Once upon a time, a long time ago, there were Thoroughbreds that could carry heavy weight assignments, set multiple track records, run 16 to 20 times a year … then come back the next year, and the next year, and do it all again.

In the modern world of horse racing – an era in which the connections of champion racehorses carefully pick their spots and rarely race more often than once a month – it can be incredible to reflect on the careers of true “iron horses” like Discovery.

In any sport, there are legends of varying degree. In Thoroughbred racing, there are legends like Gallant Fox, and then there are legends like Secretariat.