NEW YORK-Secretariat won the Belmont Stakes today with a finality that was incredible. The Meadow Stable star flashed to success in the 11/2-mile event by the improbable margin of 31 lengths over Twice a Prince, his runnerup, and, even with the big margin, he set a track record time of 2:24.
The performance was executed under a splendid ride by Ron Turcotte, and was most noteworthy in that it enabled Secretariat to become the ninth winner of the Triple Crown for 3-year-olds. A quarter of a century ago Citation turned the trick, and Secretariat is the first since then to do so. He won the Kentucky Derby at 11/4 miles on May 5, and the Preakness at 13/16 miles on May 19.
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