Grace Martin/Woodbine Communications
TORONTO, Ont. – In horse racing, there is one horse who truly became a household name across the world: Secretariat. After winning the U.S. Triple Crown 1973, Secretariat completed his career at Woodbine Racetrack, handily winning the Canadian International by 6 ½ lengths that October to cap an illustrious career and cement his place in the sport’s history.
From October 5 – 8, Woodbine is hosting an exhibit titled ‘A Tremendous Machine: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown’.
Created by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York, the exhibit features Secretariat’s 1973 Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, and Triple Crown trophies. A video component of the exhibition takes fans through Secretariat’s unique journey in which he set speed records in each of the Triple Crown races. It also tells the stories of the people who guided the horse through his remarkable career.
‘A Tremendous Machine: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown’ is free to the public during Woodbine’s regular hours of operation, and as always, parking and admission to Woodbine are also free. The exhibit will be located on the 3rd floor of the grandstand and is wheelchair accessible.
Secretariat’s jockey for the Canadian International was Eddie Maple. He was given the mount because the horse’s regular jockey, Canadian Ron Turcotte, was serving a suspension. Maple would go on to have a distinguished racing career, retiring in 1998 with 4,398 wins. The Hall of Fame jockey will be on hand at Woodbine Sunday, October 8 for an autograph session from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Also on Sunday, the 84th running of the Canadian International takes place. Horses from around the world will take part in the mile-and-a-quarter race held on the world-renown E.P. Taylor Turf Course. The purse for the race is $750,000.
