What is crazy is Sham still has the 2nd fastest Kentucky Derby time of all time. That's how good Secretariat was.

Secretariat still holds the record time in all three Triple Crown races. He ran each quarter mile in the Kentucky Derby faster than the previous quarter mile, and his time in the Belmont Stakes is still the world record for a mile and a half on a dirt track.

Secretariat was always aware of his surroundings. He would actually "pose" for pictures. He would watch birds and planes fly over.

The greatest horse that ever lived. I still go back and watch that Belmont performance every now and then. Amazing.

"Moving like a tremendous machine."

In sports, I cannot think of a more epic, inspiring moment than Secretariat's win in the 1973 Belmont Stakes....the most epic horserace in history. Divine intervention. Perfection on earth.

I was 8 when Secretariat won the Triple Crown. He was all over what media we had back then. People talked about him constantly. I vividly remembering drawing a picture of him winning the Belmont. I made sure all the horses colors were accurate. Of course I couldn't draw it to scale because the other horses wouldn't even be on the paper. But I wrote "31 lengths" at the top to explain! Red's Belmont performance is typically ranked in the top 50 of the greatest sports moments in history. And it's always the only ranked moment for an animal.

Don’t have to apologize for crying I’m a 70 year old man crying!😢❤🐎

This horse is an actual legend that I got to see win. On TV, but live TV.

What's most amazing is that Secretariat started in last place in all three of his Triple Crown wins, and just out-accelerated the field. In his very first race, another rider violently (and illegally) bumped him out of the gate, and Secretariat became shy at the gate, almost always letting the field go by before he poured on the gas.

After he died they discovered his heart was twice the size of a normal horse.

All those other horses don't even approach the greatness of Secretariat. This is the GOAT

One of the greatest athletes of the 20th century. Secretariat's records have still not been broken from the 1970's.

I got to see all of his races. Such a magnificent, marvelous creature. But we might never have seen him without the determination of one dedicated woman.

It is amazing how when you're watching the races, knowing the outcome, you're on the edge of your seat cheering Secretariat on, "Come on, come on. Let's go. Go, go, go." It's as exciting as a live race.

"Has there been one good phone call in this movie?" Again, couldn't ask for a better pairing of reactor and film! And no need to apologize for those tears -- heartfelt emotion is why we come here. Thank you, Madison!

Beautiful Movie!!!!! Now After You Watch This , Please Go On KZfaq and see the “real” Secretariat run those triple crown races !! It’s even more spectacular than in the movie!! Really shows the distance between him and the other horses!!! You’ll love it!!! I was lucky enough to see him do the triple crown on tv when it happened!! This movie and the racing clips still give me goosebumps!!!!

Big Red was the greatest who ever lived.

My favorite Secretariat trivia: even though he was being brought up to a gallop at the end of the 1.5 mile Belmont, he was traveling at such a tremendous pace that he broke the all-time record for 1 5/8 miles too. Another stellar reaction video, good job!

Prior to 1973, no horse had won the Triple Crown since 1948 and Citation. A majority of horse people believed it couldn't be done anymore, winning three races of different distances in three states in five weeks. The mile and a half distance of the Belmont was the graveyard of speed horses.

I remember the family anxiously waiting to see Secretariat's races and can brag that I have seen him win these races live as it was happening. You had Mark Spitz setting swimming records, Olga Corbet setting gymnastic records, Evil Knievel setting motorcycle stunt records and you had Secretariat. It was a great era.

No movie horse can compare to Big Red. Watch videos of his Triple Crown races, and pause and zoom in to look at his size compared to his competitors -- Secretariat's chest and neck were so massive that his equipment had to be specially made. Absolute freak of nature that we will never see the likes of again.

My cousin, Don, rode the third-place horse in this Derby, Our Native.

This film has two great lines. The first when Turcotte meets Ogden Phipps & says "Do they call you Tiny?" & the other at the end where Lucien shouts at Turcotte "Ronnie, don't fall off!"

The real Penny was in the bleachers in the film during the last race!!! I lived this phenomenon as a 17 year old, was never interested in horses, but THIS was a supernatural event. Everybody at school year's end was talking about this the next day. The next year, Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's home run record. And Nixon was forced to resign as President. Those were the days.

I hope that everyone resists making Sham, a villain. He was a great horse, and I thought that he would finally defeat Secretariat, in the Belmont. Of course, Secretariat removed all doubt that day, and became legendary. In almost any other year, Sham, would have probably won the "Triple Crown", but he had the misfortune of being born the same year as the "Greatest!"

There was every other thoroughbred that ever raced. Then there was Big Red.

A really good biopic of Secretariat, the greatest athletic performer of all time (and of his owners)! I've recently rewatched the original calls of his Triple Crown win. I watched them all live as a 13 year old and I think only the US Olympic hockey team's defeat of the Soviet Union comes close to that excitement level.

At 17:50 The young man is Seth Hancock. His involvement with Secretariat turned him into one of the more powerful people in horse racing.

I watched them all on TV. I was 18 years old. Wonderful time of my life.

The actual video of his Triple Crown races are uploaded on YT. The Belmont call is EPIC. Secretariat was Sports Illustrated athlete of the year for 1973. His tomb is in Lexington, KY. Kings don't have ones this size. My mother was in college in Maryland and went to the Preakness. She saw the previous Triple Crown winner, Citation, win the race. True 1970s fashion here.

Head shaking, speechless, electrifying. Wow.

Your next "horse" movie should be Steven Spielberg's "War Horse" (2011). It's a fictional tale of a British farm horse, who makes his way from owner to owner, during World War I. The horse's trials and tribulations in the war will tug at your heartstrings.

I like this movie. I remember when Secretariat was running in the triple crown. The real videos of the three races is better than the movie, only about 10 minutes all togehter, they are amazing. Especially the Preakness, from last to first, passing the other horeses like they are standing still. The Belmont was truely unbelievable

Just thinking about GOD'S OWN HORSE gets me a little choked up - and watching that 1973 Belmont Stakes race with Chic Anderson calling it brings me to tears, Every Time - saw it broadcast Live 51 years ago, and it was absolutely unreal - He is moving like a TREMENDOUS MACHINE! It wound up being 31 Lengths. When they autopsied Big Red, it turned out his heart weighed 21 lbs., as it should've normally been around 8 lbs. - He was truly All Heart, and when all the others were going into Oxygen Debt, he was just getting his 2nd wind. Also, his hindquarters had a sloped croup that extended the length of his femurs and allowed his legs to get further under himself at full stride, thus increasing his drive.

What an amazing story, simply incredible. The film did a wonderful job of capturing the essence & bringing an inspiration regardless if you know anything about horse racing. Not to mention, Fred D. Thompson in the role of Bull Hancock…& he’s one of my favorite actors. (Now Madison, you must watch “Hildalgo” which is based on a story that cannot be verified nor disproved. This gray area just adds to the intrigue. Either way, it is a fantastic film).

I remember watching all three races and was thrilled by Secretariat. The only horse that came close to Secretariat in fame and performance was Ruffian, perhaps the greatest filly ever to race. There is a TV movie about Ruffian (which I never saw), but I am sure it would break your heart.

My grandfather was involved in the horse racing industry and my mom's cousin was Don Brumfield, winning jockey on Kuai King in 1966 for the Derby and the Preakness. Whoever did the set design for this movie hit the bullseye. From the buildings to the small appliances in the houses looked directly out of my grandparents' house.

Cheers! Great reaction! My grandmother was a Turcotte and our family folklore includes Ronnie Turcotte as a not so distant relative of ours. Maybe I'll find out for sure one day but he sure had that trademark Turcotte stubbornness that runs deep in my family. 😁👍🏽🏇🏽🏇🏽🏇🏽

I would have been disappointed if you DIDN’T cry! Nice reaction!

30:52 Gets me everytime ! O'happy Days 💙 30+ Length Well done... great reaction Thank you for the video

What's so sad is that Sham in *any* other year, would be considered one of the greatest race horses to have ever existed. But he was just unfortunately born at the same time as the greatest horse in history. But Secretariat's Belmont Stakes run was listed in the top 20 athletic performances of all time. He was the only non human to make the list.

All 3 of his victories in the derby the belmont and preckness set records that still stand today in 2024

We toured Churchill Downs a few years back. Our tour guide told us after Secretariat's death, an autopsy revealed his heart weighed almost 3 times more than the average thoroughbred. No wonder that horse had an extra gear the competition lacked . . .

Good movie, entertaining. The Secretariat part is accurate...but some fiddling with the story of his owner was done for dramatic purposes. I'll elaborate after you watch. Secretariat was literally a super horse.

Another Film that is guaranteed to put a smile on Madison's face and lift her spirits!

I think I failed to mention the soundtrack is exceptional.

I remember that summer of 73 &all us watching. It was unbelievable.

It was Riva Ridge who won Derby and Belmont the year before who really saved the farm, which was not mentioned in the movie.

I have no idea why! But every time I see the race of all horse races! I get tears in my eyes!

He ran the Derby in 1:59 and 2. It's still the record.

The Belmont Stakes moves upstate to Saratoga for awhile starting this year. After his Triple Crown win, Big Red came in third in the Whitney at Saratoga in August, 1973. Onion won. Nobody remembers Onion lol.

You did really well, lasting that long before crying. Hell, I cried as soon as the movie started.

There was another dominating Belmont approaching 30 lengths ----- Risen Star son of Secretariot!

My favorite horse 🐎!! Have u seen Phar Lap? The Australian champion? 👍🏼 But have u seen the granddaddy of all horse racing movies, NATIONAL VELVET?!? Gave Elizabeth Taylor her start n also had Mickey Rooney which made his crossover to The Black Stallion so cool!

Love this film. Love Secretariat. His statue at the Kentucky Horse Farm is impressive.

Bill Nack was in the crowd of reporters in several of the shots. He asked a question at one point. There is a documentary that Bill narrates. 😊❤

This movie always brings tears of joy watching the 3rd race, and watching the youtube actual race all I said is wow, another great cowboy horse race movie you would love is Hidalgo a american Mustang thats amazing

I was never much into horse racing until I saw this movie. Now I watch the triple crown every year. So cool to see what these horses can do

I remember these races. Secretariat was absolutely wondrous.

Secretariat was a freek on the race track winning the triple crown, which is held over a 2month period and it is for 3yo only whereas the original Big Red from Down Under(PHAR LAP) won all 4 G1 races over the spring carnival of 1930 on the 4th then the 6th then the 8th then the 14th no horse anywhere in the world at any time has achieved that feet,like secretariat Phar Lap had a larger than normal heart.

NOVA, the science program, analyzed Secretariat's gallop to see how he ran so well. If you watch a video of him running at full speed, he never has more than one hoof on the ground at a time!

I watched the race on tv when it happened - I cried - because I knew I had witnessed something special that would never happen again.

I got to see Secretariat race at Arlington Park. It was after the Belmont. Lucien Laurin his trainer was glad to run him. He was literally tearing down the barn. It was more an exhibition than a race. He was still racing exclusively against 3 year olds. His next start was the Whitney Handicap against older horses. He lost to a horse called Onion. I felt his last race was great. In Canada on the turf course against older horses. I think he ran better on the turf.

I still remember the Belmont in 74. Until then I had never cried for a sports event.

I still get chills watching the Belmont.

😊❤when the movie stops and then starts around the turn again, it gets me every time! 😊

Fantastic reaction, Ms. Thames. Knew you’d enjoy. Just have to let you know how I enjoyed you puzzling over AJ Michlka as Kate. The first few times I viewed this film I had no idea who she was. I am old and my music & tv tastes don’t necessarily align with her work, as fine as I’m sure she was/is. It wasn’t until about a year ago on a rewatch that I recognized her from her role on “The Goldbergs” and her own spin-off, “Schooled.” Absolutely remarkable, stacked cast in this film. I appreciate so many, especially the underrated Margo Martindale as Miss Ham and Nelson Ellis (RIP) as Eddie Sweat. Thank you for sharing your reaction.

I was a young boy and watched these races on T.V. I've seen this movie so many times and it I still get caught up with emotions at the end.

When they did secretary, it's autopsy.They found out his heart was twice the size of a normal horse

Secretariat at the Belmont one of those, where were you when you saw it or heard about it, moments in time. The horse Sham also one of the great horses but had to race the triple crown with Big Red.

Nice reaction. I did follow horse racing in 1973. I remember walking in and turning on the evening news. They showed the Belmont stretch run. I remember thinking like Pancho, “That’s impossible.” Just for fun, checkout the talk about 2022 Breeders’ Cup champion, Flightline. I think he skipped the Triple Crown races due to some infirmity. I believe they thought he had Triple Crown abilities.

Great casting and it was so enjoyable. Difficult to believe Secretariat's times are still records 50 years later. You gave your usual enjoyable review. You did shed some tears but your smile was often on display.

Thank you for your reaction, Madison! Secretariat is my favorite racehorse of all time. Loved this movie since the first time I saw it. I still cry every time when the song kicks in at the end of the Belmont race! He was a magnificent animal! Still want to urge you to check out "National Velvet" if you've never seen it. It's free on Tubi.

Great movie. Some good life lessons here. Enjoyed your thoughtful reaction Maddison. I know you have a soft spot for horsey films. Can I suggest an unbelievably now 80 year old film from 1944, that I know you will absolutely love. You will cry happy tears. A very young Mickey Rooney and Elizabeth Taylor. A lovely film you will not regret watching and reviewing. Will keep my fingers crossed.

Hi Madison, so happy you watched this here. Very excited to see your reaction! What a story! Great movie! My fav Diane Lane performance!

You should watch Diane Lane's film debut in "A Little Romance" (1979). Her performance in that movie landed her on the cover of Time magazine at the age of just 14.

There is another horse race film. A Stanley Kubrick film called, "The Killing". I believe it is Kubrick's first BIG film. Stars Sterling Hayden, who incidentally is in another Kubrick film called, "Dr. Strangelove" an insane dark comedy! Actually one of the greatest ever. Always enjoy your reviews. As we say in Texas; y'all be safe.

A new Zealand horse named Phar Lap was a great one too. Have you seen The Man from Snowy River, 1&2? Kirk Douglas played a double Role. Great horse movie.

Watch the Belmont Stakes this weekend - running for the first time at the historic Saratoga Race Course - the oldest sporting venue in the US.

Thanks for watching, Madison. Secretariat was the only athlete on my bedroom walls. Last I heard, he still had the fastest times at all three tracks. His times work out to being 37.7, 37.8, and 37.5 mph, respectively. He was amazing. Sad that his kids never panned out. My two favorite off-road horse racing movies are HIDALGO, about the horse, and BITE THE BULLET, about the riders.

National Velvet is an amazing classic movie with Elizabeth Taylor involving horse racing. I'd highly recommend it.

Three years later the Wrigley Gum Co. releases a cinnamon gum called Big Red... coincidence? Still the fastest times in all three triple crown races.

Great reaction!!! Your reactions are so delightful to watch!

He pushed Sham so hard, the horse broke his leg in the Belmont Stakes. The injury was not fatal.

You can see a young bad boy Scott Glenn in Urban Cowboy with John Travolta

REALLY like the Lonesome Dove ranch sign behind you!🎉

My favorite horse movie next to Black Stallion. Great cast and wonderfully written.

In my top 5 favorites! The horse that God built! 😊❤

Madison is my go to for horse movies.

The guy at 4:40 is now the mayor of New York in Blue Bloods.

Greatest horse in horse racing.

34:00 she sings the outro as well. 😊

I was wondering if you would be reacting to this movie...I loved this move..can't wait for your reaction 😄

41:08 yes, they lightened the mood a lot❤for Penny. 😊

The Disney-fied version of Secretariat. It’s still a good story but the true story is better. I hate that this movie totally ignored Riva Ridge but I understand why it did. Riva was a year older than Secretariat & it was his winnings that saved the farm. Riva won 17 of his 30 starts including the Champagne, Futurity, Bluegrass, Hollywood Derby as well as the KY Derby & Belmont Stakes. Penny Tweedy famously said that Secretariat belong to the world but Riva belonged to her. I also hate that they made Sham the villain. Sham was a great horse, it was just his misfortune to be born the same year as Secretariat. Sham also finished the Derby in less than 2 minutes & he did it with his mouth pouring blood. When the gate opened Sham hit his head on the edge of the starting stall so hard he knocked his teeth out. He ran the entire race with his teeth flopping around on a strip of gum & blood running out of his mouth. At the start of the Preakness he was mugged & squeezed & slammed into the rail so badly that after the race he was bruised & bartered & sore. And just like Secretariat, Sham’s heart was much larger than normal. I admire him just as much as I do Secretariat. They were both great horses,

You might be interested in watching "Ride like a girl " . Its about Michelle Payne who rode Prince of Penzance , 100/1 long shot , to victory in the Melbourne Cup. She was the first ever female jockey to win the Cup . Melbourne Cup is the Premier 3200 metre ( 2 mile ) handicap race in the World.

Wonderful, Madison! Loved it! Such a great movie and such a great story. This was a fun one to rewatch with you. 🙂 Thanks for sharing it!

Stephen Spielberg's "THE WAR HORSE" is a real tear-jerker. Not sure if it is a true story or not. GREAT STUNTS for any animal.

Great reaction! Now react to Dreamer, another race horse movie, based on another true story starring Kirk Russell, Dakota Fanning and Kris Kristofferson!