<P> An extremely large heart is a trait that occasionally occurs in Thoroughbreds, hypothesized to be linked to a genetic condition, called the "x-factor", passed down in specific inheritance patterns . The x-factor can be traced to the historic racehorse Eclipse, who was necropsied after his death in 1789 . Because Eclipse's heart appeared to be much larger than the hearts of other horses, it was weighed, and found to be 14 pounds (6.4 kg), almost twice the normal weight . Eclipse is believed to have passed the trait on via his daughters, and pedigree research verified that Secretariat traces his dam line to a daughter of Eclipse . Secretariat's success as a broodmare sire has been linked by some to this large heart theory . However, it has not been proven whether the x-factor exists, let alone its contributions to athletic ability . </P> <P> Secretariat was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1974, the year following his Triple Crown victory . Also in 1974, Paul Mellon commissioned a bronze statue, sometimes known as Secretariat in Full Stride, from John Skeaping . The life - size statue remained in the center of the walking ring at Belmont Park until 1988 when it was replaced by a replica . The original is now located at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame . The Kentucky Horse Park has two other life - sized statues of Secretariat . The first, created by Jim Reno in 1992, shows Secretariat as an older sire, while the second, completed by Edwin Bogucki in 2004, shows him being led into the winner's circle after the Kentucky Derby . In 2015, a new statue of Secretariat and Ron Turcotte crossing the finish line at the Belmont Stakes was unveiled in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, Turcotte's hometown . </P> <P> In 1994, Sports Illustrated ranked Secretariat #17 in their list of the 40 greatest sports figures of the past 40 years . In 1999, ESPN listed him 35th of the 100 greatest North American athletes of the 20th century, the highest of three non-humans on the list (the other two were also racehorses: Man o' War at 84th and Citation at 97th). Secretariat ranked second behind Man o' War in The Blood - Horse's List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century . He was also ranked second behind Man o' War by both a six - member panel of experts assembled by the Associated Press, and a Sports Illustrated panel of seven experts . </P> <P> On October 16, 1999 in a ceremony conducted in the winner's circle at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, the U.S. Postal Service honored Secretariat with a 33 - cent postage stamp bearing his image . In 2005, Secretariat was featured in ESPN Classic's show "Who's No. 1?" in the episode "Greatest Sports Performances". He was the only nonhuman on the list, with his run at Belmont ranking second behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100 - point game . On May 2, 2007, Secretariat was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, marking the first time an animal received this honor . In 2013, Secretariat was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in honor of his victory in the Canadian International 40 years earlier . Secretariat was also the focus of a 2013 segment of 60 Minutes Sports . In March 2016, Secretariat's Triple Crown victory was rated #13 in the Sports Illustrated listing of the 100 Greatest Moments in Sports History . </P>

Secretariat wins the triple crown in horse racing