“A GOOD HORSE KNOWS,He Knows” Penny actually used this comment in the Movie
NY Times Article ,part interview of Ron Turcotte June,6th,1976.
…A Good Horse Knows’
At a mile and one‐half, the Belmont Stakes is known as the Test of a Champion.
“He seemed to know he had to go a mile and a half,” Ron Turcotte was saying now. “He seemed sluggish going to the post, like he was saving himself. But at the time I was worried. I thought, ‘Oh, my goodness, what’s the matter?’ I tapped a few times and he reacted like, ‘What are you doing, knocking the flies off.’ He had me worried, but when the bell rang he was all horse. He knew he was in a classic race. Good horses know. The atmosphere is different. The big crowd, all the cameras, the music. Especially the music. They start prancing to the music. You ask most riders, they will tell you that a good horse knows it’s a different race.”And now, on the closed circuit TV set in the jockeys’ room, a videotape was being shown of Secretariat’s victory against which every Belmont Stakes will be measured. Ron Turcotte glanced up, said, “Let’s watch this,” and stared at the screen as if hypnotized. The 33‐year‐old jockey didn’t say another word until he and Secretariat had finished 21 lengths.in front. “I’ll always remember that ride,” he said. “When did you know that you had it won?”
“After the Preakness,” he said. “I just crossed my fingers that nothing would happen. He was in such tremendous shape, I knew he would win the Belmont if nothing happened. But a horse can always take a bad step, or.he can get kicked by another horse in the parade. I kept him away from other horses in the parade.”
