History In The Making

Secretariat turns in the performance of the century

by Whitney Tower

Issue date: June 18, 1973

In 1973, Secretariat put on one of the most dominating performances in sports history, capturing horse racing's Triple Crown during a six-week span in May and June of that year. Sports Illustrated's Whitney Tower reported from the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. In remembrance of Secretariat's remarkable feats, SI.com presents excerpts from Tower's dispatches:

It was the greatest performance by a racehorse in this century. As Secretariat thundered down the homestretch at Belmont Park to the roar of nearly 70,000 fans, he took on legendary stature. His long stride carried him to the finish by an ever-increasing margin in poetic rhythm. And when the wire was reached, the mile-and-a-half Belmont Stakes won and the ninth Triple Crown in racing history earned, the closest competitor—if he can be so called—was 31 lengths to the rear. Sham, who had lost both the

Secretariat is 50 feet from the finish line and the race is won.    (Neil Leifer)

Kentucky Derby and the Preakness to the wonder horse by the identical margin of 2 1/2 lengths, this time finished a rubber-legged last in the field of five, outdistanced by 45 lengths. And, as if consciously seeking to silence the critics who had persistently argued that any son of Bold Ruler was suspect at classic distances, particularly over 12 furlongs, Secretariat shattered Gallant Man's track record by two and three-fifths seconds, the equivalent of 13 lengths. Along the way, he also smashed the record for a mile and a quarter.

The 105th Belmont Stakes will rank among sport's most spectacular performances, right up there with Joe Louis' one-round knockout of Max Schmeling and the Olympic feats of Jessie Owens, Jean-Claude Killy and Mark Spitz. Even in horse racing, where track records are a fairly common occurrence, an animal just does not go around beating an established mark by nearly three seconds. It would be as if Joe Namath threw 10 touchdown passes in a game or Jack Nicklaus shot a 55 in the Open.

ALSO IN 1973: Kentucky Derby | Preakness