Transcript
Lindsey Graham (0:00)
There are more ways than ever to listen to History Daily ad free. Listen with Wondry plus in the Wondery app as a member of Noiser plus at noiser.com or in Apple Podcasts. Or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts@intohristory.com It's October 4, 1989, on a farm in rural Kentucky.
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Lindsey Graham (1:55)
On a bright, cold autumn morning, a horse groom named Bobby Anderson walks across the paddock toward the stables. Bobby unlocks a gate and strolls through sun dappled grass, swinging a bucket filled with oats. When he reaches the barn, Bobby removes a key from his pocket, turns it in the lock and pushes open the barn door. But as soon as he enters, Bobby can tell something's wrong. One of the horses is loudly whinnying, obviously in some distress. Bobby's frown deepens when he realizes which stall the noise is coming from. Bobby drops the bucket and races over to the stall. There, lying on his side, his sweat soaked body heaving with unsteady breaths, is Secretariat, the greatest racehorse in American history. Bobby crouches by Secretariat's side as he inspects the animal's hooves. His heart sinks. Several weeks ago, Secretariat developed a painful and debilitating hoof condition called laminitis for A while it looked as if the condition might be improving, but now Bobby can see that the disease has returned. Secretariat makes a high pitched breathless sound as he looks at Bobby imploringly, as if begging for help. Bobby pats the horse's chestnut colored coat. He knows that Secretariat's condition is untreatable. The disease will continue to cause the horse unbearable pain until it kills him altogether. There's only one thing to be done. Secretariat will have to be put down. A few hours later, a veterinarian arrives and parks his van next to the stables. Bobby leads Secretariat towards the van. The horse limps and stumbles, hardly able to cope with the pain. But eventually the horse makes it inside the vehicle where the veterinarian awaits with a syringe. Bobby shuts the door, unable to watch as Secretariat is injected with a lethal dose of barbiturates. And 45 seconds later, Secretariat draws his last breath. By the time of Secretariat's death, the 19 year old stallion had long since established his reputation as the greatest racehorse in sporting history. But at the Beginning of the 1973 season, few people had heard of Secretariat and even fewer expected him to accomplish American horse racing's most prestigious feat. Winning all three of the country's biggest competitions in a single year. Completing what is known as the Triple Crown. But Secretariat would defy expectations. At a time when the nation was overshadowed by the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War, Secretariat provided the American people with a hero to cheer for in dark times. A legend that was forged on the tracks and written into history when Secretariat completed the Triple Crown by a record breaking 31 lengths on June 9, 1973. From Noser an airship. I'm Lindsey Graham and this is History. Daily history is made every day on this podcast, every day, we tell the true stories of the people and events that shaped our world. Today is June 9, 1973. Secretariat wins the Triple Crown. It's August 1969, four years before Secretariat wins the Triple Crown. At a racing track in Saratoga, New York, a stately middle aged woman leans on a gate post fanning herself with her sun hat. The woman checks her watch and begins tapping the gate with her long barnish fingernails. She tuts disapprovingly and thinks these racing types spending all day staring at a stopwatch and they can't even keep an appointment. Penny Chenery is the owner of Meadow Stable, a horse breeding facility in Virginia. Meadow Stable used to be one of the nation's top breeding farms, but it fell on hard times when Penny inherited the farm from her father. Meadow Stable was close to bankruptcy. Penny's elder brother and sister wanted to sell the farm, but Penny was adamant. It was her father's dying wish for Meadow Stable to produce a winner at the Kentucky Derby, America's most iconic horse race. But Meadow Stable hasn't produced a winning horse in years. A combination of poor management and bad luck has left the farm in a sorry state. But today, Penny plans to turn that bad luck around. She's in Saratoga to meet with Ogden Phipps, the wealthy scion of one of America's oldest racing dynasties. Before he died, Penny's father struck a deal with Ogden. They would mate two of their best racehorses, then flip a coin to determine who gets first pick of the foals. Penny's father became bedridden shortly after striking the deal. So Penny is here to finish what her father started. All she needs to do is win the coin toss. Finally, Penny sees Ogden approaching, swaggering across the manicured lawn in his white linen suit. With Ogden is Bull Hancock, a famous horse trainer. Ogden greets Penny warmly, kissing her once on each cheek. And after exchanging brief pleasantries, they go over the terms of the deal. Soon, Bull Hancock produces a quarter, and Ogden lets Penny call it. She chooses heads, then Bull flips the coin high into the air. It seems to spin for an eternity before landing on the flat of Bull's Palm. Bull smiles and says, congratulations, Ogden. It's tails. Penny has lost the toss, which means Ogden gets first picked. Of the offspring sired by the two stud horses, he chooses a strong, promising foal called the Bride, leaving Penny with a runt of the litter, a clumsy and gangly creature with a chestnut colored coat and a white marking along his face. She decides to name the foal Secretariat. And despite the horse's physical shortcomings, Penny quickly warms the Secretariat, who has a sweet and playful nature. But she doubts the young horse will ever amount to much of anything. Back at Meadow Stable, Penny continues trying to save the farm from bankruptcy. She spends long nights poring over the balance books, cutting costs and reallocating funds. Horse racing is still considered a man's world, and Penny frequently has to overcome prejudice while conducting her business. But Penny is tough and determined, and the mother of four is no stranger to defying the odds. While studying business at Columbia University, Penny was one of only 20 women in a class of 800 men. If anyone understands the underdog mentality, it's Penny. Gradually, thanks to Penny's business acumen, Meadow Stables starts making some money again. Penny replaces the farm's long term trainer. And then in 1971, one of the farm's horses, Riva Ridge, brings in over $500,000 in winnings. The following year, in May 1972, Riva Ridge fulfills Penny's father's dream by winning the Kentucky Derby, keeping Meadow Stable solvent for at least another year. But Penny knows one successful champion horse isn't enough to secure Meadow Stable's future. If she wants to survive long term, she will need more good luck to break her way. A few weeks later, a sports journalist named Bill Knack pays a visit to Meadow Stable. Bill is researching a story on Riva Ridge and the Kentucky Derby win. When he arrives at the farm, he is greeted by trainer named Jimmy Gaffney. But instead of taking Bill to see Riva Ridge, Jimmy leads the reporter to a different stall occupied by a chestnut colored colt with a white marking down his face. Jimmy turns to Bill with a twinkle in his eye and says, this horse will make everyone forget Reaver Ridge. Don't forget the name Secretariat. He can run and soon everyone will have the chance to see it. Secretariat's debut race is fast approaching. Before long, the once clumsy, gangly creature will have a chance to prove Jimmy's prediction correct and ensure the future fortunes of Meadow Stable. History Daily is sponsored by Indeed. 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