A Tremendous Machine: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown
On display in the McBean Gallery from July 13, 2023 to March 31, 2024
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s historic 1973 Triple Crown sweep, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame presented traveling and onsite exhibitions honoring the accomplishments and enduring legacy of the famed Meadow Stable colt. A Tremendous Machine: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown journeyed the same path Secretariat did to become America’s ninth Triple Crown winner, visiting Churchill Downs, Pimlico Race Course and Belmont Park, and featured Secretariat’s 1973 Triple Crown trophies. Following its Triple Crown travels, a more comprehensive exhibition of A Tremendous Machine opened to the public on July 13 in the Peter McBean Gallery at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, coinciding with opening day at Saratoga Race Course. At the conclusion of the Saratoga racing season, the exhibit travelled to Colonial Downs in Secretariat’s home state of Virginia. In October, the exhibit went to Woodbine in Toronto, where Secretariat had his final race, and at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky. The onsite exhibition at the Museum remained on view through March 31, 2024.
Schedule:
May 3-6: Churchill Downs – Louisville, KY
May 18-20: Pimlico Race Course – Baltimore, MD
June 8-11: Belmont Park – Elmont, NY
July 13-September 4: National Museum of Racing – Saratoga Springs, NY
September 7-9: Colonial Downs – New Kent, VA
September 12-October 1: National Museum of Racing – Saratoga Springs, NY
October 5-October 9: Woodbine Racetrack – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
October 11-October 22: National Museum of Racing – Saratoga Springs, NY
October 25-October 29: Keeneland Race Course – Lexington, KY
October 31-March 31: National Museum of Racing – Saratoga Springs, NY
The exhibit featured artifacts generously loaned by the Helen B. Chenery Trust and Lee Carmichael, and was made possible by the following sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor
Estate of Ellen R. Bongard
Please visit our sponsors:
Churchill Downs, Inc. https://www.churchilldowns.com/
Maryland Jockey Club https://www.preakness.com/
New York Racing Association https://www.belmontstakes.com/
NTRA https://www.ntra.com/
Dean Dorton https://deandorton.com/industries/equine/
Virginia Equine Alliance https://www.virginiahorseracing.com/
Follow the traveling exhibit on social media at @NMRHOF
For the duration of the exhibition, the Museum collected stories and memories related to Secretariat that were featured in the onsite exhibition at the Museum and on the Museum’s social media accounts with the tag #MySecretariatStory.
Check out our special Secretariat 50th anniversary publication here: Secretariat's Golden Anniversary
