Secretariat and the Marlboro Cup
One of the most famous racehorses of all time, Secretariat was sired by Bold Ruler, a leading sire who was also the sire of Seattle Slew, and his dam was Somethingroyal, a daughter of Princequillo. Secretariat was bred and owned by Penny Chenery's Meadow Stable.
Secretariat's wins included the 1973 Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, becoming the first horse since Citation in 1948 to win the Triple Crown. He set racing records in all three races.
His time in the Kentucky Derby still stands as the Churchill Downs track record, and his Belmont time is the American record for one-and-a-half miles on dirt.
On September 15, 1973, Secretariat won the inaugural Marlboro Cup at Belmont Park in a world‑record time of 1:45 2/5 (1:45.40) over 1 1/8 miles on dirt
The Marlboro Cup was created by Philip Morris to showcase Secretariat, the 1973 U.S. Triple Crown champion, and was initially conceived as a match race against his stablemate Riva Ridge. Although the plan shifted to an invitational, the event drew 48,000 spectators and national CBS broadcast.
Secretariat, ridden by Ron Turcotte, started from the rear, broke through the pack, and surged home to win by 3½ lengths. His 1:45.40 clocked over 1 1/8 miles was a world record at the time, set on a track rated “good”. Riva Ridge finished second, and other contenders included Cougar II, Kennedy Road, Key to the Mint, Annihilate ’em, and Onion. The race became an annual Grade 1 event at Belmont Park until the Breeders’ Cup series began in 1984.
Secretariat’s Marlboro Cup victory remains one of the most celebrated performances in American horse racing history, combining speed, dominance, and cultural impact. Secretariat was retired to stud at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky, where he eventually became the leading sire in North America for several years.
