The move Secretariat put on around the first turn, exploding from the back of the pack to the front in 15 seconds, was one of the freakiest things he did.

Many observers, including Secretariat’s trainer, Lucien Laurin, thought jockey Ron Turcotte had moved too soon and might pay for his impatience. Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. loved what he saw from atop Secretariat’s chief rival, Sham, figuring Secretariat would be a sitting duck by the stretch run.

“Well, you saw what happened,” Pincay said recently, reflecting on the duel.

Turcotte did not like the slow early pace set by Ecole Etage, so with the slightest movement of his hands – he equated it to pulling a shirt collar straight – he asked the rocket ship he was aboard to launch. Once Secretariat fired, no horse, not even a game Sham, had the juice to catch up.