| In this article we're going to take a brief look at | | | | was a maiden race the stands were packed on this |
| Secretariat's early races in his career that led up to a | | | | day. For true racing fans this was a historical event |
| triple crown winner. | | | | and one that they weren't going to miss. Of course if |
| Secretariat was a winner, but he didn't start out that | | | | you ask people to this day, there will be many more |
| way. His very first maiden race was on the 4th of July | | | | who will have claimed to have been there than actually |
| in 1972. There was a lot of fanfare surrounding this | | | | were on hand. Kind of like Woodstock. |
| race. The big bad red racehorse was supposed to eat | | | | Even though Secretariat didn't win his first race, his |
| up the field alive. All the talk about his lineage and all | | | | winless career wouldn't last long. Eleven days after his |
| the rah, rah, rah, couldn't stop a 4th place finish. Oh he | | | | racing debut at Aqueduct he was back at that same |
| was chasing after the leader as they came down the | | | | race course as the favorite to win. |
| finish line but never could catch him. In spite of the | | | | He got off to a shaky start in this race but showed |
| disappointing 4th place finish, owner Penny Chenery | | | | some real power down the stretch. He came out of |
| and trainer Lucien Laurin, along with the Meadow | | | | the gate 6th and immediately went for victory, not |
| Stable crew, must have seen something special on | | | | pacing himself at all. Unfortunately he didn't break out |
| that Independence Day. | | | | well and was rushed into contention. He quickly went |
| Twelve horses were entered into that race on that | | | | from 6th to 4th until finally he was first by about a half |
| day at the Aqueduct Race Course. For those who | | | | a length. Around mid stretch he really took command |
| don't know this, a maiden race is a race where all the | | | | and went on to win the race by four full lengths or the |
| horses are non winners. Not only were these twelve | | | | distance of four horses. The rider of Secretariat for his |
| horses non winners but five of them had never even | | | | first win was veteran jockey Ben Feliciano. |
| been in a horse race. While this race was viewed as a | | | | Secretariat had his first of what would be many wins. |
| learning experience for the young Secretariat, it more | | | | He didn't disappoint anyone on this day, coming in as |
| than showed what he was capable of doing. | | | | the favorite and winning easily. After the race, |
| In this race Secretariat was a 3-1 odds to win. Ironically, | | | | Secretariat headed for Saratoga Springs, New York. |
| this was the longest odds he would ever go off at in | | | | At Saratoga, everyone's eyes were on what was |
| his whole career and it was only time that he ran a | | | | going to become one of the greatest race horses of |
| race and didn't win, place or show. Even though this | | | | all time. |