The Sanford Stakes, Saratoga, Saturday, August 16, 1972, as told by Kate Tweedy
July 28, 2024
When Mother invited me to come to Saratoga to stay in Granddad’s cool and airy villa on North Broadway, I welcomed it as a break from studying in steamy Yellow Springs, Ohio.
The previous summer, I had seen our champion Riva Ridge win the Flash Stakes in a performance that presaged his recent triumphs in the Derby and Belmont. But now, Mom was focusing on our handsome chestnut colt, Secretariat, hoping that he would do something equally impressive in his first stakes race. I shed my jean shorts, pulled a suitable dress from the closet, and headed north.
The Sanford Stakes was always closely watched by track followers hoping for clues as to next year’s Derby winner. The favorite in the $25,000 race for 2-year-olds was Linda’s Chief, who was unbeaten in 5 races. But seasoned fans had also noticed the blistering workouts by our colt who had 2 wins in 3 races and was showing promise.
That day, Aug. 16, 1972, we were sitting in Granddad’s box as the field of 5 broke with Secretariat last, as usual. For the first few furlongs I fretted nervously, but Mom stayed cool. “Just wait. He hasn’t hit his stride yet.”
Sure enough, along the backstretch, he started picking up speed, gaining ground only to find himself blocked at the turn behind Trevose and Northstar Dancer. Linda’s Chief was coming on fast on the outside. Surely, Ronnie was too smart to let our boy get boxed in, we thought, but things were looking grim.
Mom and I were on our feet cheering when suddenly, with just over a furlong to go, Ronnie saw his chance. The leaders had drifted apart for a split second and Ron nudged Secretariat forward. The colt leaped into the opening with the sort of courage and power that no one expected to see in a two-year-old and flew into the lead.
Catching Linda’s Chief by surprise, Secretariat won by 3 lengths. He posted the fastest time of the entire meet at 1:10 for 6 furlongs. His performance stunned the fans and racing press, but Mom and Lucien Laurin, our trainer, just grinned and nodded at each other. They believed in their big, beautiful colt.
Bill Nack, Secretariat’s biographer, wrote, “In that time he remade himself into the leading 2-year-old in America, not only beating the best, but doing it with a dramatic flourish, as a seasoned 5-year-old horse might do it.”
I, too, was stunned, almost breathless. That was the moment I realized what might be in store for us. Earlier that year, Riva had reached what we thought was Meadow Stable’s pinnacle. But now, with Secretariat, the future loomed with heady possibilities.
When we went down to the stable to congratulate our team, Big Red was strutting as if to say, how could you expect anything less? From then on, we never did.
7.28.24
