The Secretariat Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of one mile on the turf . The event was originally raced at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights , Illinois as a supporting stakes race on the Arlington Million racing program.
38-718: Churchill Downs , whose parent company owns the land of the defunct Arlington Park racetrack, originally planned to run the Secretariat Stakes in 2022, but the race was not run due to issues with the Churchill Downs turf course. The 2023 race was re-scheduled to be run at Churchill-owned Colonial Downs in Virginia. In 1973, after Secretariat became the first U.S. Triple Crown winner in twenty five years, many race tracks wanted to have him race at their tracks. Arlington racetrack management offered to run him in
76-613: A lasting impression on Arlington Park management. One year and one day after Secretariat's performance at Arlington Park, track management scheduled a race to honor him. The inaugural event was held 30 June 1974 over a distance of 1 + 1 ⁄ 16 miles on the turf . The race was won in an upset with the 39-1 longshot Glossary winning. The event was set with Grade II status. It was run over 1 + 1 ⁄ 8 miles (1.8 km) in 1975/76 and extended to 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles (2.4 km) from 1978 to 1984, before settling at 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 miles from 1985 to 2018. In 1984
114-631: A license in order to train. The earnings of horse trainers may be different depending on the country and the place of employment. According to the United States Department of Labor, "The median annual wage for animal trainers was $ 25,270 in May 2012. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $ 17,580, and the top 10 percent earned more than $ 49,840." The Government of Western Australia Department of Training and Workforce Development, in their section about horse trainers, state that $ 43,399 may be
152-426: A new, ultra high-definition video board built by Panasonic, which became operational in time for the 2014 Kentucky Derby. Called "The Big Board", it measures 171 feet (52 m) wide and 90 feet (27 m) high, with the bottom edge 80 feet (24 m) off the ground, and weighs 1,200,000 pounds (540 t). It was constructed along the outside of the backstretch of the dirt course facing the grandstand and infield. At
190-401: A percentage of the winnings that they charge the owner for training the horse. Outside horse racing, most trainers specialize in a certain equestrianism discipline, such as show jumping , reining , rodeo , sport horse disciplines, training of a specific horse breed , starting young horses, or working with problem horses. There are a wide variety of horse training methods used to teach
228-476: A single betting entry at 6–1 and Secretariat was 1–20 odds-on which created a minus pool of $ 17,941. Secretariat won the 1 + 1 ⁄ 8 miles race by nine lengths in 1:47 flat, just 1 ⁄ 5 off the track record set by Damascus with My Gallant and Our Native running second and third respectively. Both of these horses had lost to the champion in the Triple Crown series. The performance produced
266-485: A three-and-a-half year, $ 121 million renovation. The clubhouse was replaced, 79 luxury suites were added, and the historic twin spires were refurbished. One of the additions in the clubhouse was a 36-foot (11 m) mural by Pierre Bellocq depicting all 96 jockeys to win the Kentucky Derby from 1875 to 2004. In summer 2008 the same artist added another mural depicting all of the trainers and updating
304-472: Is a horse racing complex located on Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky , United States, famed for hosting the annual Kentucky Derby . It officially opened in 1875 and was named for Samuel Churchill, whose family was prominent in Kentucky for many years. The first Kentucky Derby, a Thoroughbred sweepstakes and part of today's horse racing Triple Crown , and the first Kentucky Oaks were held in
342-402: Is a person who tends to horses and teaches them different disciplines. Some responsibilities trainers have are caring for the animals' physical needs, as well as teaching them good behaviors and/or coaching them for events, which may include contests and other riding purposes. The level of education and the yearly salary they can earn for this profession may differ depending on where the person
380-417: Is credited as the first known method of training horses through a sympathetic approach, wherein the trainer attempts to understand the natural instincts of the horse and build a relationship. In horse racing , a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter. Leading horse trainers can earn a great deal of money from
418-934: Is employed. Horse domestication by the Botai culture in Kazakhstan dates to about 3500 BC. Written records of horse training as a pursuit has been documented as early as 1350 BC, by Kikkuli , the Hurrian "master horse trainer" of the Hittite Empire . Another source of early recorded history of horse training as a discipline comes from the Greek writer Xenophon , in his treatise On Horsemanship . Writing circa 350 BC, Xenophon addressed starting young horses, selecting older animals, and proper grooming and bridling . He discussed different approaches to spirited and dull horses and how to deal with vices . His approach
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#1732783190030456-538: The American Derby but it was too soon after his Belmont Stakes victory. Instead, management established an event that would enhance Secretariat's connections. This event was called the Arlington Invitational with $ 125,000 stakes offered in order to showcase Secretariat to Chicago racing fans and it was held 29 June 1973. A crowd of 41,223 witnessed seeing the three challengers grouped as
494-824: The Beverly D. Stakes —would be run as scheduled. In December 2022 an agreement was reached between Churchill Downs and the American Graded Stakes Committee to move the 2023 Arlington Million and its supporting races, including the Secretariat Stakes, to Colonial Downs in Virginia . Race record: Margins: Most wins by an owner: Most wins by a jockey : Most wins by a trainer : Legend: Dirt Turf Notes: § Ran as an entry with stablemate Unbridled List of American and Canadian Graded races Churchill Downs Churchill Downs
532-488: The Kentucky Derby Museum which focuses on the history of the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs. The museum also contains a number of exhibits exploring the training and racing of thoroughbred horses. It includes a 360-degree cinema that shows the short film "The Greatest Race", a documentary about the Kentucky Derby. The museum is normally open year-round. In October 2013, Churchill Downs began installing
570-722: The Arlington Park property) announced that it would move the Secretariat Stakes to Churchill Downs along with several of Arlington's traditional stakes races, including the Arlington Million . A week and a half before the Secretariat was supposed to be run, Churchill announced that the Secretariat would not be contested due to issues with the Churchill Downs turf course, while the other major turf stakes formerly run at Arlington—the Arlington Million and
608-631: The Derby and continues until early July. The Kentucky Derby is held the first Saturday in May and the Kentucky Oaks is run on the Friday before the Derby. A fall meet picks up in late October and closes Thanksgiving weekend in late November. Night races were established in 2009. A third meet in September was added in 2013. In addition to the track, clubhouse and stables, Churchill Downs also contains
646-532: The Jockey's painting, adding Calvin Borel and Edgar Prado to it. These updates are done yearly to accommodate new winning trainers and jockeys. The new design has been somewhat controversial since the new suites block full view of the spires from most angles. Racing at Churchill Downs occurs in three meets though for the majority of its existence there were only two meets per year. The spring meet starts one week before
684-456: The derby is 50,000 people, though crowds can reach over 150,000 on Derby day. The dirt oval main track, on which the Derby is run, is one mile (1.6 km) in circumference and is 79–80 feet (24.1–24.4 m) wide, with a 120-foot-wide (37 m) section for the starting gate. A turf track, inside the main track, is 7 ⁄ 8 mile (1.4 km) in circumference and 80-foot (24 m) wide. From 2001 to 2005, Churchill Downs underwent
722-650: The event was upgraded to Grade I status. In 1985 the event was held at Hawthorne Race Course over a shorter distance of 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 miles. There was no race run in 1988, 1998 and 1999. In 2005 it was included in the Grand Slam of Grass , which offered a substantial bonus to the winner of this race, the Colonial Turf Cup , the Virginia Derby and the Breeders' Cup Turf . In 2019
760-513: The field of equine. The acceptable purpose of drugs in this area is to reduce the suffering of injuries in racehorses, but sometimes drugs are used unlawfully to get an advantage over other horses, which can result in penalties for the horse trainer in question. With the numerous weekly deaths of racehorses, drugs are a disputed cause of death in horses. The intoxication of horses is concerning to some people, such as veterinarians and legislators. Some trainers defend drugs, implying that they are not
798-480: The grandstands are the most recognizable architectural feature of Churchill Downs and are used as a symbol of the track and the Derby. They were designed by the renowned Louisville architectural firm D.X. Murphy & Bro. who were prolific in the city, markedly so for their philanthropic work with the Catholic Church. Today, Churchill Downs covers 147 acres (59 ha). The usual number of people seated at
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#1732783190030836-428: The horse to do the things humans want them to do. Some fields can be very lucrative, usually depending on the value of the horses once trained or prize money available in competition. As a rule, most horse trainers earn at best a modest income which often requires supplementation from a second job or additional horse-related business, such as horse boarding or riding lessons. Horse trainers are typically deemed to have
874-506: The investigation by Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority over twelve horse fatalities since April 27, 2023, Churchill Downs transferred its spring-summer racing meet to Ellis Park Race Course in Henderson, Kentucky while it re-evaluated its safety measures. The following Graded events were held at Churchill Downs in 2023 and 2024. Grade I Grade II Grade III The twin spires atop
912-462: The length of the signature race to its modern 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 miles (2.0 km) in 1896, and adorning the winner of the Derby with a garland of roses, a tradition that also began in 1896. In early 1902, Applegate, who had made his fortune as a bookmaker, turned over the day-to-day operation of the track to Charles F. Grainger , then the mayor of Louisville , in an effort to move Churchill Downs away from being primarily known for gambling. Among
950-488: The more than 100,000 expected by the company. The company attributed this to the brutal heat, but others cited high ticket prices in a poor economy. The entertainment division lost more than $ 5 million in its first year and was discontinued. On Wednesday, June 22, 2011 , an EF2 tornado hit the Louisville area, striking the stables and chapel at Churchill Downs, at EF1 intensity. Several stables were badly damaged, as
988-494: The new people Applegate brought on board to help him run the track was Col. Matt Winn of Louisville. Churchill Downs prospered and the Kentucky Derby then became the preeminent stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses in North America. During that early period, a new clubhouse was built in order to promote social interaction and new events such as steeplechases, automobile races and band concerts. The State Fair
1026-583: The race was shortened to one mile. In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States , Arlington Park did not schedule the event in its abbreviated season. During the last year of racing at Arlington Park in 2021, the race was renamed the Bruce D. Stakes in honor of the late Bruce Duchossois, the son of track owner Richard L. Duchossois . In March 2022 Churchill Downs Incorporated (owner of
1064-601: The same year. Churchill Downs has also hosted the renowned Breeders' Cup on nine occasions, most recently on November 2 and 3, 2018. The racetrack is owned and operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated . With the infield open for the Kentucky Derby, the capacity of Churchill Downs is roughly 170,000. In 2009 the Horseplayers Association of North America introduced a rating system for 65 Thoroughbred racetracks in North America, which ranked Churchill Downs number 5 on its list. In 2014, prior to
1102-529: The standard yearly wages in Western Australia. Racehorse trainers in the UK can earn up to a standard yearly amount of £45,000, depending on the level of expertise a person possesses. For independent horse trainers, their status, and the amount of work they do can influence the salary. "Race winnings" can also provide a trainer with additional money. Drug usage in horses has been a disputed topic in
1140-436: The start of their spring meet, Churchill Downs announced an increase in parimutuel takeout rates. As a result of the takeout increase, Churchill Downs ranked number 22 in that year's Horseplayers Association of North America Track Ratings. The track is named for John and Henry Churchill, who leased 80 acres (32 ha) of land to their nephew, Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. (grandson of explorer William Clark ). Clark
1178-510: The status of agents for the horse owners. As such, they have legal obligations to their owners, as well as authority to represent and even bind their owners to certain transactions. Graduation from some form of secondary school, which is usually mandatory to become an animal trainer, is one of the qualifications a horse trainer may need. While this is a requirement for some employers, others may only require that horse trainers learn as they go along. Beginners in horse training can learn more about
Secretariat Stakes - Misplaced Pages Continue
1216-532: The subject at a college institution, which can be beneficial for their profession, but it is not always mandatory for horse trainers. Apprenticeship is also another option if a person wants to gain more knowledge about the profession. When starting out in the profession, a horse trainer may not be given the assignments of a more learned and seasoned trainer until they gain more maturity in the job. Or, prior to their employment, they can learn and develop their skills elsewhere. A horse trainer may also need to acquire
1254-443: The time, it was the largest ultra high-definition video board ever constructed. At the same time, 750 speakers were installed around the track. Churchill Downs has had several renovation projects since the early 2010s, the most notable being a new paddock being designed in a two-year project leading up to the 150th Kentucky Derby . From 1875 through 2019, Churchill Downs has had 12 CEOs. Horse trainer A horse trainer
1292-529: The track's business became more profitable. Churchill Downs was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986. On Friday, June 19, 2009, Churchill Downs hosted its first-ever night race with an attendance of over 27,000. Churchill Downs ventured into the music business, organizing the inaugural HullabaLOU Music Festival, held on the weekend of July 23–25, 2010. The track had planned to make this an annual event to compete with other summer music festivals. HullabaLOU attracted 78,000 people but that fell short of
1330-423: Was along Louisville and Nashville Railroad tracks, allowing for easy transport of horses. Clark, who preferred longer races to the relatively short ones that had become popular by the 1890s, was running short of funds, and in 1894 sold the track to a syndicate led by William E. Applegate . The new ownership would soon institute many changes, such as commissioning the famous twin spire grandstand in 1895, shortening
1368-412: Was held on the grounds, featuring the odd spectacle of two locomotives being intentionally crashed head-on in the infield. On June 5, 1907, African American jockey James Lee set a record that has never been beaten when he won the entire six-race card at Churchill Downs. In 1908, parimutuel betting machines were introduced as gambling began to be less controversial again, and the wagering portion of
1406-571: Was president of the Louisville Jockey Club and Driving Park Association , which formed in 1875. His father-in-law, Richard Ten Broeck , was an accomplished horse breeder and trainer , and introduced Clark to horse racing , attending the English Derby at Epsom Downs outside London . Churchill Downs filled a void in Louisville left by the closing of Oakland and Woodlawn, two earlier race courses. The then-rural location
1444-466: Was the chapel. Over 200 horses had to be evacuated from the damaged stables and be relocated to other stables that were not damaged by the tornado. The tornado did not cause any damage to the twin spires or the clubhouse. Thurby is a portmanteau for Thursday plus Derby , and this name for the Thursday racing in Derby week has been recognized by Churchill Downs since 2014. In June 2023, following
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