1973 Belmont Stakes

American horse race April 2026 April 2026 105th Belmont Stakes Grade I stakes race Belmont Stakes Belmont ParkElmont, New York, U.S. June 9, 1973 Secretariat Ron Turcotte Lucien Laurin Penny Chenery 1+1/2 mi furlong m 0 on 2:24 69,138 Fast Dirt 1972 1974 The 1973 Belmont Stakes was the 105th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, held on June 9, 1973. Facing a field of five horses, Secretariat won by 31 lengths going away, the largest margin of victory in Belmont history, in front of a crowd of 69,138 spectators. His winning time of 2 minutes and 24 seconds still stands as the American record for a mile and a half on dirt. The event was televised and broadcast over the radio. Secretariat was widely viewed as the favorite to win by most sportswriters and people; however, the added distance and the possibility of running too slow for a distance or running too fast too soon could potentially cause him to lose. Out of the starting gate, Secretariat and Sham traded the lead. Around the three-quarters mile marker Sham began to fade and Secretariat began to extend an advantage. Twice a Prince and My Gallant overtook Sham to take second and third, respectively. Sham finished last, behind Pvt. Smiles, who was in last before Sham slowed severely. The victory in the Belmont, when combined with Secretariat's previous victories in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, meant he completed the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. Secretariat became the ninth horse to complete the feat and broke a 25-year drought where no horse had won the Triple Crown. Pre-race coverage Secretariat, Sham, Pvt. Smiles, and My Gallant were the first four horses to be entered into the Belmont Stakes. Secretariat, winner of both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, was the odds on favorite to win the event.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54170735/sham-is-favored-for-runner-up-triple/ Sham is favored for runner-up Triple Steve Cady The New York Times News Service Miami Herald 1C June 7, 1973 June 26, 2020 newspapers.com The added distance of the Belmont when compared to the Derby and Preakness was found to be one potential reason for Secretariat to lose the race.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54170887/secretariat-is-favored-to-win-triple/ Secretariat Is Favored To Win 'Triple' Gerald Strine Washington Post News Service C5 The Sacramento Bee June 9, 1973 June 26, 2020 newspapers.com Steve Cady of The New York Times wrote that Secretariat could be defeated if the pace of the race went too fast or was too slow for too long, in both of which scenarios he felt Sham would win.https://www.nytimes.com/1973/06/09/archives/secretariats-strategy-well-play-it-by-ear.html Secretariat's Strategy: 'We'll Play it By Ear' Steve Cady The New York Times June 9, 1973 25 June 26, 2020 nytimes.com limited Sham received significant attention as well and was thought to be the second best horse, along with having the potential of becoming the first horse to be runner-up in all the Triple Crown races. My Gallant was considered the best of the rest, especially as he was the progeny of Gallant Man, who set the Belmont Stakes course record of 2:26 3 5 in the 1957 edition.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54159496/secretariat-tries-for-triple-crown-at/ Secretariat Tries for Triple Crown at Belmont Today Associated Press Los Angeles Times June 9, 1973 C1 June 25, 2020 newspapers.com Knightly Dawn was entered into the race on June 6 and was thought to bring early speed to the race and alter the way it would be run.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54171366/knightly-dawn-joins-belmont-stakes-field/ Knightly Dawn joins Belmont Stakes field William Boniface The Baltimore Sun June 7, 1973 D1 June 26, 2020 newspapers.com Before Knightly Dawn's entry, Secretariat was speculated to lead from the race's start. With the presence of Knightly Dawn, William Boniface of The Baltimore Sun believed that Secretariat would have to run faster earlier on, thus making the final half-mile more unpredictable. Pancho Martin, the trainer of Knightly Dawn, said he would only run the horse if it rained as Knightly Dawn's only previous success had been in the Jersey Derby on a sloppy track. However, Knightly Dawn was scratched prior to race day.It's Secretariat in Belmont Romp Neil Milbert Chicago Tribune June 10, 1973 C12 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54109785/its-secretariat-in-belmont-romp/ June 25, 2020 newspapers.com The horse's scratch also reduced the winner's share from $150,200 to $90,120. There was much speculation going into the Stakes over Secretariat's bid for the Triple Crown. Since 1948, when Citation achieved the feat, there had been six horses that had won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes before failing in the Belmont Stakes.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54170929/secretariat-rates-as-belmont-choice/ Secretariat Rates As Belmont Choice Gerald Strine Washington Post News Service C1 The Sacramento Bee June 9, 1973 June 26, 2020 newspapers.com When comparing Secretariat to those six horses' health and fitness before the Belmont Stakes, writer Boniface felt Secretariat was in the best shape, almost as good as when he entered the Kentucky Derby weeks prior. Just days before the Belmont, Secretariat ran five furlongs in just under a minute in a morning workout. Following that, Secretariat's jockey Ron Turcotte told reporters that Secretariat was ready for a top charge on Saturday.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54171226/knightly-dawn-enters-belmont/ Knightly Dawn enters Belmont William Boniface The Baltimore Sun D5 June 7, 1973 June 26, 2020 newspapers.com Event details Post time for the race was 5:38 PM EDT. It was televised by CBS and aired on CBS Radio.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54171639/belmont-facts-and-figures/ Belmont – Facts And Figures The Cincinnati Enquirer 17 June 9, 1973 June 26, 2020 newspapers.com All jockeys competing were 126 lb kg.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54159847/belmont-stakes-chart/ Belmont Stakes Chart Chicago Tribune June 10, 1973 C12 June 25, 2020 newspapers.comThe Belmont Chart Los Angeles Times June 10, 1973 C15 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54110488/the-belmont-chart/ newspapers.com June 25, 2020 The weather during the race was clear, and the course conditions were fast. The scratch of Knightly Dawn before the race reduced the purse to $150,200, which was awarded to the first through fourth-place finishers in the sums of $90,120, $33,044, $18,024, and $9,012, respectively.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X6lVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6eADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6452%2C1923532 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Secretariat rated 2-5 to prevail in Belmont June 8, 1973 2D Attendance figures were speculated to be around 70,000 leading up to the race,https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54159683/belmont-stakes/ Belmont Stakes Associated Press Los Angeles Times June 9, 1973 C6 June 25, 2020 newspapers.com which was accurate as the official attendance for the event was reported to be 69,138. This became the second-most attended Belmont Stakes at the time, after the 1971 race that had 82,694 in attendance.https://www.nyra.com/assets/4/7/2016_MG_Belmont_Stakes1.pdf The New York Racing Association 2016 NYRA Media Guide – Belmont Stakes May 17, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160619132342/https://www.nyra.com/assets/4/7/2016_MG_Belmont_Stakes1.pdf June 19, 2016 dead B7 Race summary thumb|Secretariat in the stretch run Out of the starting gate, Secretariat and Sham raced evenly through the first turn.https://www.nyra.com/assets/4/7/2016_MG_Belmont_Stakes1.pdf The New York Racing Association 2016 NYRA Media Guide – Belmont Stakes May 17, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160619132342/https://www.nyra.com/assets/4/7/2016_MG_Belmont_Stakes1.pdf June 19, 2016 dead B48 Through a half-mile, the two were even. Entering the backstretch and approaching three-quarters of a mile, Secretariat began to distance himself as Sham began to fade, ultimately finishing last. Approximately 11 days after the Belmont Stakes, Sham suffered a hairline fracture in his right front cannon bone during training,https://www.newspapers.com/article/lexington-herald-leader-the-doctor-was-s/151716991/ The Doctor Was Smiling: Sham Surgery Successful Robin Herman New York Times News Service Lexington Herald-Leader Lexington, Kentucky 12 July 9, 1973 July 20, 2024 newspapers.com which ended his racing career.JDuggernaut A Crying Sham: The Story of a Failed Triple Crown Bid http://www.firstandmonday.com/a-crying-sham/ First and Monday 9 June 2018 14 June 2020 17 June 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180617222643/http://www.firstandmonday.com/a-crying-sham/ dead Secretariat continued to extend his advantage for the rest of the race, finishing 31 lengths over the second-place finisher, Twice a Prince. Twice a Prince started slowly and moved along the rail until reaching second position, passing Sham and outpacing My Gallant. Track announcer Chic Anderson described Secretariat's move from the backstretch with the famous call, "Secretariat is widening now. He is moving like a tremendous machine!"Flatter Ron Secretariat remains No. 1 name in racing https://www.espn.com/sportscentury/features/00016464.html ESPN 20 June 2016 Secretariat set the Belmont Stakes track record at 2:24 and the record for largest margin of victory.Old Recs N The previous course record was 2:26 3 5, set by Gallant Man in 1957. The largest margin of victory at the Belmont Stakes before the 1973 race was set in 1943, when Count Fleet won by 25 lengths. Secretariat's 2:24 to cover 1.5 miles equates to an average speed of 37.5 mph kph.https://horsenetwork.com/2014/06/tremendous-machine-secretariat-belmont/ A Tremendous Machine: Secretariat at Belmont John Wilkinson horsenetwork.com June 4, 2014 June 25, 2020https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1988&dat=19730611&id=NT4iAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lKwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3090,5013660 Secretariat Defies Description After Record-Setting Belmont Run The Argus-Press Owosso, Michigan Associated Press Bob Cooper June 11, 1973 14Joe Hirsch Secretariat Achieves 'Triple' Grand Prix Nominations Number 22 – Astonishing 31 Lengths Best In 2:24 Belmont Stakes Romp June 11, 1973 1 Daily Racing Form LXXIX 139 Secretariat also broke the American record for a mile-and-a-half on a dirt track, breaking the previous record of 2:26 1 5, set by Going Abroad in 1964. Results + Final resultshttps://www.proquest.com/docview/119723014 Belmont Stakes Chart The New York Times June 10, 1973 5-1 119723014 subscription Nichols Joe June 8, 1973 Secretariat Gets Rail for Belmont https://www.nytimes.com/1973/06/08/archives/secretariat-gets-rail-for-belmont-sham-draws-outside-postshow.html The New York Times June 22, 2025 Finish PP Post position Pgm Program number Horse Jockey Trainer Owner Margin Final OddsOdds N The odds are all to $1; for example, Secretariat's odds of winning were $0.10 on a $1.00 wager. StakeStake N The total purse for the race was $150,200. 1 1 2 Secretariat Ron Turcotte Lucien Laurin Meadow Stable 31 $0.10 $90,120 2 4 5 Twice a Prince Braulio Baeza John P. Campo Elmendorf Farm 1 2 $17.30 $33,044 3 3 4 My Gallant Ángel Cordero Jr. Louis M. Goldfine Arthur I. Appleton 13 $12.40 $18,024 4 2 3 Pvt. Smiles Dan Gargan George T. Poole Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney 3 4 $14.30 $9,012 5 5 1A Sham Laffit Pincay, Jr. Frank "Pancho" Martin Sigmund Sommer – $5.10 $0 Scratched 4 1 Knightly Dawn Ismael Valenzuela Frank "Pancho" Martin Sigmund Sommer +TimesDistance Fractional Split1 4 mile 0:23 3 5 —1 2 mile 0:46 1 5 :22 3 53 4 mile 1:09 4 5 :23 3 5 1 mile 1:34 1 5 :24 2 51 1 4 mile 1:59 :24 4 5 Finish 2:24 :25 Payout schedule + Belmont Stakes Payout Schedulehttps://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19730610&id=SAYkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_AUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6608,2219029 Secretariat: A Triple Terror Ocala Star-Banner June 10, 1973 June 20, 2012 D1 Pgm Program number Horse Win Place ShowShow N As there were only five competing horses, there was no show awarded for the Stakes. This was the fifth instance where no bets for Show were taken for the Belmont Stakes.https://www.nyra.com/assets/4/7/2016_MG_Belmont_Stakes1.pdf The New York Racing Association 2016 NYRA Media Guide – Belmont Stakes May 17, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160619132342/https://www.nyra.com/assets/4/7/2016_MG_Belmont_Stakes1.pdf June 19, 2016 B4 2 Secretariat $2.60 $2.20 – 5 Twice a Prince – $2.20 – $3 Exacta: (2–5) $35.20 Analysis Neil Milbert of the Chicago Tribune wrote that Secretariat "ran what may have been the greatest horse race in history."Secretariat Gallops to Triple Crown! Neil Milbert Chicago Tribune June 10, 1973 C1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54158513/secretariat-gallops-to-triple-crown/ June 26, 2020 newspapers.com When asked about Secretariat's margin of victory, trainer Lucien Laurin stated: "Naturally, not that big!" He further commented on Sham's performance saying, "The horse we had to kill, we did." My Gallant's jockey Ángel Cordero Jr. said Secretariat was "just like a car." Secretariat's jockey Ron Turcotte told the press that he saw the timer on the track hit 2:20 and he told himself "Oh I can make it" and continued to press Secretariat forward to break the course record.https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=19730611&id=86xOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-ksDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4084,5716424 Secretariat Super in Clinching Crown Ludington Daily News UPI June 10, 1973 5https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1988&dat=19730611&id=NT4iAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lKwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3090,5013660 Bob Cooper Secretariat Defies Description After Record-Setting Belmont Run The Argus-Press Associated Press June 10, 1973 14 The UPI wrote that Secretariat's performance in the race put him in the ranks of the greatest race horses of all time. That day at Belmont Park, $7.9 million was wagered on the nine races that were held during the day, which includes $2.2 million from off-track betting.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54159989/79-million-bet-on-belmont-races/ $7.9 Million Bet on Belmont Races Los Angeles Times Associated Press June 10, 1973 C15 June 25, 2020 newspapers.com A total of $5.6 million was bet through the mutuels that day. The Stakes itself had $519,689 bet on it. Bettors holding 5,617 winning parimutuel tickets on Secretariat never redeemed them, presumably keeping them as souvenirs.https://www.theguardian.com/observer/osm/story/0,,782470,00.html The 10 greatest horse races of all time Sean Magee Observer Sport Monthly Guardian News and Media Limited September 1, 2002 June 19, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160619134844/http://www.theguardian.com/observer/osm/story/0%2C%2C782470%2C00.html live Aftermath thumb|upright=0.5|Racing colors of Meadow Stable 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,https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19730611&id=GaRPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wlEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5155,5340482&hl=en Secretariat shatters mark The Bryant Times UPI Ray Ayers June 11, 1973 11 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.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 Following the Belmont, Secretariat was allowed several weeks rest before entering a few more competitions and then starting his a career as a stud, where he had been syndicated for close to $6.08 million. In part due to accomplishing the Triple Crown and winning other races during the 1973 calendar season, Secretariat won Horse of the Year for the second consecutive year.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hhMyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6aEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2262,698356&dq=secretariat+horse-of-the-year&hl=en Associated Press Triple Crown winner Secretariat sweeps Horse of the Year ballotting Montreal Gazette December 19, 1973 June 20, 2012 In addition, he also won Eclipse Awards as the American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse and the American Champion Male Turf Horse. He was inducted to the Thoroughbred Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1974.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54164309/secretariat-riva-said-ok/ Secretariat, Riva Said OK Miami Herald 8-E August 7, 1974 June 25, 2020 newspapers.com In 2013, the 40th anniversary of his Belmont win was commemorated by the New York Racing Association by placing a blue-and-white checkered pole (the colors of Meadow Stable) at the Belmont track, located 253 ft 2 in m from the finish line to mark the 31-length margin of victory.Staff NYRA Places Secretariat Belmont Margin Pole http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/120569/nyra-places-secretariat-belmont-margin-pole The Blood Horse 20 June 2016 June 7, 2013 References Notes N Citations 30em External links Secretariat Belmont Stakes 1973 & extended coverage via YouTube 1973 Belmont Stakes racing chart at belmontstakes.com Category:Belmont Stakes races Belmont Stakes Belmont Stakes Belmont Stakes Belmont Stakes