Fifty years ago, the nation’s most celebrated and electrifying athlete made a grand entrance in Chicago—but not in the traditional sense of a baseball, basketball, or football star. This remarkable figure was a horse—a majestic creature standing 16 hands 1 1/2 inches tall and tipping the scales at over 1,550 pounds.
Nicknamed “Big Red” for the vivid color of his mane, Secretariat stunned the racing world when he became the first thoroughbred in 25 years—and only the ninth in American history—to capture the coveted Triple Crown. His defining moment came at the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes, where he raced to a record-setting time of 2:24, surging ahead by an unprecedented 31 lengths—a record that still echoes through the annals of horse racing. In addition to this historic performance, Secretariat left his mark by clocking record times at both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes in 1973.
The story of Secretariat’s rise is as dramatic as it is unexpected. Born on March 30, 1970, his future was determined by a coin toss—a decision both parties were eager to lose. As the upkeep costs of Meadow Stables in Virginia grew increasingly burdensome, his owner, Penny Chenery (then known as Penny Tweedy), took the bold step of selling stud shares in Secretariat for a total of $6 million.
When Secretariat journeyed to Chicago, many critics feared it was a perilous move that could risk his well-being. Yet, for Chenery, the trip was nothing short of a victory lap—a chance to celebrate not only the horse’s achievements but also to honor the devoted fans of the Midwest who had come to admire him and support the sport. Reflecting on the decision, Chenery told the Tribune, “I received a lot of criticism for bringing him to Chicago. People said he might be hurt. They asked, ‘Why do it? What more can he prove?’ I don’t feel that way. So far we must have sent out 1,000 free pictures of Secretariat. We get requests from kids who are crazy about horses and think this horse is beautiful. We get letters from widows and from old race trackers. I think that every kid who gets a picture now may come to the track when she’s 16. At this stage we get some 200 letters a day.”
Secretariat’s bold appearance in Chicago was more than a public relations stunt—it was a declaration of the timeless allure of horse racing. His presence bridged generations, inspiring not only seasoned enthusiasts but also igniting the dreams of countless young fans. In that moment, Secretariat wasn’t just racing; he was proving that sometimes, true greatness rides on four legs, leaving an everlasting imprint on the hearts of all who witnessed him in motion
