Watch Secretariat’s Incredible 1973 Kentucky Derby Win

With the 149th Kentucky Derby taking place Saturday, the greatest racehorse in history will be fondly remembered.

On May 5, 1973, Secretariat, jockeyed by Ron Turcotte, became the first horse to run the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in under two minutes, finishing at 1:59.4, still the fastest time in the race’s history.

Two weeks later, Secretariat won the Preakness Stakes at Maryland’s Pimlico Race Course by 2 1/2 lengths and a race record 1:53.

Then on June 9, Secretariat completed the elusive Triple Crown — the first since Citation in 1948 — with a dominant win in the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths. His record time of 2:24 at the Belmont still stands.

For the rest of his racing career, he would finish no worse than second place.

Secretariat was euthanized on October 4, 1989, at the age of 19 due to a laminitis condition in his hoof that did not respond to treatment. He is buried at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky.

Several statues of Secretariat exist at racing venues, there are 263 (!) roads named after him, the U.S. Postal Service released a 33-cent postage stamp bearing his image in 1999, and the 2010 theatrical movie Secretariat told his story.

We’re not sure if it includes his fight against Mike Tyson.