What is the lesson to learn from the life of a horse born many years ago? Since his birth, no other horse has beaten Secretariat’s records. While visiting my family in my birth state of North Carolina, my family always put on some of our favorite movies to watch together. I had seen this movie long ago but didn’t remember it right away. As I kept watching, it came back to me. To watch a movie about a horse that no other has ever beaten should have been in my permanent memory. So I watched it twice last weekend.
Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby and was the first horse to win in under two minutes. Next, Secretariat won the Preakness, and that record has never been broken. Finally, the horse won the Belmont Stakes — that was the finest record ever. That race was 1½ miles. His record will stand forever; it was a world record too! I love to watch his three Triple Crown races. When you’re feeling down, this movie will cheer you up!
In fact, watching this movie brought me to tears this past weekend. To watch that horse come from behind over and over again with such speed was unheard of. Then Secretariat would catch them all, pass every one of them and win, over and over again. It truly was amazing!
There is a quote by a gentleman who lived in Kentucky during Secretariat’s lifetime. The man said, “Through the years I learned to love the Preakness almost as much. Watch it — the horses walk to the gate, and you’ll see Secretariat almost put himself in the gate! After the break, the track announcer is calling the race, and he says ‘Secretariat is last’ twice! It’s as if he heard that and didn’t like it. I wish the film was clearer so you could see how he puts his head down and is moving so fast; it was a sight to see! So no, his records haven’t been beaten. I hope they never will be! But as I explained, no horse will ever beat his Belmont record.”
Even with modern technology, advanced training, expert trainers and advanced breeding techniques, no horse has ever come within 2 seconds of Secretariat’s record, which is a large margin of victory in horse racing.
What an exciting, true story. Secretariat was buried at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky, in a modest horse cemetery. When any of us are born, we may be one of God’s chosen ones. When Secretariat was born, he walked on his legs as if he had been here a while. They all said, “I have never seen a horse walk like that when they are first born!”
How many of us were born in a similar manner, fully equipped for this journey, able to get the job done, regardless of how hard your circumstances may be? You came to this earth with exactly what it takes.
Let’s look at some “what ifs” for Secretariat. What if his female owner had not seen the dream of a winning horse in her vision? Her father was dying, losing his horse farm, but though she was married and had four children, what if she had not taken over the horse farm before her father passed away, and she took the lead? They were offering her as much as $8 million to buy the horse, but she said no!
There were chances she took that no one else had taken, only to develop a winning horse that no one else was able to beat, not even more than 50 years later.
What if she had not searched for the best jockey to ride Secretariat to success? What if she had not kept someone around who cared for the horse? What if she did not have someone who kept him clean and fed him buckets of food before each race — food that he knew would sustain him with the strength he needed?
Like the Scripture says in Romans 8:28, “And I know that all things work together for the good to them who love God and who are the called, according to His purpose!” Amen! Run your own race. Here are a few tips from the story of Secretariat:
• Never Underestimate Your Potential: Though Secretariat was not considered a top contender by most, his owner, Penny Chenery, recognized his exceptional talent and refused to give up on him, even when faced with skepticism from others. She stood alone!
• Overcoming Adversity: Despite facing setbacks and doubts, Secretariat’s incredible speed and heart allowed him to push through and achieve greatness on the racetrack. Many horses had heart failure, but Secretariat’s heart continued to withstand his excessively high speed.
• The Power of Belief: Penny Chenery’s unwavering faith in Secretariat played a crucial role in his success, demonstrating the impact of a positive mindset. A popular quote associated with Secretariat, often attributed to Penny Chenery, is “Never know until you run,” signifying the importance of giving your best effort and not limiting yourself based on perceived limitations.
How this translates to everyday life:
• Embrace Challenges: When faced with a difficult situation, remember Secretariat’s determination to push through and achieve the seemingly impossible.
• Believe in Yourself: Just like Penny Chenery trusted Secretariat, have faith in your own abilities and potential.
• Give Your Best Effort: Always strive to put in your maximum effort, regardless of the obstacles.
Lyndia Grant is a speaker/writer living in the D.C. area. Her radio show, “Think on These Things,” airs Fridays at 6 p.m. on 1340 AM (WYCB), a Radio One station. To reach Grant, visit her website, www.lyndiagrant.com, email lyndiagrantshowdc@gmail.com or call 240-602-6295. Follow her on X @LyndiaGrant and on Facebook.
Erm, excuse me? Why describe his owner as “female”? She is the owner, period.