Monday, October 20, 2008
Claiborne, Where History Lives
Memory of Secretariat lives large at Claiborne Farm, where the Triple Crown winner of 1973 stood throughout his breeding career.
The memories live in the brass plaque bearing his name and affixed to the stall he once occupied. Memories are etched into his grave marker laid over him in the cemetery out behind the office.
Memory also lives in the reverence spoken at Claiborne Farm for this great horse who always left his visitors awestruck. Thousands of visitors passed through these gates to see him when he lived, for he was king of Thoroughbred horsedom.
Those privileged to visit him at Claiborne recall how he loved to race across his paddock, flashing that blazing speed that had been his signature on the race track. They tell how Secretariat seemed to laugh at the world as he reached the fence, stopping on a dime from a full gallop. He never overshot his mark.
Secretariat did not make Claiborne Farm. Long before Secretariat retired here at age 3 in the autumn of 1973, these thousands of historic acres had been home to some of the world’s most royally-bred Thoroughbred stallions. Yet not one of these stallions had drawn the same size crowds to Claiborne as had Secretariat. He was the people’s horse.
Continue reading Claiborne, Where History Lives
Written by Maryjean Wall
Visit Maryjean Wall's new site at "Celebrating the Horse"
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