Secretariat

Penny Chenery learns her mother has died and travels back to her childhood home. She reunites with Mrs. Ham and comforts her confused and elderly father during this difficult time. The family faces an uncertain future as Penny begins to rethink Meadow Stables and their racing prospects.

At her mother's funeral, Penny meets Arthur 'Bull' Hancock and his son Seth of Claiborne Farm in Kentucky. They offer any help she may need as she works to bring Meadow Stables back to profitability. This meeting foreshadows a key partnership that will shape Secretariat's career.

Bull Hancock recommends Lucien Laurin as the new trainer, but Laurin initially turns down Penny's offer. Penny fires her existing trainer and begins searching for a trainer who can develop Secretariat's raw talent. The decision sets the stage for Laurin's eventual influence.

Penny's father makes a deal with Ogden Phipps that creates a coin-toss to decide which of their horses' foals will be chosen. Phipps wins the toss and selects Hasty Matelda's foal, leaving Secretariat with Somethingroyal's foal. Penny weighs the potential mix of speed and stamina in the foal she now holds.

Secretariat enters his first race at Aqueduct in Queens, New York, with a young and inexperienced jockey, Paul Feliciano. He is repeatedly bumped by other horses and finishes fourth in a disappointing debut. Penny and Laurin argue afterward, with Laurin blaming the jockey for the loss.

Penny decides she needs an experienced rider and hires Ron Turcotte, a Canadian jockey, to ride Secretariat. Turcotte's steady leadership helps Secretariat relax into racing, unlocking his potential. The partnership marks the turning point in Secretariat's development.

With Turcotte in the saddle, Secretariat has a successful two-year-old season and begins to earn widespread recognition. He is named Horse of the Year for his performances and shows the world that he is more than just a promising colt. Penny starts to see the value of the horse she kept from the odds.

Penny's father suffers a stroke and dies, leaving Penny and her brother Hollis to inherit the Chenery estate. The family faces estate taxes that require millions of dollars, and Penny declines selling Secretariat to meet the bills. She remains committed to the horse's future.

To finance Secretariat's future and preserve ownership, Penny syndicates the horse, selling 32 shares for more than six million dollars. The plan hinges on Secretariat winning a demanding three-year-old distance race that would prove his enduring value.

Ogden Phipps makes a counteroffer to buy Secretariat for seven million dollars, but Penny refuses to sell. She tells him that Secretariat's value will triple if he wins the Triple Crown, making a sale unnecessary.

Three weeks before the Triple Crown races, Secretariat is sent to the Wood Memorial to face Sham. Turcotte notices Secretariat's heavy breathing and reluctance to eat; an abscess is discovered in Secretariat's mouth after the race, explaining the earlier poor performance.

Three weeks after the Wood Memorial, Secretariat delivers a jaw-dropping performance at Churchill Downs, setting a new record and defeating Sham by a wide margin. The victory marks the start of Secretariat's Triple Crown run.

Secretariat repeats his dominance at Pimlico, winning the Preakness in record time with Sham in second, reinforcing his status as the hottest horse of the era. The victory sets up the Belmont as the ultimate test of his speed and stamina.

In the Belmont Stakes, Secretariat delivers one of the most famous performances in racing history, finishing 31 lengths ahead of the field to take the Triple Crown. The exhausted Sham trails far behind, unable to match Secretariat's pace.

Following the Belmont victory, Penny and her family receive the Triple Crown trophy, sealing Secretariat's place in racing lore. The achievement validates her faith in Meadow Stables' future and cements Secretariat's legacy.