June 9, 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of Secretariat winning the Belmont Stakes and capturing the Triple Crown. The Triple Crown is an annual series of races for three-year-old Thoroughbreds: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.

Text from AP News story, Turcotte Enjoys ‘Wonderful Ride,’ in the Sun Sentinel, on Monday, June 10, 1973.

New York - “It was a great ride, a wonderful ride. He’s just the complete horse,” beamed jockey Ron Turcotte in the jockeys’ room at Belmont Park after riding Secretariat to a record-smashing 31-length win yesterday in the 105th running of the $150,200 Belmont Stakes.

The victory gave the Meadow Stable colt a sweep of the Triple Crown, making him the first since Citation in 1948 to accomplish the feat.

Turcotte, winning his second straight Belmont Stakes after scoring with Riva Ridge last year, had high praise for Secretariat, who became the ninth Triple Crown winner.

“I let him run a bit early to get a position to the first turn,” said the Canadian-born Turcotte. “Once he got inside of Sham he wasn’t about to give anything away.”

Penny Chenery, owner of Secretariat, displays her happiness in her clubhouse box at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., on June 9, 1973, after her colt won the Belmont Stakes and became the first horse in 25 years to win racing's Triple Crown. (AP Photo/Jack Kanthal)

Secretariat, taking the lead shortly after rounding the first turn, moved into command before going a quarter of a mile and widened on his field with every stride in the 1 1/2-mile test.

His clocking of 2:24 clipped two and three-fifth seconds off the track mark of 2:26 3-5 held by Gallant Man, winner of the 1957 Belmont Stakes, and two and a fifth seconds off the American record for the distance.

“When we got into the stretch and I saw those fractions on the tote board I set him down for the first time,” said Turcotte. “I knew I had a chance at the record. He had been fast but he still had more when I asked him and he got the record. Real good, too.”

Braulio Baeza, aboard Twice A Prince the 17-1 outsider in the field, was pleased with the performance of his colt.

“My horse ran a better race than was expected, but Secretariat is a super horse,” Baeza said. “You can expect him to do more things better than any other horse.”

Angel Cordero, Jr., rider of My Gallant, said Secretariat “is just a tremendous horse. He is a runner, a real runner, but when Sham and he hooked up in the early part I thought I had a shot. But that feeling lasted only until Secretariat ran Sham into the ground and went off by himself. The winner is the best horse I’ve ever seen.”

Laffit Pincay, Jr., aboard Sham, who was expected to provide Secretariat with the strongest challenge in the Belmont, said his horse, “just didn’t run his race.”

“We just couldn’t get the lead and he ran well for about three-quarters of a mile. After that I didn’t abuse him.”

Trainer Lucien Laurin said Secretariat would probably make his next start in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga in August but might be seen next under silks in the Jim Dandy.

Kentucky Derby

Jockey Ron Turcotte begins to stand up as he rides Secretariat across the finish line during the 99th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on May 5, 1973. Sham, right, finished second and Our Native, 8-left, finished third. (AP Photo)

Jockey Ron Turcotte in the Winner's Circle at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., May 5, 1973, after Turcotte rode Secretariat to a record win in the 99th Kentucky Derby. (AP Photo)

Penny Chenery, owner of Secretariat, right, jockey Ron Turcotte, second from right, and trainer Lucien Lauren, third from left, show off their trophy in the Winner's Circle at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., May 5, 1973 after Turcotte rode Secretariat to a record win in the 99th Kentucky Derby. (AP Photo)

Secretariat, winner of the 99th Kentucky Derby, sports a blanket of roses as jockey Ron Turcotte pats him in the winner's circle at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on May 5, 1973. Others are, from left, Penny Chenery, owner, Lucien Lauren, trainer, and Eddie Sweet, groom. (AP Photo)

This is a fish-eye lens view of Secretariat, ridden by Ron Turcotte, thundering past the packed clubhouse at Churchill Downs, Louisville, Ky., to win the 1973 Kentucky Derby on May 5, 1973. (AP Photo)

Preakness

Belmont Stakes

Jockey Ron Turcotte, aboard Secretariat, turns for a look at the field many lengths behind, June 9, 1973, as they make the final turn on his way to winning the Belmont Stakes and the 1973 Triple Crown. (AP Photo/Dave Pickoff)

With his sights set for victory in the June 9 Belmont Stakes to capture the Triple Crown, Secretariat works out with an exercise rider in the shed row at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., May 23, 1973. The horse loosened up indoors to avoid rainy weather. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)

The field horses entered in the Belmont Stakes leave the starting gate in Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., June 9, 1973. From left, are, Sham; Twice a Prince; My Gallant; Pvt. Smiles, and Secretariat, who won the race and racing's Triple Crown. Secretariat also won the Preakness and the Kentucky Derby. (AP Photo)

Ron Turcotte hangs on as Secretariat romps along the final stretch just before the finish line and a victory in the 105th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., June 9, 1973. Secretariat became the ninth horse to win racing's Triple Crown. (AP Photo)

Jockey Ron Turcotte rides Secretariat towards the Winner’s Circle after they captured the Triple Crown for 1973 by winning the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., June 9, 1973, before a crowd of 70,000 fans. (AP Photo)

Warren C. Mehrtens, left, a winner of Racing's Triple Crown with Assault in 1946, hugs jockey Ron Turcotte in the Belmont Park jockey room after Turcotte and Secretariat won the Belmont Stakes and the 1973 Triple Crown, June 9, 1973. Mehrtens is now a steward with the New York Racing Association. (AP Photo/John Rooney)

Triple Crown winner Secretariat is led by groom Ed Sweet for a walk and grazing at Belmont Park after winning the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, N.Y., on June 9, 1973. In capturing the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, Secretariat is the first horse to win the U.S. Triple Crown since Citation in 1948. (AP Photo)

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