Secretariat was buried at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky. He is buried next to his sire, Bold Ruler. He was given the rare honor for a racehorse of being buried whole. Normally most of the body of a winning racehorse is cremated, and the head, heart and hooves are buried. The head - symbolizing intelligence, the heart - symbolizing strength, and the hooves - symbolizing power.
The trainers at Claborne Farms (Secretariat sired just over 600 colts in his lifetime!) heard Secretariat nay in pain and limp on September 12, 1989. The vet was called and found that Secretariat had a case of "laminitis" - an inflammation of the sensitive plates of tissue in the hoof, usually causing lameness. It is one of the most serious equine hoof diseases and most painful. There is no known cure. Penny Chenery (Secretariat's owner) was called and told. Several vets were consulted and all agreed that the best thing to do was to put the horse down, rather than allow it to live a painful life.
Secretariat was destroyed on October 4, 1989 at the age of 19. He is buried at Claborne Farms in Paris, Kentucky with a headstone that simply says "SECRETARIAT March 30, 1970 - October 4, 1989". Normally when burying a horse - only the heart, the head and the 4 hoofs are buried and the remainder is cremated. Secretariat was given the honor of begin buried whole.
During Secretariat's necropsy, it was discovered that his heart weighed about 22 pounds. A normal horse heart weighs about 9 pounds. This was truly, the heart of a champion.
Secretariat won 16 of his 21 career races, with 3 second places and one third place - he finished "in the money" in 20 of his 21 races with total earnings of $3,316,808. His stud fees and rights were sold BEFORE he won the Triple Crown! The records that he set at the 1973 Kentucky Derby and the 1973 Preakness - still stand today!! Secretariat is considered by most racing breeders as the greatest race horse that ever lived.
The purse for the 1973 Belmont Stakes, which Secretariat won, was $150,000. This victory was part of his historic Triple Crown achievement, where he won all three races in the series: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. Secretariat set a world record in the Belmont, completing the race in 2:24, a time that still stands today.
Yes. A statue.
Whole
2:24 flat by Secretariat in 1973.
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Yes, Secretariat traveled to Long Island in 1973 to compete in the Belmont Stakes, which was held at Belmont Park. This race was significant as it marked his attempt to win the Triple Crown after victories in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. Secretariat won the Belmont by an impressive 31 lengths, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest racehorses in history.
The fastest time was Secretariat's 31 length win in 1973 of 2:24.
Secretariat won the 1973 Belmont by 31 lengths in 2:24 flat.
Kentucky Derby. Belmont Stakes.Preakness Stakes. Marlboro Cup.
Secretariat's top speed was recorded at about 49 mph during the Belmont Stakes in 1973.
Secretariat died on October 4 1989. He is buried at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky.
The record time for the Belmont Stakes was set by Secretariat in 1973 in a time of 2 minutes and 24 seconds.