08/27/2023
SECRETARIAT
COOLER
Big Red’s Belmont Stakes cooler became a recognizable part of his wardrobe. As the big horse prepared to board the van that would take him to his new home, jockey Ron Turcotte stood a couple of feet away, staring at the words, “Secretariat…Winner of 1973 Belmont Stakes…The Test of the Champion,” as if remembering that one historic moment in time that would forever set new standards of greatness. A victory so spectacular, it seemed to raise the equine genus up a notch.
The cooler presented to him that he would have great use for the remainder of his career.
Beneath that cooler was a heart that weighed nearly three times that of the average Thoroughbred heart.
No one will ever forget the excitement leading up to that Belmont Stakes, whether you were among those fortunate enough to attend or whether you just watched on TV. To demonstrate the confidence people had in Big Red, and how sure they were he would make history on June 9, 1973, he was put on the cover of Time, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated between the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. Not only was it unprecedented, but a defeat at Belmont would make it one of the most ill-timed moves in the annals of magazine publishing.
As recorded in the history books, Secretariat battled with his archrival Sham through seemingly suicidal fractions of :46 1/5 and 1:09 4/5 before Big Red ran Sham into the ground and began the procession everyone had been hoping to see. So was born track announcer Chic Anderson’s memorable call, “Secretariat is moving like a tremendous machine,” a moment still frozen in time after more than four decades.
As Big Red charged down the stretch in isolated splendor, increasing his lead with every stride, the grandstand was a sea of clapping hands, waving arms, and pumped fists flailing about. The 25-year drought was over. America had its first Triple Crown winner since the immortal Citation. But everyone knew that no matter how many would follow, this was the one that would rise above them all. And they were right. Forty four years have passed and no horse has come even remotely close to challenging Secretariat’s otherworldly record, which had shattered Gallant Man’s record by two and three-fifth seconds. That means the previous record holder would have finished 13 lengths behind Secretariat.
So one can see why Secretariat’s Belmont cooler is much more than a piece of cloth. It is in fact an iconic chapter unto itself in the annals of racing. And will be for all time.
By Steve Haskin
from The BloodHorse
