Big Red was the affectionate nick-name of the Thoroughbred racehorse Secretariat, the 1973 Triple Crown Winner. His spectacular wins inaugurated a new era in American horse racing, and he is widely considered one of the greatest racehorses of all time.
He was the first Triple Crown winner after 25 years, and was the first to do so in record-breaking times, setting new records for the Kentucky Derby and for the Belmont Stakes. Big Red was a chestnut colt foaled at Meadow Farm in Doswell, Virginia.
He was bred by Meadow Stable and won 16 of his 21 career starts. He stood 16. 2 hands and weighed 1,175 pounds. He was foaled in 1970, and was owned by Christopher Chenery and trained by Lucien Laurin.
Secretariat was ridden by jockey Ron Turcotte who, coincidentally, also received the name “Big Red” because of his own red hair. Secretariat was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1974, just 348 days after winning the Triple Crown.
Are Secretariat and Big Red the same horse?
No, Secretariat and Big Red are not the same horse. Secretariat was a legendary American Thoroughbred race horse who won the Triple Crown in 1973. Secretariat set a record for the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes that still stands, and he was the first horse in 25 years to win the Triple Crown.
Big Red, on the other hand, is an informal nickname given to any horse of the chestnut coloration in the Thoroughbred breed. It is a generalized term that refers to any horse of similar color rather than a specific horse.
Big Red may also refer to more modern race horses, such as Australian thoroughbred horse Phar Lap and American thoroughbred Barbaro who won the 2006 Kentucky Derby and prior Triple Crown contender, Citation.
Who owned Big Red the race horse?
Big Red was owned by prominent businessman Christopher T. Wangsness. Wangsness was a Wall Street Whiz and partner in a brokerage firm, who also founded a series of businesses and partnerships. He owned multiple farms and stables in the United States and Europe and maintained a large stable of race horses.
Big Red, a chestnut stallion, was the crown jewel of his stable. Wangsness bred and raced Big Red in the late 1920s and early 1930s. During his time, Big Red became one of the most renowned race horses in America, holding multiple track records and winning numerous championships.
He was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1969, where Wangsness was present during the ceremony. Big Red remains to this day a symbol of Wangsness’ successful career as a businessman and horse breeder.
Why was Big Red named Secretariat?
Secretariat was named “Big Red” by the staff at the Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky, where he lived out the majority of his life and trained. The name was given to him due to his big, red coat and imposing presence.
The Big Red name then gained popularity with the public, who kept using it until the name Secretariat was chosen for him as an official racing name. His registered name became “Owing to the overwhelming public response, Hugh Luke and Penny Tweedy decided to use the name Secretariat at the behest of their trainer, Lucien Laurin, on January 29, 1972.
The name was derived from the Thoroughbred Racing Associations ruling in late 1971 that announced that all officially registered Thoroughbreds must have secretarial names. This meant that the names of all registered Thoroughbreds had to start with “secr.
” or “Sec. “; thus, the staff at Claiborne Farm gave Secretariat his official racing name.
Which horse was bigger Man O War or Secretariat?
When comparing two of the greatest horses of all time, Man O War and Secretariat, there is really no definitive answer in terms of which horse was bigger. While many people will say that Secretariat was the bigger horse of the two, there is really no way to accurately determine which horse was in fact bigger.
Man O War was a large size for a thoroughbred, standing at 16. 2 hands (17 hands for Secretariat) and weighing 1,200 pounds, while Secretariat was slightly smaller, standing at 17 hands and weighing 1,175 pounds.
While Man O War was definitely a bigger horse in terms of overall size, it is impossible to say definitively which one was bigger than the other. Ultimately, the size of a horse is determined by a wide range of factors, and comparing Man O War and Secretariat is an apples to oranges comparison.
When it comes to who was a better horse, however, that is a much clearer comparison: when it comes to unmatched success in the horse racing world, Secretariat is the indisputable winner.
Who is the fastest horse in history?
The fastest horse in history is the acclaimed American thoroughbred Dr. Fager. He holds the world record for the fastest time ever run in a mile on a dirt track – 1:32⅘. This record was achieved at Arlington Park in 1968 and has remained unbroken in the ensuing decades.
Although the Texas-born racehorse was never able to win the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness Stakes, his speed and performance on the track made him a champion in his own right. Known as “The Horse of the Year” in 1968, Dr.
Fager continued to make headlines throughout his career, eventually being inducted into the Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1979. His innate talent and winning record make Dr. Fager one of the most iconic horses in equestrian history.
Why was Secretariat euthanized?
Secretariat was euthanized on October 4, 1989 at age 19 due to laminitis, an incurable hoof disease. Laminitis is an inflammation of the sensitive laminae (or innermost layer) of the hoof, and can cause a great deal of pain and reduce an affected horse’s quality of life substantially.
Secretariat’s diagnosis was determined after X-rays and examinations revealed that he was unable to bear any weight on his affected laminae and a serious abscess in his hoof had created a wound that could not heal.
The horse’s owners, Penny Chenery and her family, took the heart-wrenching decision to put Secretariat to sleep, as they wanted him to live with dignity and without suffering rather than enduring debilitating pain.
After his death, Secretariat was cremated and his ashes were scattered at Claiborne Farm, where he spent much of his life before becoming a Triple Crown Champion. His reputation as one of the greatest thoroughbred racehorses of all time has been lasting and will continue to be remembered by generations to come.
How much bigger was Secretariat’s heart than other horses?
Secretariat’s heart was about two-and-a-half times larger than that of the average horse. According to a necropsy report from a veterinarian who examined him after his death in 1989, Secretariat had a heart that weighed 22 pounds—nearly twice the average 12-pound equine heart.
Dr. ThomasSwerczek, the veterinarian, also shared that Secretariat’s heart was “much bigger and heavier than what we expect in the horse, or any animal of that size. ” Additionally, the chambers of Secretariat’s heart were significantly larger and the walls considerably thicker than those in the typical equine heart, permitting greater amounts of blood to flow with each contraction.
These unique characteristics were believed to be part of the reason for Secretariat’s astonishing speed. Beyond simply its size, the Secretariat’s heart was specifically adapted for great aerobic activity, allowing the horse to outrun the competition during races.
How did Secretariat pass away?
Secretariat passed away on October 4, 1989 from laminitis, a common and painful hoof condition that is often caused by improperly trimmed hooves, inadequate nutrition, and/or overworking. In the days leading up to Secretariat’s death, he had shown signs of discomfort and was showing signs of the disease.
After multiple treatments failed, the difficult decision was made to euthanize Secretariat. Upon his death, Secretariat’s veterinarian, Dr. William Reed, performed a post-mortem examination that revealed that Secretariat suffered from an inoperable tumor of the throat, which exacerbated the laminitis and ultimately lead to his death.
After his passing, Secretariat was buried at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky, where he stands today in eternal glory.
How much did it cost to breed with Secretariat?
The cost to breed with Secretariat, one of the most famous Thoroughbred racehorses in history, largely depended on the mare and the year the breeding occurred. For example, in 1977, the price for a single breeding with Secretariat was estimated to cost between $15,000 – $50,000.
However, as his fame and his accomplishments grew, as did the cost of breeding with him. In 1978, at the height of his fame, breeding with Secretariat had increased to a reported $250,000.
It should be noted that those amounts were just for theservice fee that the owner charged for the breeding. It does not include the cost of the mare’s care or any of the other associated costs that come with breeding a horse.
As his fame grew, usually the price rose as did the number of mares that were selected to breed with him. Ultimately, when Secretariat was retired from stud duty in 1989, he had sired 652 foals, and each breeding with him was said to cost between $75,000 – $500,000.
Has any horse came close to Secretariat?
Secretariat was an iconic thoroughbred racehorse who had a historic career on the track, winning the Triple Crown in 1973 among a number of other impressive feats. As such, it’s understandable that many other horses throughout racing history have been compared to Secretariat’s legacy, and some have still managed to make a name for themselves despite the difficulty of achieving such a feat.
One of the most famous examples would be the racehorse Man o’ War, who became an American hero when he posted an impressive 20-length victory at the 1920 Preakness Stakes. Another horse to have been compared to Secretariat is Seattle Slew, who won the 1977 Triple Crown – the first horse to do so since Secretariat.
Notably, Seattle Slew’s three consecutive victories in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes were often attributed to the careful training tactics of the legendary jockey, Billy Edwards. A more recent example would be 2018 Triple Crown winner, Justify.
Although his career was short-lived due to injury, he managed to immortalize his name in the racing sphere by taking the Triple Crown and ending a dry spell of 35 years in which no horse accomplished the feat.
Despite coming close, no horse has been able to match Secretariat’s record of being the only horse to win the Triple Crown in less than two minutes.
Was Secretariat a male or female?
Secretariat was a male. He was foaled on March 30, 1970, in Doswell, Virginia, and was a thoroughbred racehorse. He was sired by Bold Ruler out of Somethingroyal, who was by Princequillo. Secretariat was noted for his outstanding performance in the 1972 Triple Crown, in which he won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, becoming the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 25 years.
He broke multiple track records in the three races, including setting the world record for a mile and a half on dirt in the Belmont. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest racehorses of all time.
Is Secretariat related to Man O War?
No, Secretariat is not related to Man O War. They are both Thoroughbred racehorses that are considered among the greatest in the history of the sport, but they are not related. Secretariat was foaled in 1970 while Man O War was foaled in 1917, so they are too distantly separated in terms of generations.
They were both successful sires and had many successful progeny, with Secretariat’s progeny being especially successful in the Thoroughbred racing world, but the two are not blood related.
Is War Admiral related to Secretariat?
No, War Admiral is not related to Secretariat. War Admiral was an American thoroughbred racehorse that won the Triple Crown in the 1930s, and Secretariat was a horse who won the Triple Crown in 1973.
While both horses are notable for their incredible performances on the track, there is no known connection between them. War Admiral was sired by a stallion named Man o’ War, and Secretariat was sired by a horse called Bold Ruler.
So there is no known connection between War Admiral and Secretariat.
What bloodline was Secretariat from?
Secretariat was from a powerful thoroughbred racing bloodline known as the Darley Arabian line. His sire (father) was Bold Ruler, a multiple stakes-winning son of the 1956 Horse of the Year Nasrullah.
Secretariat’s dam (mother) was Somethingroyal, a daughter of the 1947 Triple Crown winner, Count Fleet. Secretariat’s bloodline was further enhanced with his maternal fourth-generation great-grand sire, the undefeated Nearco, along with Kentucky Derby winner Mah Mahal, who was also the sire of Count Fleet.
Secretariat was the product of a successful pedigree, including some of the greatest names in American racing such as Man o’ War, Count Fleet, and Bold Ruler. The Darley Arabian line was known for its superior performance on the track and it helped create Secretariat’s ability to run at tremendous speed and stamina.