I thought ESPN naming Big Red one of the great athletes was just another idiotic thing from ESPN when they did it. Never gave it much thought after that. Then a few weeks ago I was going to DVR the movie, and decided prior to that to watch his races. Jumped on YouTube and was blown away by what he did in the Belmont. I wouldn’t go so far as to say Greatest of all sports, but he is top 5 easily.
This is good news correcting the record.
The races on Youtube are much better than the movie.
So much has been written about the Belmont that even his victory in the Kentucky Derby is almost looked on as an afterthought. A full field of 13 horses to work through...from behind as Secretariat almost always started slow and steady, getting his feet under him and his stride set. He finished with an unimaginable and unmatchable burst of speed and power - 1:59.4 - of course still the record today and left the crowd awestruck that this horse could come from behind and finish the 1 1/4 in under two minutes.