Secretariat (2010) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Penny's father had made a deal with Ogden Phipps where each owner would receive one foal from breeding Bold Ruler to their mares, Somethingroyal and Hasty Matelda. The decision was made by a coin flip, which Phipps won. He chose Hasty Matelda's foal (known for its speed), leaving Penny with Somethingroyal's foal, Secretariat. Penny believed this foal could combine Bold Ruler's speed with Somethingroyal's stamina, creating the ideal racehorse.

Foreshadowing: The earlier deal between Penny's father and Ogden Phipps established the breeding arrangement that ultimately gave Penny Secretariat.

• coin toss
• breeding deal
• Somethingroyal
• Bold Ruler
• foal ownership

Lucien Laurin was a weathered, aged French-Canadian trainer who initially turned down Penny's offer to become her trainer. Though Bull Hancock recommended him, Laurin was reluctant to take on the job, possibly due to his age and the challenging nature of training Meadow Stables' horses. Penny ultimately convinced him to join, and he became instrumental in developing Secretariat into a champion.

Foreshadowing: Bull Hancock's recommendation of Laurin at the funeral sets up his eventual acceptance of the role.

• Lucien Laurin
• trainer
• Claiborne Farm
• offer declined

Paul Feliciano was a young, inexperienced jockey who rode Secretariat in his first race at Aqueduct. The horse finished fourth after being bumped repeatedly by rival horses, and Laurin blamed Feliciano for the loss. Recognizing that Secretariat needed an experienced rider who could handle him with precision, Penny hired Ron Turcotte, a accomplished Canadian jockey. Turcotte's seasoned approach helped Secretariat relax and perform to his full potential.

Foreshadowing: The disappointing fourth-place finish at Aqueduct highlighted the need for a more skilled jockey.

• Paul Feliciano
• Ron Turcotte
• jockey replacement
• racing error

Ogden Phipps offered to buy Secretariat for seven million dollars, a substantial sum, but Penny refused. She believed that if Secretariat won the Triple Crown (which hadn't been achieved in 25 years), his value would triple beyond even that offer. Penny saw the Triple Crown as the ultimate proof of Secretariat's worth, making a sale unnecessary and ensuring Meadow Stables' legacy.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Phipps had won the coin toss for the breeding rights, establishing his ongoing interest in Penny's horses.

• Ogden Phipps
• seven million offer
• syndication
• Triple Crown value

To pay the hefty estate taxes after her father's death without selling Secretariat, Penny launched a syndication in 1973. She sold 32 shares in Secretariat for over six million dollars, but with a specific condition: the new owners could only take possession if Secretariat won a three-year-old distance race. This arrangement allowed Penny to retain control long enough to attempt the Triple Crown.

Foreshadowing: The family's financial pressure from estate taxes creates the need for the syndication deal.

• syndication
• estate taxes
• shares
• ownership agreement
• six million

Before the Triple Crown, Secretariat was sent to the Wood Memorial to face his rival Sham. Jockey Ron Turcotte noticed the horse was breathing heavily and reluctant to accept the bit. After the race, veterinarians discovered an abscess in Secretariat's mouth, which had been causing discomfort and affecting his performance. After a period of recovery, Secretariat returned to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in record time.

Foreshadowing: Turcotte's observation of Secretariat's heavy breathing during the Wood Memorial hints at a physical problem.

• mouth abscess
• Wood Memorial
• veterinary issue
• health problem

Sham was a champion horse trained by Frank 'Pancho' Martin who was seen as Secretariat's primary competition. Both horses were exceptional, and Martin sought a match race to prove Sham could beat Secretariat. During the Triple Crown races, Sham finished second in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. At the Belmont, Martin instructed Sham's jockey Laffit Pincay to stay with Secretariat to exhaust him, but Secretariat pulled ahead dramatically, winning by 31 lengths.

Foreshadowing: The buildup to the Triple Crown races establishes Sham as the main challenger to Secretariat's dominance.

• Sham
• Pancho Martin
• rival horse
• match race
• Triple Crown competition

Secretariat's 1973 Triple Crown was the first to be achieved in 25 years, since Citation in 1948. The win ended a long drought in American horse racing and established Secretariat as one of the greatest horses in history. His performance, especially the Belmont Stakes where he finished 31 lengths ahead of the field (the largest margin ever), cemented his legacy and validated Penny Chenery's decision to keep and syndicate him.

Foreshadowing: Penny's refusal of the seven-million-dollar offer was based on her belief that winning the Triple Crown would prove Secretariat's ultimate value.

• Triple Crown
• 25 years
• record margin
• Belmont
• greatest horse history

While focusing on Secretariat's career, Penny missed her daughter Kate's solo performance due to a canceled flight home. The family shared a poignant moment on a payphone as Kate sang to her mother. Additionally, Penny dealt with her father's stroke and death, inheriting the family estate and facing immense financial pressure. These personal losses and missed moments underscored the emotional cost of her racing obsession.

Foreshadowing: The canceled flight and missed performance early in the film establishes the personal toll of Penny's commitment.

• Kate
• penny's daughter
• missed performance
• family sacrifice
• father's death

Penny's brother Hollis revealed that their mother had thwarted a shady sales scheme, uncovering fraudulent activity that threatened Meadow Stables. This revelation strengthened Penny's resolve to save the stable and honor her mother's memory by proving the Chenery breeding program could produce a champion. The family secret added motivation for Penny's determination to succeed.

Foreshadowing: The revelation about their mother's protective actions against the scheme adds emotional weight to Penny's mission.

• Hollis
• mother
• shady sales scheme
• family secret
• Chenery family