Big Red.
That was the nickname, though it hardly seems enough for a horse that looked like he was carved out of solid copper. If you spend any time looking at images of secretariat horse, you’ll notice something immediately: he doesn't look like the other Thoroughbreds in the frame. He looks bigger. Faster. Honestly, he looks like he was photoshopped into the 1970s from a different dimension where physics works differently.
He was a freak of nature. I mean that in the best possible way.
Most people know the 1973 Belmont Stakes—the thirty-one lengths, the "tremendous machine" call by Chic Anderson, the impossible time of 2:24. But the photos tell a story the grainier video footage sometimes misses. When you look at the still photography of that race, especially the shots taken from the rail, you see the dirt hasn't even settled behind him before he's already moved another ten yards. It’s haunting.
The Anatomy of a Powerhouse
Look closely at the famous photos of Secretariat standing broadside. Expert equine photographers like Tony Leonard or Bob Coglianese captured a horse that was perfectly proportioned. Usually, horses have a "flaw." Too long in the back. Too short in the neck. Not Secretariat. He had this massive, deep chest that we later found out housed a heart weighing twenty-two pounds. That is nearly three times the size of a normal horse's heart.
You can actually see that power in the images of secretariat horse taken during his morning gallops at Claiborne Farm or Saratoga. His stride length was measured at 25 feet. To put that in perspective, most elite racers are hitting 20 or 21. When he ran, he wasn't just galloping; he was launching.
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There’s this one specific photo—you’ve probably seen it—where all four of his hooves are off the ground. He’s completely airborne. It’s the quintessential image of "flight." Most horses look like they are struggling against the ground. Secretariat looked like he was using the ground as a suggestion.
The Color of a Legend
The coat. That's the other thing. In high-resolution scans of original 35mm slides, his chestnut coat has this metallic sheen. It wasn't just brown; it was a glowing, iridescent red. Ron Turcotte, his primary jockey, often remarked that the horse knew he was handsome. He would pose. If he saw a camera, he’d prick his ears and look toward the lens.
He had three white "stockings" and a star-and-stripe blaze on his face. In the 1970s, sports photography was hitting its stride with better color film, and Secretariat arrived just in time to be the perfect subject. The contrast of his red coat against the white rails of Belmont or the green turf of Woodbine is why those photos still move for thousands of dollars at auctions today.
What the 1973 Triple Crown Photos Don't Show
While the images of secretariat horse at the finish line are iconic, they don't capture the sheer sound. People who were there, like Bill Nack, the legendary writer who basically spent his life chronicling the horse, described a "thundering" that felt like a localized earthquake.
The photos also can't quite convey his personality. He was a ham. There are shots of him literally grabbing a reporter's notebook with his teeth or leaning over a fence to "groom" a visitor. He wasn't some high-strung, nervous wreck like many Triple Crown hopefuls. He was remarkably chill until the gates opened.
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Then he became the machine.
If you look at the photos from the Preakness—the middle gem of the Triple Crown—you see a different kind of athlete. That race was about agility. He made a move on the first turn that shouldn't have been possible. He went from last to first in the space of a few heartbeats. The photography from that specific afternoon in Maryland shows him leaning into the turn at an angle that looks like a MotoGP rider.
Comparing the Era
Context is everything. If you compare images of secretariat horse to his rivals like Sham, you see the difference in muscle density. Sham was a great horse. In any other year, Sham would have been a legend. But in the photos where they are side-by-side, Secretariat just looks wider. More robust. It’s like looking at a middleweight boxer standing next to a heavyweight.
How to Find and Identify Authentic Prints
If you're looking to collect or just study these images, you have to be careful. The internet is flooded with low-res copies and AI-enhanced versions that smooth out the grain and ruin the historical feel.
- Check the Photographer's Mark. Tony Leonard is the gold standard. He had a relationship with the horse and the Meadow Stable team (Penny Chenery’s group) that allowed him unparalleled access.
- Look for the Blinkers. Secretariat famously wore blue and white checkered blinkers. If you see a "Secretariat" photo and the blinkers are a different color, it’s likely his son or a different horse entirely.
- The Turcotte Lean. Ron Turcotte had a very specific, quiet seat. He didn't whip Secretariat much. In the best photos, Turcotte is almost motionless, letting the horse do the work.
Honestly, the best way to appreciate him is to look at the "after" photos. The shots of him in retirement at Claiborne Farm. Even as an older horse, the "look of eagles" never left his eyes. He stayed regal until the day he died in 1989.
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Why We Still Care
It’s been over fifty years. Why are we still looking at images of secretariat horse?
Because we haven't seen anything like him since. We've had great horses—American Pharoah was incredible, Justify was a beast—but none of them carried the same visual weight. None of them won the Belmont by 31 lengths while setting a world record that still stands today. Think about that. With all the advances in breeding, surfaces, and veterinary science, nobody has run 1.5 miles on dirt faster than that red horse did in 1973.
The photos are the only proof we have that it wasn't a collective hallucination.
Practical Steps for Fans and Researchers
If you want to dive deeper into the visual history of the greatest racehorse to ever live, don't just stick to Google Images.
- Visit the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. They hold original negatives and prints that have been preserved in climate-controlled environments.
- Search the Thoroughbred Daily News archives. They often run retrospectives with rare, candid shots from the backstretch.
- Look for the book "Secretariat" by Raymond G. Woolfe Jr. He was one of the few photographers who captured the horse from his birth through his racing career. The imagery in that book is widely considered the definitive visual record.
- Verify the Silk Colors. Ensure the jockey is wearing the "Meadow Stable" blue and white blocks.
The legacy of Secretariat isn't just in the record books. It’s in the way he looked. That massive, 16.2-hand frame, that copper coat, and that effortless stride. When you see a photo of him, you aren't just looking at a horse. You're looking at the pinnacle of a species.
To truly understand his impact, start by looking for the 1973 Belmont "panoramic" shots. They show the field trying to keep up, but they are so far back they look like they belong to a different race. That image alone tells you everything you need to know about why he’s the GOAT.
Actionable Insights for Collectors:
If you are buying a print, always verify the source. Authentic Tony Leonard prints usually come with a certificate or a specific estate stamp. Digital files should be at least 300 DPI if you're planning on printing them for your own wall, but nothing beats an original silver gelatin print for capturing the true depth of Big Red’s coat.