Analysis 1973 Kentucky Derby

secretariat @ derby

the win in kentucky derby marked secretariat s third win in 4 races had run three-year old. after race, jockey ron turcotte stated, in response secretariat s last place start, dropped hand on him , let him run own race. secretariat s victory, trainer lucien laurin had second consecutive win in derby, riva ridge won in 1972. turcotte accomplished similar feat had ridden riva ridge, marking third time jockey had won in derby in consecutive years.

when secretariat pulled alongside sham, sham s jockey, laffit pincay jr., felt sham had lot left, other horse much. pincay stated in future races, planned wait little longer before making move. donald brumfield, our native s jockey said twice prince kicked our native in hoof , body while rearing in starting gate. forced brumfield dismount , adjust saddle, delaying derby s start. despite this, brumfield stated did not want make excuses, considered, horse did fine.

betting on ten races held day @ churchill downs totaled $7,627,965, breaking previous single-day record american horse racing events of $7,164,717. off-track betting on kentucky derby reached $3,050,194, included in previous record total.

secretariat went on participate in preakness stakes 2 weeks later, finished in first. sham second, again, margin of  2 ⁄2 lengths. 3 weeks after preakness, belmont stakes featured five-horse field. secretariat won 31 lengths time of 2:24 mile , half, both course records in own right. through combined victories @ belmont stakes, preakness stakes, , kentucky derby, secretariat became ninth horse complete triple crown of thoroughbred racing, , first horse since citation in 1948, ending 25-year period without triple crown winner. secretariat s times in 3 triple crown races course records , still stand day.