At age two, Secretariat finished fourth in his 1972 debut but went on to win seven of his remaining eight starts that year, including five stakes victories.

In 2012, the Maryland Racing Commission used new timing technology to determine that Secretariat won the Preakness in 1:53, not the 1:54.4 hand time that was originally announced. With the change, he holds the fastest time for each of the Triple Crown races.

On July 27, in preparation for the Whitney Stakes, Secretariat put in a stunning workout of 1:34 for a mile on a sloppy track, a time that would have broken Saratoga's track record. On race day though, he was beaten by Onion, a four-year-old gelding who had set a track record at 6 1/2 furlongs in his previous start.

Somethingroyal also produced three other stakes winners and was named the 1973 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year.

Altogether, Secretariat won 16 of his 21 career races, with three seconds and one third, and total earnings of $1,316,808.

During his racing career, he won five Eclipse Awards, including Horse of the Year honors at ages two and three.

Early leader Shecky Greene set a reasonable pace, then gave way to Sham around the far turn. Secretariat came charging as they entered the stretch and battled with Sham down the stretch, finally pulling away to win by 2 1/2 lengths.

Secretariat wintered in Florida but did not race until March 17, 1973 in the Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct, where he went off as the heavy favorite. As the trainer of one of his opponents put it, "The only chance we have is if he falls down."

He stood 16.2 hands (66 inches, 168 cm) when fully grown.

Lady's Secret won twenty-five of her forty-five races and had nine second-place finishes.