Thursday, April 30, 1998 | 7:42 a.m.
IN THIS PROFESSION, you become witness to many memorable events. Basically, it comes with the territory.
But 25 years ago, I was hoping to be a sportswriter. I wasn't quite there, unless you count working for the Midwood High School Argus as sports journalism. Yet, as a fan I still managed to make it to my share of sporting events.
And there was one day I'll always remember -- June 9, 1973.
That was the day a big chestnut horse made a mockery of racing's Triple Crown by winning the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths and running his way into sports immortality. The way Babe Ruth hit home runs, the way Bobby Orr rushed the length of the ice, the way Michael Jordan still elevates and dominates on the basketball court.
It's hard to believe that it was 25 years ago when Secretariat was dominating the American sports scene. Not just racing, mind you, but all sports. Big Red captured our imagination like no horse since Citation did in the 1940s.
He made the cover of Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated. People who wouldn't step foot near a race track were now going to see what all the excitement was about. Even my grandmother, who abhorred gambling and chastised me at every turn about going to the track, realized the athletic splendor of this equine marvel and appreciated the accomplishments he had achieved.
And while there have been other horses who have done great things -- Seattle Slew, Affirmed and Alydar, Spectacular Bid, Easy Goer and Sunday Silence, and most recently, Cigar -- none are in Secretariat's class for what was accomplished on the track. Or beyond it.
Twenty-five years ago this weekend, Secretariat began his march toward greatness by winning the Kentucky Derby. He beat Sham, a pretty fair horse in his own right, by 2 1/2 lengths in what remains a record time of 1:59.2. Each quarter was faster than the previous one, another record.
Two weeks later Secretariat beat Sham again, in the Preakness. Once more the margin of victory was 2 1/2 lengths.
Then came June 9. Belmont Park was packed. Everyone came to see if Secretariat could be the first Triple Crown winner since Citation in '48.
What everyone saw won't be forgotten. Secretariat appeared to be shot out of a cannon.
With a quarter-mile to go, he was ahead by 20 lengths. And widening the gap with every stride.
You couldn't hear yourself think. The huge Belmont grandstand literally was shaking from the noise. People were hugging, crying, shaking their heads in amazement. Most of all, they were screaming their fool heads off. They knew they were viewing something historic, and this was their contribution to a special day.
When I try to think of a more emotional moment in sports I have attended, I'm hard pressed to find one that matches the electricity of Secretariat's Belmont.
There was Pele's last game with the New York Cosmos at the Meadowlands that had people in tears. There was the tragedy that struck down the great filly Ruffian in her match race with Foolish Pleasure at Belmont. There were the two Mickey Mantle Days at Yankee Stadium, were emotional.
There have been Super Bowls, World Series, Final Fours, Stanley Cup Finals, All-Star Games, the Olympics and the World Cup. All have their special moments. But to see Big Red run his way into the record books was something I'll never forget.
Secretariat did for racing what Muhammad Ali did for boxing -- both were bigger than the game each represented.
There's no Secretariat looming for Saturday's 124th running of the Derby at Churchill Downs. But it's shaping up to be a heck of a race.
Right after the Breeders' Cup last November, a couple of friends were looking to get a little future book action down on Halory Hunter. The word back east was this 2-year-old owned by Rick Pitino might be something special.
We all have a piece, albeit a small one, on Pitino's Derby hopeful at 50-1. He's the second choice in the morning line to Indian Charlie at 7-2. At least we have some value.
Halory's good enough, as he showed winning the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in early April. But I'm worried about Real Quiet and I'm also concerned about Cape Town (although I refuse to allow myself to be "Lukasized" and wind up burning money on trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Even though I'm a big fan of jockey Jerry Bailey).
One thing I've learned in horse racing -- if you have a gut feeling, go with it. So even though there are some question marks and it really is a wide-open race and he probably needs a fast pace at which to run (which I'm not sure he'll get, especially if the track is sloppy), I'm going to swallow my pride and root for the Celtics, or at least their coach.
Halory Hunter's no Secretariat, that's for sure. But if he can do the same thing Big Red did 25 years ago, which is get to the finish line first, that will suffice.
And while racing, can use another Secretariat, I'm resigned to the fact that simply won't happen, any more than Mark McGwire can supplant Babe Ruth or Kobe Bryant or any other basketball player you care to name will replace Michael Jordan.
The memories of 1973 simply will have to suffice.
archive
