturday in Louisville. Everyone knows about Secretariat, but few know about Sweat — the horse's best friend. The groomer fed Secretariat, bathed him and loved him like a son.
How do horses get laminitis? ›
Laminitis can be caused by many factors, including overeating (obesity), working on a hard surface (commonly referred to as road founder), running high fevers, exposure to black walnut shavings, and stress. Ponies are extremely susceptible to laminitis, especially when fed rich, lush forage.
Why did Secretariat only live 19 years? ›
Penny Chenery died in September 2017 at the age of 95. Eddie Sweat died too young at 59, in April 1998. Secretariat was put down on October 4, 1989 at Claiborne Farm, after suffering from the painful hoof condition laminitis. He was 19.
How long did Secretariat have laminitis? ›
Racing legend Secretariat was put down on Oct. 4, 1989, at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky, after a month-long battle with laminitis. He was 19. Nicknamed Big Red, the 16-2 hand copper-colored chestnut had three white stockings (right front and both hind legs) and a star, stripe and snip.
Did Secretariat really have an abscess? ›
Two weeks before the Kentucky Derby, Pincay had ridden Sham to a second-place finish in the Wood Memorial, finishing 4 lengths ahead of third-place Secretariat. Like the rest of the world, Pincay had no clue Secretariat had an abscess — an infection at the base of a tooth — that affected his performance in the Wood.
