The Maryland Racing Commission, in a special hearing at Laurel Park on Tuesday, voted unanimously to change race horse Secretariat’s official winning time of the 1973 Preakness Stakes from 1:54 2/5 to 1:53.
Secretariat’s final time had always been controversial, as the teletimer had malfunctioned during the 1973 Preakness Stakes. Finally 39 years after his wins Penny Chenery, Secretariat’s breeder and owner requested the Maryland Racing Commission to conduct a hearing regarding the timing. With the new time change, ‘Big Red’ now holds the stakes records in all three Triple Crown races.
After the Commission’s decision was announced Chenery’s happiness was evident. “I didn’t know if it was appropriate to cheer but I couldn’t help myself, Chenery told Blood Horse staff, ”This is a big day.”
Secretariat, who won the Triple Crown in 1973, had previously set two verified track records, one in the Kentucky Derby, and another in his unforgettable Belmont Stakes win.
Dubbed by Time magazine that year as ‘Superhorse’, was a big, the chestnut colt, whose charisma, beauty, and speed excited a nation. One of only 11 winner’s of the Triple Crown Legacy, his win is the stuff of legends and his talent as a race horse is unparalleled even today.
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