Actually, there is a connection between Secretariat and Triple Crown winners, but it’s not a direct one. Secretariat himself is not a Triple Crown winner, but rather a descendant of two Triple Crown winners. His sire, Bold Ruler, won the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes in 1957, while his dam, Somethingroyal, didn’t achieve such success on the racetrack. However, it was Secretariat’s extraordinary racing career and his record-breaking performances that made him one of the most famous racehorses in history.
Now, let’s talk about the Triple Crown winners who are related to Secretariat. Seattle Slew, who won the Triple Crown in 1977, carries Secretariat’s bloodline. Seattle Slew’s sire, Bold Reasoning, is a son of Boldnesian, who is a son of Bold Ruler. So, Bold Ruler is both Secretariat’s sire and Seattle Slew’s great-grandfather. This makes Seattle Slew a great-great-grandson of Secretariat.
Moving on to another Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah, who achieved the prestigious title in 2015. American Pharoah’s sire is Pioneerof the Nile, who is a son of Empire Maker. Empire Maker, in turn, is a son of Unbridled, who is a son of Fappiano. And Fappiano’s sire is Mr. Prospector, who is a son of Raise a Native. Raise a Native’s dam is Gold Digger, who is a daughter of Nashua. Nashua, as it happens, is a son of Nasrullah, who is a son of Nearco. Nearco’s dam is Mumtaz Begum, and her sire is Blenheim II. Blenheim II is the son of Blandford, and Blandford’s dam is Malva. Malva’s dam is the famous broodmare Mah Mahal, who is a daughter of Gainsborough. And here’s the connection to Secretariat: Gainsborough is a son of Bayardo, and Bayardo’s dam is Canterbury Pilgrim. Canterbury Pilgrim is also Secretariat’s great-great-grandmother. So, American Pharoah is a distant relative of Secretariat through this lineage.
While Secretariat himself is not a Triple Crown winner, his bloodline can be found in the pedigrees of Triple Crown winners Seattle Slew and American Pharoah. This connection showcases the enduring influence of Secretariat on the world of horse racing and his legacy as one of the greatest racehorses of all time.