<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Honors </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> U.S. Racing Hall of Fame (1974) Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame (2007) Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (2013) U.S. Postage Stamp (1999) #2--Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century </Td> </Tr> <P> Secretariat (March 30, 1970--October 4, 1989) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who, in 1973, became the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years . His record - breaking win in the Belmont Stakes, where he left the field 31 lengths behind him, is widely regarded as one of the greatest races of all time . During his racing career, he won five Eclipse Awards, including Horse of the Year honors at ages two and three . He was elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1974 . In the List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century, Secretariat is second only to Man o' War (racing career 1919--1920), who also was a large chestnut colt given the nickname "Big Red". </P> <P> At age two, Secretariat finished fourth in his 1972 debut in a maiden race, but then won seven of his remaining eight starts, including five stakes victories . His only loss during this period was in the Champagne Stakes, where he finished first but was disqualified to second for interference . He received the Eclipse Award for champion two - year - old colt, and also was the 1972 Horse of the Year, a rare honor for a horse so young . At age three, Secretariat not only won the Triple Crown, he set speed records in all three races . His time in the Kentucky Derby still stands as the Churchill Downs track record for 1 ⁄ miles, and his time in the Belmont Stakes stands as the American record for 1 ⁄ miles on the dirt . His controversial time in the Preakness Stakes was eventually recognized as a stakes record in 2012 . Secretariat's win in the Gotham Stakes tied the track record for 1 mile, he set a world record in the Marlboro Cup at 1 ⁄ miles and further proved his versatility by winning two major stakes races on turf . He lost three times that year: in the Wood Memorial, Whitney and Woodward Stakes, but the brilliance of his nine wins made him an American icon . He won his second Horse of the Year title, plus Eclipse Awards for champion three - year - old colt and champion turf horse . </P>

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