Perhaps the most famous horse of all time, Secretariat burst upon the racing scene in 1972 en route to becoming the Horse of the Year. But it was the 1973 Triple Crown races and the manner in which he won them that made Secretariat a household name on the road to sports immortality. Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby setting a new track record which still stands today with a final time of 1:59 2/5 for the 1 1/4 mile race. He followed this with another record-breaking performance in the Preakness. But it was the Belmont Stakes and his amazing 31-length margin of victory in the world record time of 2:24 for a 1 1/2 mile that the horse became legend. Secretariat won many additional major stakes on dirt and turf, such as the Man O' War, Canadian International, Arlington Invitational, Gotham, Bay Shore, Garden State, Laurel Futurity, Belmont Futurity, Hopeful and Sanford Stakes. His career earnings of $1,316,808 are impressive in any era but especially so in the early 70's prior to the advent of modern day racing's rich purses. As a stallion Secretariat sired 57 stakes winners including champions Risen Star and Horse of the Year Lady's Secret. His impact is still prevalent in today's thoroughbred industry predominantly as the broodmare sire of A.P. Indy and Storm Cat - two successful grandsons of Secretariat that represent the cream of the Thoroughbred breeding industry today.
The Secretariat shoe was obtained from Claiborne Farm on June 4, 1987 by blacksmith Eddie Perkins. The shoe rests on a tooled solid walnut wood plaque with corresponding brass nameplate.
As prices continue to climb for verifiable original Secretariat memorabilia, their scarcity has become very evident. Documented Secretariat artifacts may now be considered as much an investment as a collectible.
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