YouTube Gold: Secretariat’s Triple Crown Triumphs

Elmont, N.Y.: Jockey Ron Turcotte aboard Secretariat looks behind for the other horses on his way to a 31-lengths victory in the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York on June 9, 1973, to complete the first Triple Crown in 25 years. Over 69,000 spectators in the grandstand witnessed history being made. (Photo by Joe Dombroski/Newsday RM via Getty Images) | Newsday RM via Getty Images

The Kentucky Derby will be run on Saturday, and Renegade is the favorite on Friday evening, at 4-1.

However, no matter who has run in the Derby, or in any leg of the triple crown, a shadow has hung over those races for 53 years, because what Secretariat did in 1973 is still unfathomable.

Secretariat was seen as an exciting colt as a 2-year-old, but he finished third in the Wood Memorial, his last race before the Derby, and a lot of people grew skeptical of his potential.

That didn’t last long.

This video shows all three triple crown races from 1973. In the Derby, he comes from behind to win with relative ease. He also won the Preakness with relative ease. But it was the Belmont Stakes that still leaves people in awe.

Secretariat and Sham ran neck and neck for a bit, then the big horse just pulled away…and kept pulling away.

Big Red won the Belmont by an astounding 31 lengths. This picture is iconic: jockey Ron Turcotte looking back to see where the other horses were. Well, they were a huge distance behind, as it turned out.