How big was Secretariat's heart? Everything you want to know about Kentucky Derby winner
Ryan Black
A half century ago, Secretariat etched his name into the annals of not just horse racing, but America's sporting landscape.
In the spring of 1973, Secretariat captured the Triple Crown — becoming the first horse to do so since Citation in 1948 — and set records in the process. All these years later, Secretariat's name still resonates.
And that's largely because he still holds the fastest times ever run in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.
Here are some Secretariat facts 50 years after his legendary Triple Crown run.
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Is Secretariat the fastest horse ever?
In terms of the Triple Crown races? Yes. Secretariat holds the fastest times in the Kentucky Derby (1:59 2/5), the Preakness Stakes (1:53) and the Belmont Stakes (2:24).
Has any horse ever beaten Secretariat's times in Triple Crown races?
No. Here are the next-best times in each race:
- Kentucky Derby: 1:59 4/5 by Sham (who finished second to Secretariat) in 1973
- Preakness Stakes: 1:53.28 by Swiss Skydiver in 2020
- Belmont Stakes: 2:26 by Easy Goer in 1989
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Did any horse ever beat Secretariat?
Yes. He did not end his career undefeated. Secretariat finished in the money in all but one of his 21 career races. He owned a winning percentage of 76.2 (16 of 21). Secretariat won 16 times, placed second on three occasions and took third once. He finished fourth in his debut at Aqueduct Racetrack on July 4, 1972.
How big was Secretariat’s heart?
After Secretariat's death in 1989, University of Kentucky professor of veterinary science Dr. Thomas Swerczek performed the necropsy. 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. “I’ve seen and done thousands of autopsies on horses, and nothing I’d ever seen compared to it."
How many Kentucky Derbys did Secretariat win?
One. Horses only are allowed to compete in the Kentucky Derby as 3-year-olds. Horses younger or older than 3 are ineligible.
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How old was Secretariat when he died?
Secretariat died in 1989 at the age of 19. He died of laminitis, an incurable condition that affects the tissue binding a horse's bone to the inner wall of the hoof. Secretariat is buried at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky.
Who owned Secretariat?
Penny Chenery owned and bred Secretariat. She also owned Riva Ridge, who won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes the year before Secretariat swept the Triple Crown.
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Who trained Secretariat?
Lucien Laurin trained Secretariat. He also trained Riva Ridge as well as Amberoid, winning the Belmont Stakes in 1966.
Who was Secretariat's jockey?
Ron Turcotte rode Secretariat. Turcotte also rode Riva Ridge to victory in the 1972 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, and won the 1965 Preakness Stakes with Tom Rolfe.
Are Secretariat's descendants still alive?
Yes. Of the more than 660 children Secretariat sired, two are still known to be alive: a son (Maritime Traveler) and a daughter (Trusted Company).
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Did any of Secretariat's offspring win the Kentucky Derby?
No, but two came close: General Assembly placed second to Spectacular Bid in 1979, while Risen Star took third in 1988. General Assembly won the 1979 Travers Stakes in a blistering time of 2:00.00 — a race and track record that stood until 2016. Risen Star went on to capture both the Preakness and Belmont (winning the latter by 14 1/2 lengths) in 1988.
Secretariat also sired a number of race-winning daughters, including Secrettame, Terlingua and Weekend Surprise (the 1992 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year). Weekend Surprise gave birth to 1990 Preakness winner Summer Squall as well as A.P. Indy, the 1992 Horse of the Year.
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How accurate is the Disney movie 'Secretariat?'
It's somewhat accurate. But the film takes liberties with various aspects of Secretariat's story.
One was that Penny Chenery, Secretariat's owner, was in dire financial straits and needed the horse to win the Triple Crown to avoid going bankrupt. This was not true, according to Daily Racing Form's Steven Crist in his review of the movie. Riva Ridge, Secretariat's stablemate and a year older, won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes in 1972, helping solidify the farm's finances.
Another fictional piece was that of Sham's trainer, Frank Martin. In the film, he is portrayed as sexist toward Chenery and brash at press conferences. Those who knew him, including Turcotte, took umbrage with how Martin was depicted. "Pancho is a wonderful person, always was," Turcotte told The Times Union in 2010.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @RyanABlack.