Athletes amaze fans with remarkable feats beyond imagination, which is a huge part of the allure of sports. Thoroughbred racehorses remind us frequently that on any given day you never know what you might witness at the racetrack.
There should be no mention of the mighty Triple Crown champion Secretariat without pointing to jockey Ron Turcotte as an integral member of a dynamite team.
It might appear from watching replays of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes in 1973 as if Turcotte was merely a passenger taken for a wonderful ride by the gleaming colt they called “Big Red.” But Penny Chenery, Secretariat’s owner, knew better.
There is no denying that some horses have a special affinity for certain racetracks and perform better when flaunting their talents at those tracks. This is particularly notable in Europe, where the style, shape, and design of the courses varies widely, but the scenario is also seen on a smaller scale in the United States, where some horses display a fondness for the dirt and conditions at a particular track.
There’s nothing that stirs the heart and emotions of a horse racing fan more than a thrilling homestretch battle between two gallant Thoroughbreds. Photo finishes so close that only the camera can separate two unwavering rivals are among the most exciting and breathtaking elements of the sport.
In 2024, nearly 17,000 Thoroughbreds were born in North America, while England and Ireland welcomed a little more than 13,000 foals. Of those, less than half will win a race in their lifetime, while approximately 3% will win a stakes, and an even smaller percentage, less than 1%, will win a graded stakes. Imagine the odds of an English classic and Breeders’ Cup victor foaling a Derby winner who then sires classic and Breeders’ Cup winners of his own?
