1973 Kentucky Derby

Horse race April 2026 June 2016 99th Kentucky Derby Grade I stakes race Kentucky Derby Churchill Downs,Louisville, Kentucky May 5, 19735:40 PM EDThttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VRRcAAAAIBAJ&pg=860%2C1480362 Youngstown Vindicator Youngstown, Ohio UPI Ayres Ray Secretariat seeks to regain "wonder horse" status in Kentucky Derby today May 5, 1973 14 November 23, 2020 April 25, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240425042338/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VRRcAAAAIBAJ&pg=860%2C1480362 live Secretariat 1:59 2 5 Ron Turcotte Lucien Laurin Penny Chenery Fast Dirt 134,476 1972 1974 The 1973 Kentucky Derby was the 99th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Secretariat won the Derby in a record time of 1:59 2 5, 2 1 2 lengths ahead of Sham, while Our Native finished in third position. Of the thirteen horses that entered and started the race, all horses completed the event. The event was viewed in person by a then-record crowd of 134,476, while also being broadcast both on television and over the radio. In the days leading up to the race, Secretariat was seen as the favorite to win by many; however there were doubts about him following a third-place finish at the Wood Memorial Stakes two weeks prior to the Derby. In the wake of Secretariat's loss, Angle Light and, in particular, Sham were the horses that were seen as the most likely to win the Derby, aside from Secretariat. Many sportswriters believed that the horses in the field possessed great speed and thought the course record would be broken. Shecky Greene took the lead first and led for the majority of the first seven furlongs. Sham took the lead from Shecky Greene near the three quarter mile mark. As the horses entered the homestretch, Secretariat passed Sham in the final furlong and distanced himself to consolidate his lead. Secretariat would go on to win the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in the succeeding weeks, also in record times, and became the ninth horse to complete the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. Pre-race coverage Thirteen horses entered the Derby,https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=348&dat=19730504&id=7ewtAAAAIBAJ&pg=2867,504431&hl=en Rome News-Tribune Associated Press Secretariat places reputation on the line May 4, 1973 6 November 23, 2020 April 25, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240425042338/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=348&dat=19730504&id=7ewtAAAAIBAJ&pg=2867,504431&hl=en live 13 enter Derby Chicago Tribune May 4, 1973 C1 Neil Milbert 170424731 which could have at most twenty participants.https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=266&dat=19730427&id=wqc0AAAAIBAJ&pg=970,6747426&hl=en Kentucky New Era Associated Press Big Derby Field Expected April 28, 1973 14 November 23, 2020 April 25, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240425042333/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=266&dat=19730427&id=wqc0AAAAIBAJ&pg=970,6747426&hl=en live Horse owners had to pay a final entry fee of $2,500 to have their horses officially entered.Shecky Greene 'in' today Chicago Tribune May 3, 1973 E1 Neil Milbert 170391035 The field was larger than anticipated because of new entries following Secretariat's loss at the Wood Memorial Stakes in New York.Capps 2003 126 The Wood Memorial had been the last prep race for three year-olds before the Kentucky Derby. It was a 1 1 8 mile contest held two weeks prior at Aqueduct Racetrack.Capps 2003 115 Angle Light, whom groom Edward Sweat called a "very quiet horse," won the race by a length ahead of Sham, while Secretariat finished in third, four lengths behind.Capps 2003 120 Secretariat's third-place finish led spectators and sportswriters to question his ability and health;Capps 2003 121 but it was later thought that his performance in the Wood had been affected by a mouth abscess discovered prior to the race.http://www.history.com/news/secretariats-record-breaking-run-40-years-later Secretariat's Record-Breaking Run, 40 Years Later History.com Barbara Maranzani A+E Networks Corp. June 17, 2013 June 19, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20160524215719/http://www.history.com/news/secretariats-record-breaking-run-40-years-later May 24, 2016 livehttp://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/uncle-mo-shares-similarities-secretariat-add-kentucky-derby-list-article-1.115963 Uncle Mo shares some similarities with Secretariat and would like to add Kentucky Derby to list NY Daily News Jerry Bossert NYDailyNews.com April 30, 2011 June 19, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20160524220007/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/uncle-mo-shares-similarities-secretariat-add-kentucky-derby-list-article-1.115963 May 24, 2016 live It was his first defeat since he had finished fourth in his first race and had been relegated from first to second place because of an infraction during the Champagne Stakes, both of which occurred during his two-year-old campaign.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xXwsAAAAIBAJ&pg=6946,1218071 Secretariat charges past Sham in Kentucky Derby win Spartanburg Herald-Journal South Carolina Associated Press May 6, 1973 B1 November 23, 2020 April 25, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240425042355/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xXwsAAAAIBAJ&pg=6946,1218071 live Secretariat was nonetheless the morning line favorite of the Derby entrants,Kentucky Derby Field The New York Times May 5, 1973 29 119618652 despite losing the Wood.And Now, the 99th Kentucky Bumbury https://www.nytimes.com/1973/05/02/archives/and-now-the-99th-kentucky-bumbury-the-hard-life-of-my-gallant-on.html The New York Times May 2, 1973 51 Red Smith July 26, 2018 July 26, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180726172258/https://www.nytimes.com/1973/05/02/archives/and-now-the-99th-kentucky-bumbury-the-hard-life-of-my-gallant-on.html liveDerby Could Be All Sham The Washington Post May 5, 1973 D1 Gerald Strine 148484076 This was because he had been 1972 American Horse of the Year for a two-year-old campaign that featured seven victories in nine starts.http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=444670&registry=T&rbt=TB Horse Profile Thoroughbred – Secretariat (VA) Equibase Company Equibase Company LLC June 19, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20160524222406/http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=444670&registry=T&rbt=TB May 24, 2016 live Secretariat also won the two races he had entered prior to the Wood Memorial, the Gotham and Bay Shore Stakes. Sham's trainer, Frank "Pancho" Martin, stated that Secretariat was the horse to beat and the only way to "knock" the horse was to beat him.https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19730501&id=Bq0cAAAAIBAJ&pg=6888,234561&hl=en Sarasota Herald-Tribune Associated Press Kentucky Derby Field Forming May 1, 1973 3–C November 23, 2020 April 25, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240425042355/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19730501&id=Bq0cAAAAIBAJ&pg=6888,234561&hl=en live Sham, who had won the Santa Anita Derby,Capps 2003 116 was seen as the most formidable challenger to Secretariat in the Derby because of his finish ahead of Secretariat in the Wood and his Santa Anita victory.Capps 2003 126 Coming off the heels of his victory at the Wood, Angle Light was seen as a threat to win. Angle Light was also trained by Lucien Laurin along with Secretariat, and thus Secretariat and Angle Light were coupled for betting purposes. Flamingo Stakes winner Our Native finished first or second in seven of his nine starts during the 1973 season, causing him to be named as a contender.Capps 2003 126 Blue Grass Stakes winner My Gallant and Shecky Greene, who won the Fountain of Youth Stakes, were both trained in Chicago by Lou Goldline, which also resulted in their odds being coupled. Goldline said the two horses were similar and would do well at Churchill Downs because they both liked fast tracks. Impecunious, who was victorious in the Arkansas Derby, was initially entered in the race, but withdrew two days before because of a bruised heel.Impecunious to miss Derby; Secretariat draws 10th post The Sun Dale Austin May 4, 1973 C1 533826686 None of the competing horses had been sired by a previous Derby winner.Shecky's our pick in Kentucky Derby Chicago Tribune May 5, 1973 A3 David Condon 170368154 Florida Derby winner Royal and Regal had been suffering some problems with his feet going into the race and was seen as a horse that could potentially be scratched before the race began.Capps 2003 126 Shecky Greene, Angle Light, and Royal and Regal were thought to be the only horses in the field that had "appreciable early speed" and would challenge to be the leader out of the gates.Capps 2003 126 My Gallant was to be ridden by Angel Cordero, but Cordero was suspended for ten days starting the day of the Derby for a rules infraction on a race on May 2. Braulio Baeza was chosen to jockey My Gallant, after being dropped by the owners of Shecky Greene in advance of the race because they were unsure whether that horse would be entered into the Derby. Larry Adams was ultimately selected as the jockey for Shecky Greene. With the speed of the horses entered, many thought that the course record of 2:00 would be broken. Chicago Tribune writer David Condon chose Shecky Greene to win the race because he felt the course was suited for him and because his great-grandfather was Bull Lea, who sired three Derby winners. Condon picked Warbucks as his second-place finisher because Warbucks' trainer, Don Combs, trained the 1970 Kentucky Derby winner Dust Commander and his jockey, Bill Hartack, was "long overdue" for a win and would have Warbucks near the front. Gerald Strine of The Washington Post believed Sham could win the race if he allowed Shecky Greene or Royal and Regal to lead the majority of the race and made a move towards the end. Strine picked Sham to win and My Gallant to finish second. Event details Derby officials set the official post-time at 5:40 PM EDT. It was broadcast over television and radio through CBS and WCBS, respectively. Win Elliot served as the commentator for the pre-race coverage, while Ray Haight announced it for the third consecutive year.WCAU To Carry Kentucky Derby Philadelphia Tribune May 5, 1973 19 532607932 All horses competing carried weights of 126 pounds. The prize money for the race was set at $198,800. The first through fourth placed horses received $155,050, $25,000, $12,500, and $5,000, respectively. The weather during the Derby was clear and the course conditions were fast.Kentucky Derby Summary The Washington Post and Times-Herald May 6, 1973 D1 148427088Capps 2003 127 The official attendance of the event was 134,476,https://www.kentuckyderby.com/uploads/wysiwyg/files/2016/02/u10/Attendance___Handle__2016_.pdf Kentucky Derby Churchill Downs Incorporated Kentucky Derby Business Levels – The 1970s May 17, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160517153106/https://www.kentuckyderby.com/uploads/wysiwyg/files/2016/02/u10/Attendance___Handle__2016_.pdf May 17, 2016 liveThe Derby: Secretariat Wins in Record Time, With Sham 2d The New York Times May 6, 1973 Joe Nichols 5–1 & 5–3 119613047 of which 70,000 were estimated to be in the infield of Churchill Downs.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=R2o0AAAAIBAJ&pg=2474%2C1240295 Sunday Star-News Wilmington, North Carolina UPI Secretariat wins Kentucky Derby May 6, 1973 1C November 23, 2020 April 25, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240425042338/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=R2o0AAAAIBAJ&pg=2474%2C1240295 live This surpassed the previous Derby record of 130,564; however the record lasted only a year as the 1974 edition attracted 163,628 spectators. Dwight Chapin of Los Angeles Times and author Timothy Capps credited the increased attendance due to Secretariat's loss at the Wood.Dwight Chapin Secretariat May Be Super After All Los Angeles Times May 6, 1973 D1, D2, & D16 157240968Capps 2003 125 Race summary Twice a Prince reared in the starting gate, which delayed the start. Out of the starting gate, Shecky Greene set the pace for the field, while race favorite Secretariat started in last place.Capps 2003 129 Exiting the gate, Sham hit his mouth against the gate and subsequently bumped into Navajo before gaining proper stride.Capps 2003 130 Sham briefly took the lead around the quarter-mile marker, but Shecky Greene quickly retook the lead. Beginning the first turn, Secretariat had moved ahead of only two horses; however, in the next quarter-mile Secretariat moved into sixth position. A half-mile in, Shecky Greene maintained a three length lead over Gold Bag, but his pace had slowed compared to the first quarter.Capps 2003 130–131 Sham remained close to the front of the field within the top four for the first half of the race; he moved into second position as the field reached the half-mile post. At the three-quarters post, at the start of the homestretch, Shecky Greene began to fade and Sham overtook him to move into first going into the final furlong. Secretariat, who had passed his competitors on the outside throughout the race, overtook Sham in the final furlong and pulled ahead,Kentucky Derby Chart The New York Times May 6, 1973 5–1 119613047 finishing 2 1 2 horse lengths in front of Sham. Our Native took third and Forego, who went on to win multiple Eclipse Awards as an older horse,Duke 1999 41 was fourth. Secretariat's winning time of 1:59 2 5 and last quarter mile in 23 seconds were both records for the Derby.Old Rec N The old record for the Derby was 2:00, set by Northern Dancer in 1964.https://www.nytimes.com/1973/05/06/archives/word-for-it-had-to-be-clockwork-word-for-secretariat-had-to-be.html Word for It Had to Be Clockwork The New York Times May 6, 1973 Red Smith 5–1 July 26, 2018 July 26, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180726172155/https://www.nytimes.com/1973/05/06/archives/word-for-it-had-to-be-clockwork-word-for-secretariat-had-to-be.html live The previous fastest timed quarter mile record was 23 3 5 seconds by Whirlaway in 1941.https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19730506&id=ieVVAAAAIBAJ&pg=2994,1177990 Secretariat runs off with Kentucky Derby Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press May 6, 1973 1C November 23, 2020 April 25, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240425042333/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19730506&id=ieVVAAAAIBAJ&pg=2994,1177990 live In addition, he had run each quarter-mile faster than before, with times of 25 1 5, 24, 23 4 5, 23 2 5, and 23 seconds.Capps 2003 134 Furthermore, Secretariat became the first horse in Derby history to run the race in under 2 minutes at the 11 4 mile distance. Sham maintained his stride and crossed the line in second place, eight lengths ahead of third-place finisher Our Native, who had lost ground on the final turn into the homestretch. Sham also broke the previous course record with a time of 1:59 4 5. Shecky Greene, who led for most of the race, finished in sixth position. Result + Final placings (1–13) Finish PP Post position Pgm Program number Horse Jockey Trainer Owner Final OddsOdds N The odds are all to $1; for example, Secretariat's odds of winning were $1.50 on a $1.00 wager. StakeStake N The total purse for the race was $198,800. 1 10 1A Secretariat Ron Turcotte Lucien Laurin Penny Chenery 1.50 $155,050 2 4 5 Sham Laffit Pincay, Jr. Frank "Pancho" Martin Sigmund Sommer 2.50 $25,000 3 7 8 Our Native Donald Brumfield William J. Resseguet Jr. E. Pritchard, E.W. Thomas, Resseguet, Jr. 10.60 $12,500 4 9 10 Forego Pete Anderson Sherrill W. Ward Lazy F Ranch 28.60 $5,000 5 1 3 Restless Jet Michael Hole Carter Thorton Elkwood Farm 28.50 – 6 11 2 Shecky Greene Larry Adams Louis M. Goldfine Joseph Kellman 5.70 – 7 5 6 Navajo Weston Soirez James O. Keefer A.J. Stevenson, Ray Stump 52.30 – 8 8 9 Royal and Regal Walter Blum Warren A. "Jimmy" Croll Jr. Aisco Stable 28.30 – 9 12 2C My Gallant Braulio Baeza Louis M. Goldfine Arthur I. Appleton 5.70 – 10 2 1 Angle Light John B. LeBlanc Lucien Laurin Edwin Whittaker 1.50 – 11 13 11 Gold Bag Earlie Fires Randy Sechrest Milton Gottdank, Sechrest 68.30 – 12 6 7 Twice a Prince Angel Santiago John P. Campo Elmendorf Farm 62.50 – 13 3 4 Warbucks Bill Hartack Don Combs E.E. Elzemeyer 7.20 – Payout schedule + Kentucky Derby Payout Schedule Pgm Program number Horse Win Place Show 1A Secretariat $5.00 $3.20 $3.00 5 Sham – $3.20 $3.00 8 Our Native – – $4.20 $3 Exacta: (1A–5) $21.60 $3 Quinella: (1A–5, 5–1A) $17.70 Analysis thumb|left|Secretariat at the Derby The win in the Kentucky Derby marked Secretariat's third win in the four races he had run as a three-year-old. After the race, jockey Ron Turcotte stated, in response to Secretariat's last place start, he "just dropped my hand on him and let him run his own race." With Secretariat's victory, trainer Lucien Laurin had his second consecutive win in the Derby, as Riva Ridge won in 1972. Turcotte accomplished a similar feat as he had ridden Riva Ridge, marking the third time a jockey had won in the Derby in consecutive years. When Secretariat pulled alongside Sham, Sham's jockey, Laffit Pincay Jr., felt Sham had a lot left, "but that other horse was just too much." Pincay stated that in future races, he planned to "wait a little longer before making my move." Donald Brumfield, Our Native's jockey said Twice a Prince kicked Our Native in the hoof and body while rearing in the starting gate. This forced Brumfield to dismount and adjust the saddle, delaying the Derby's start. Despite this, Brumfield stated he did not "want to make excuses, everything considered, my horse did fine." Betting on the ten races held that day at Churchill Downs totaled to $7,627,965, breaking the previous single-day record for American horse racing events of $7,164,717. Off-track betting on the Kentucky Derby reached $3,050,194, which was included in the previous record total. Secretariat went on to participate in the Preakness Stakes two weeks later, where he finished in first.https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19730611&id=GaRPAAAAIBAJ&pg=5155,5340482&hl=en Secretariat shatters mark The Bryant Times UPI Ray Ayers June 11, 1973 11 December 15, 2024 November 23, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20241215111207/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19730611&id=GaRPAAAAIBAJ&pg=5155,5340482&hl=en live Sham was second, again, by a margin of 2 1 2 lengths. Three weeks after the Preakness, the Belmont Stakes featured a five-horse field. Secretariat won by 31 lengths with a time of 2:24 for the mile and a half, both course records in their own right. Through his combined victories at the Belmont Stakes, Preakness Stakes, and Kentucky Derby, Secretariat became the ninth horse to complete the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, and the first horse since Citation in 1948, ending a 25-year period without a Triple Crown winner. Secretariat's times in all three Triple Crown races were course records and still stand to this day.https://www.americasbestracing.net/the-sport/2016-secretariat-%E2%80%98-tremendous-machine%E2%80%99 Secretariat: 'A Tremendous Machine' America's Best Racing TJC Media Ventures May 18, 2016 Tom Pedulla https://web.archive.org/web/20160524033700/https://www.americasbestracing.net/the-sport/2016-secretariat-%E2%80%98-tremendous-machine%E2%80%99 May 24, 2016 livehttp://www.cnn.com/2012/06/19/sport/secretariat-preakness-record/index.html?hpt=hp_c1 Secretariat's '73 Preakness time is a record, racing commission rules CNN Turner Broadcasting System, Inc June 19, 2012 June 19, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121044/http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/19/sport/secretariat-preakness-record/index.html?hpt=hp_c1 March 4, 2016 live See also Kentucky References Endnotes N Citations 30em Bibliography Capps Timothy T. Secretariat: Thoroughbred Legends Eclipse Press 2003 Lexington, Kentucky https://books.google.com/books?id=LwCWtk413qMC 978-1-58150-091-2 Duke Jacqueline Thoroughbred Champions: Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century The Blood-Horse, Inc 1999 Lexington, Kentucky https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781581500240 registration 978-1-58150-024-0 Category:Kentucky Derby races Kentucky Derby Kentucky Derby Derby Category:May 1973 sports events in the United States Category:1973 in Louisville, Kentucky