Secretariat

Front page of the Daily Racing Form on Monday, June 11, 1973:

By JOE HIRSCH
"BELMONT PARK, Elmont, N.Y., June 9 — Meadow Stable's Secretariat turned the Belmont Stakes into an unbelievable one-horse exhibition here today as he swept to a 31-length victory and the first Triple Crown sweep in 25 years.

"The amazing chestnut son of Bold Ruler left the field for dead approaching the far turn and raced like a machine through the stretch, opening the gap wider and wider with every stride. He raced the mile and a half in an incredible 2:24, two and three-fifths seconds under Gallant Man's track record set in the 1957 Belmont.

"The crowd of 69,138 sent Secretariat off as the 1-10 favorite and they did not miss their bet as the c**t provided a spectacular show.

"The margin was the largest in the history of the Belmont. The previous biggest margin was Count Fleet's 25-length victory en route to the 1943 Triple Crown.

"Secretariat, who paid $2.20, became only the ninth Triple Crown winner in American racing history.

"Ron Turcotte took the c**t into the lead after the start and hooked up in a head-and-head duel with Sigmund Sommer's Sham that lasted onto the backstretch. Suddenly, however, Secretariat began drawing off in the long run on the backside.

"It quickly became a route and he opened up more and more, leaving the others to fight it out for the placing."

... Secretariat fans already know the significance of Saturday, June 9, 1973. What happened at Belmont Park that day dominated the next morning's national headlines, even eclipsing coverage of Watergate and the Vietnam War.

In the Louisville Courier-Journal & Times, sports editor Dave Kindred wrote:

"Saving the best for last, Secretariat completed his sweep of the Triple Crown horse races yesterday with a stunning performance....

"A record-setter in the Kentucky Derby, electrifying winner of the Preakness, Secretariat won the Belmont Stakes yesterday by 31 lengths, a race record. He went the mile-and-a-half in two minutes, 24 seconds, also a record.

"The magnitude of the accomplishment was apparent, even to the rawest racing neophyte in the crowd of 69,138 that sent up a tidal wave of applause, the sound washing over Secretariat down the stretch....

"So commanding was Secretariat yesterday that his jockey, Ron Turcotte, could take time out from his chores down the stretch to study the race times being flashed on the infield tote board. Secretariat was nearly 25 lengths in front by then.

"'When I saw those fractions, I set him down for the first time,' Turcotte said, meaning that he urged the big, red c**t to run even faster. 'I knew we had a chance at the record. He had been fast but he still had more when I asked him.'

"The horse's owner, [Penny Chenery] said, 'It's a little bit greedy to win by 31 lengths, but that record is nice. I hope it'll stand for a while.'"

Fifty-three years later, the record still stands.

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Collectors: Today is the last day of our "Belmont Drop" featuring our limited inventory of original photography hand-signed by Turcotte prior to his passing last August. Signed photos are available only until 11 p.m. ET; see additional photos and learn more: https://www.secretariat.com/signature-availability/

"[C]ongratulations to Golden Tempo for doing what he had to do and getting the job done once again. And of course, congratulations to Cherie Devaux for... making the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes historic events.

"But what stood out most to me was the number of sensational races over a three-day period and a lineup of stars that included just about every brilliant horse in the country."

Read Steve Haskin's wrap-up of Belmont weekend 2026:
https://www.secretariat.com/belmont-stakes-weekend-and-its-unsung-hero/

Golden again! Charging from behind as in the Kentucky Derby, Golden Tempo delivered another terrific performance to win the 2026 Belmont Stakes. Congratulations to trainer Cherie DeVaux, jockey Jose Ortiz, owners Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable, and all their connections.

Thoroughbred fans are familiar with this amazing Bob Coglianese/NYRA photo that captured Secretariat nearing the finish line of the 1973 Belmont Stakes, which he won by 31 lengths in front of an ecstatic crowd and national television audience. Not only did Secretariat earn horse racing's first Triple Crown in 25 years, but he shattered the world record for the mile-and-a-half distance on dirt. Fifty-three years later, his time of 2:24 is still unmatched.

We have a limited inventory of this photo signed by Ron Turcotte, Secretariat's Hall of Fame jockey, who passed last August at age 84.

Our "Belmont Drop" features this iconic image and other Belmont-related photographs that were hand-signed by Ron Turcotte. Learn more: https://www.secretariat.com/signature-availability/

Photographer Tony Leonard captured this sublime image in the paddock shortly before Secretariat’s history-making performance in the 1973 Belmont Stakes.

Our “Belmont Drop” features a limited inventory of this and other photos that jockey Ron Turcotte signed personally. Learn more: https://www.secretariat.com/signature-availability/

From our archives, check out the nearly impossible to find Secretariat Belmont Stakes Winner Pin produced by the New York Racing Association in 1973 to honor horse racing's newly anointed Triple Crown champion.

Also, our inventory of collectible 2023 Belmont Stakes Glasses sold out quickly last week, and we've restocked!

1973 Belmont Stakes Original Vintage Winner Pin: https://www.secretariat.com/store/archives/vintage-original-secretariat-pin-display/

2023 Commemorative Glass: https://www.secretariat.com/store/collectibles/2023-belmont-stakes-glass/

Did you know that Secretariat's time for the first mile and a quarter of the 1973 Belmont Stakes (1:59) was even faster than his track record Kentucky Derby time (1:59 2/5) at that distance?

And he kept going. In fact, in setting his still-standing world record on dirt for the 1½-mile Belmont (2:24), Secretariat averaged 37.5 mph for the entirety of the race.

As Steve Haskin wrote in his latest column, "This may have been the only case ever where a horse sprinted a mile and a half."

If you're a fan of Secretariat or of Thoroughbred racing trivia generally, you'll appreciate our new webpage on Secretariat's astounding fractional times in the 1973 Belmont.

To read, scroll down on our Belmont Stakes page and click on "Was He the Greatest?" https://www.secretariat.com/past-performances/belmont/

"Sometimes it is the small things that tell more about a person than his or her major accomplishments." ~Steve Haskin

Haskin shares a little-known story about what Ron Turcotte did right after his historic 1973 Belmont Stakes aboard Secretariat: https://www.secretariat.com/a-turcotte-tale-of-two-races/

Secretariat collectors, beginning today — Saturday, May 30 at 10 a.m. EDT — check out our "Belmont Drop" featuring an extremely limited inventory of original photos signed by Secretariat's jockey Ron Turcotte prior to his passing last August.

This photo by Bob Coglianese of the New York Racing Association (NYRA) captures the moment in 1973 when Secretariat (right) burst out of the starting gate and into racing legend. Sham (left, 1A) bookended the field of five contenders.

Learn more about this classic image and other Belmont-related photographs that were hand-signed by Ron Turcotte: https://www.secretariat.com/signature-availability/