Preakness evokes memories of Riva Ridge, Secretariat

Saturday we celebrated the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes, a nail-biter in which the gallant winner Journalism was violently sandwiched between two rivals in the homestretch but recovered in just enough time to snag the lead by a nose. It was a thrilling reminder of what keeps racing fans coming back year after year. And, as in the Kentucky Derby, all of the entrants were Secretariat descendants.

This Preakness was the last at the old Pimlico track, which is slated for demolition and rebuilding. As one of the oldest tracks in the country, it needs serious repair. The plans include a new training center, housing for track workers, new barns and stables, a grander clubhouse, event space and a hotel.

This $400 million investment by the state of Maryland will kick off redevelopment of the surrounding area and significantly boost the sport in the mid-Atlantic states by offering 100 days of racing instead of 15. Laurel Park will host the 2026 Preakness while Pimlico is being rebuilt.

This will, of course, make it difficult to compare existing track records with new ones. At 1 3/16 miles, the Preakness always has been shorter than the 1 1/4-mile Derby, requiring jockeys to focus on strategy as much speed.

Although the new track is designed to replicate the old one, there will inevitably be differences, for example, in the character of the surface. So many factors make up a track’s speed rating that any new record will surely be the subject of controversy.

How will Secretariat’s time of 1:53 flat hold up? Certainly, no horse has equaled his time in 52 years, and I doubt anyone will. But even if times on the new track are speedier, it might not matter much. Big Red’s time was the fastest in the first 150 years, and that achievement can never be beaten. And the way Secretariat won, displaying an unbelievable burst of power as he passed the entire field in a few mighty bounds on the first turn, that will never be eclipsed. I still get goosebumps when I see it.

Watching the Preakness always recalls for me two other races. First was the 1950 Preakness, two years before I was born, when mom and granddad watched our champion Hill Prince win by five lengths. His dam was Hildene, and his sire was Princequillo, who later gave us Somethingroyal, dam of Secretariat.

The two Meadow Stable stallions had much in common. Similar in height, they had the same barrel chest, depth of heart and long fluid stride, plus what seemed like powerful afterburners, the ability to turn on speed at will. But there the similarities ended. Hill Prince lost both the Derby and the Belmont to Middleground, the horse he bested in the Preakness. But his overall record and his superlative performances in the fall of 1950 cemented his grip on the horse-of-the-year honors. Hill Prince was both Granddad’s and Princequillo’s first big champion, and he set a standard for Meadow Stable not rivaled until Riva Ridge came along 32 years later.

In 1972, Riva did the opposite of Hill Prince. He won the Derby and the Belmont, both in convincing style, but lost the Preakness on a sloppy track. That day at Pimilico started and ended badly for mom and dad. A rainstorm swamped the track, someone dented our car and someone else filched Dad’s wallet. Then Riva lost.

We had known he didn’t love the mud. With relatively delicate hoofs, he couldn’t grip the track as well as his bigger stablemate Secretariat could, and the uncertain footing made him finish a timid fourth. Many observers felt that had it not rained, he could have won the 1972 Triple Crown.

One other difference from Hill Prince is that Riva did not win 1972 horse of the year. The 2-year-old Secretariat did. That shows how impressive both were. Later when the Meadow stablemates went head-to-head in the Marlboro Cup in fall 1973, they finished one-two. Famed reporter Bill Nack put it this way. Secretariat, the fastest horse of the century, won and set a world record, and his stablemate Riva, the fastest horse of his year, was just 3 1/2 lengths behind. So yes, Riva lost the Preakness and the title, but not his place in our hearts. And neither Hill Prince nor Riva Ridge’s standings in the Meadow Stable panoply of stars will ever rival Secretariat’s.

Kate Tweedy is the daughter of the late Penny Chenery, who bred and owned 1973 Triple Crown champion and Hall of Fame racing legend Secretariat. She and her family are involved with the official Secretariat and the Secretariat for Virginia websites.