Jockey Ron Turcotte rides Secretariat to victory at the 99th Run for the Roses, on their way to capturing horse racing’s Triple Crown
On May 5, 1973, Ron Turcotte rode Secretariat to victory in the 99th Kentucky Derby en route to capturing the Preakness and the Belmont later that year to capture horse racing’s illustrious Triple Crown. Jockey and horse posted a time of 1:59.4 – the fastest Run for the Roses ever.
Breaking from post 10, Secretariat didn’t explode out of the gate; instead, he settled comfortably in the early stages, biding his time as the field thundered down the Churchill Downs stretch for the first time. Then came the move that would become legend—Turcotte gave him his cue, and Secretariat began devouring ground with impossibly long, fluid strides. One by one, rivals fell away as if standing still.
By the top of the stretch, the chestnut colt surged to the lead, his powerful frame gliding effortlessly over the dirt. What made the performance even more remarkable was how he ran each quarter-mile faster than the last, an almost unheard-of feat. It wasn’t just a win; it was a statement, a prelude to dominance that would soon be etched permanently into racing history.