To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Secretariat’s historic 1973 Triple Crown sweep, the National Racing Museum and Hall of Fame will feature traveling and on-site exhibits that celebrate the achievements and the enduring legacy of the famous Meadow Stable pony May through October. Exhibits are sponsored by Churchill Downs, Inc., Maryland Jockey Club, New York Racing Association, Racing Association National Thoroughbred Carriage, Virginia Horse Union, Dean Dorton Equine and Godolphin.
A Big Machine: 50th Anniversary of the Secretariat’s Trident of Crowns will be on the same journey as the Secretariat did to become America’s ninth Triple Crown winner. The unique traveling exhibition will open at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., for the week of the Kentucky Derby May 3-6; head to Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore for the Preakness Stakes festivities May 18-20; and concluded the Triple Crown tour at the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, NY, June 8-11.
After the Triple Crown tour, a more comprehensive exhibition of A great machine will open to the public on July 13 at the National Museum of Racing and the Hall of Fame, coinciding with the opening date at Saratoga Racecourse. At the end of the Saratoga racing season, A great machine will head to Colonial Downs in Virginia, home of the Secretariat to conclude the weekend at the New Kent-based track from September 7-9. On-site exhibits at the Museum will remain on display. through October 29.
Travel version of A great machine will present the 1973 Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes and Triple Crown titles of the Secretariat. A video portion of the exhibition will take fans through the Secretary’s unique journey, in which he sets a speed record in each Triple Crown race and tells the story of the people who guided the horse in its journey. his remarkable career. In addition to the trophy and video components, the on-site exhibition at the Museum will include a wide range of artwork, artifacts, photography, and pop culture items.
Jessica Cloer, curator of the National Equestrian Museum, said: “It is an honor to share the inspirational story of the Secretariat and those around him in the golden celebration of the great test. of horse racing, the Triple Crown”. “We hope that everyone will have the opportunity to visit the exhibit at the Museum or at one of the racetracks as we bring the one-of-a-kind story of the great Secretariat to even long-time fans. year and new of the sport.”
Bred in Virginia by Christopher T. Chenery’s Meadow Stud and lobbied for by Chenery’s daughter, Penny, the Secretariat was the chestnut son of Bold Ruler among Princequillo mares Somethingroyal. Trained by Hall of Famer Lucien Laurin and primarily ridden by Hall of Famer Ron Turcotte, the Secretariat won the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year and 2-year-old Men’s Champion in 1972. The following year, he became the first Triple Crown winner since the Citation in 1948, setting records in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, all of which still stand half a century later. The Secretariat retired at the end of his 1973 season with a 16-3-1 record in 21 starts and earnings of $1,316,808. His sophomore year brought him the Eclipse Awards for Horse of the Year, 3-Year-Old Men’s Champion and Men’s Court Horse Champion.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974, the Secretariat stands at the iconic Claiborne Ranch in Paris, Ky., where he selects 57 stake winners, including the Hall of Famer Lady’s Secret. After a battle with episcleritis, the Secretariat was euthanized on 4 October 1989. He was buried in Claiborne.
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