A Coming Of Age

"I knew I was a winner. I knew it then," he said.

Nearing the stretch Secretariat passed Impromptu, and entering the straight he had Jacques Who measured, coming to him at the [3/16]ths pole. He drove past Master Achiever and went after Bet On It as the leader neared the eighth pole. He was half a length behind, then head and head, and then he had the lead.

The crowd was shouting. Feliciano reached back and hit Secretariat once as he got to the front, and then hand-rode him as he led Bet On It half a length with a furlong to go, as he increased his lead to two and three lengths passing the 16th pole, and finally to four and to five and to six lengths as he raced under the wire.

Feliciano stood up in the stirrups and felt the sweet elation flowing as he galloped toward the clubhouse turn, eased back on his reins and brought the red horse to a stop.

Secretariat's winning purse was only $4,800, but it was the promise of what was to come. This was a son of Bold Ruler from a Princequillo mare, and he had run as though he knew he had a future. Up in the press box a Baltimore turf writer named Clem Florio jumped to his feet as Secretariat crossed the line. Turning to a colleague, Florio said loudly, "That's my Derby horse for next year!"

Everyone heard him.