Photo © Al Bello/Getty Images.
In a fascinating video, the Wall Street Journal placed the Belmont Stakes footage of American Pharoah and Secretariat side-by-side. How does the newest Triple Crown winner stack up against who many consider the greatest race horse of all-time?
Though American Pharoah led from the beginning of the race, he is simply no match for the Secretariat.
American Pharoah remained roughly two seconds behind the Secretariat for majority of the Belmont Stakes, with the biggest time gap happening at the 1.25 mile marker — 2:02:33 for AP and 1:59:00 for the record setting horse.
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However, the 1973 Triple Crown winner still has the course time and margin record with 2:24:00 and 31 lengths. As for AP, he would finish the Belmont Stakes at roughly 2:26:65, which clearly indicates Secretariat as the likely winner.
Like most sports, it’s fun to look at past and present athletes and argue the better player: the Michael Jordan and LeBron James debate will last as long as time. However, though it is exciting to have a Triple Crown winner for the first time in 37 years, Pharoah’s dominance in the three races did not match that of the Secretariat, who also set the course record at The Kentucky Derby and The Preakness Stake.
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