I can’t watch Secretariat win the Belmont without shedding tears.
It’s a combination of loving horses and witnessing greatness that makes it so emotional for me.
Yes, Secretariat was a male and he was known as “Big Red” off the track.
After his autopsy, it was discovered that his heart was about twice the size of an average horse’s heart.
And he certainly ran his big ol’ heart out that day.
I felt much the same way about Barbaro. Never before or since have I won as much money on a single race as I did when he won the Derby. I can’t explain why... but from the first time I saw him, I was SURE he was going to win.
I missed the tri, but with win and exacta tickets (Bluegrass Cat) I cleared over $5k. I’m 100% sure he would have won the triple crown had he not been injured in the Preakness.
Even better... I feel eternally linked with Barbaro. At that race, I was fortunate enough to be in the box right on the rail, right on the finish line. I can see myself in photos of Barbaro crossing the finish. In the video of the documentary that HBO aired years ago, I can myself very obviously.
I’m the guy in a white shirt, red tie, dark sunglasses, with
two hands in the air, pumping. I KNEW he was winning from the top of the stretch. Good times.
And then, heartbreak three weeks later.
Another horse I will never forget.