Forty years ago, a big red colt won the Kentucky Derby running every quarter faster than the last, in a record time of 1:59.40 that still stands.
In the 1 1/2 mile Belmont, he covered the Derby distance in 1:59, en route to the most spectacular Triple Crown victory in history.
The 139th running is today. Post time: 7:00 pm Eastern. Meet some of the contenders in these Barbara Livingston photos taken this week.
According to the NBC website, their DERBY coverage runs 4-7 p.m. ET.
Actual post time is 6:20, with 40 minutes of analysis after the two-minute run.
Wouldn’t want anybody to miss the actual race.
Y’er welcome.
I watched that derby 40 years ago on TV with my family and friends, incidental to a backyard gathering. That horse amazed me. And then the dad of of one of my friends said – “Remember this day, kids. Remember it.” I thought I knew what he meant, but am only now really beginning to understand it.
Wonderful story Kate. Thanks
Love the name of the horse “Frac Daddy”. And yes, that is frac as in fracking for oil in gas. Frac Daddy’s owners are in the oil biz.
The more things change, the more they remain the same,
“He was the only honest thing in this country at the time. This huge magnificent animal who wasn’t tied up in scandal, wasn’t tied up in money…
Yawn. In one of the Sherlock Holmes stories Holmes snarks to Watson that the British people are constantly surprised that one horse can run faster than another.
Great story…gave me “goose shivers”. But it also brought me further back to the “woulda, coulda, shoulda” moment of the 1964 Kentucky Derby and a potential Triple Crowner that wasn’t meant to be.
Yes..Northern Dancer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Dancer
What a great video. I don’t know where you found it Kate, but thanks for posting it. I’m sure most people on this site have viewed the movie about Secretariat. A couple of years after the movie was released I met a guy who, while not part of the inner circle, was close to those involved with the horse. Naturally I asked him if the film represented an accurate depiction of what had happened…he said a few artistic licences were employed but by and large the film was accurate.
The Belmont Stakes race involving Secretariat just has has to go down in history as the greatest horse race that ever happened…nothing else even comes close.
Sadly, Secretariat had to be put down in 1989 because of laminitis.
I doubt that we will ever experience a story and a magnificent horse of this nature again.
The sad thing Garry, is that Windfield farms has fallen into disrepair. MUch of the land has been paved over for a parking lot. Apparently some of the horse barns and the site of Northen Dancer’s grave are still intact, but covered by overgrown weeds and rubbish. A pitiful end for a Canadian icon.
Bruce, you are correct. The land is now the site of Durham College and UOIT. I remember some sibling infighting after EP’s death over what to do with the “spoils”. Evidently, in the fall of 2012, an attempt is being made to preserve the dignity and history of the burial site of a number of champions including EP’s first… “Windfields”.
The greatest horse race in modern history. The background story is what makes it truly amazing! Penny C. knew greatness when she saw it.