Secretariat

NEW YORK -- He was Secretariat's best friend.But when Eddie Sweat died in April at age 59, he was destitute. His family couldn't afford to bury him.So a charitable organization paid for the funeral. And a former employer paid for Sweat's widow and two daughters to travel from their home in New York City to Sweat's home state of South Carolina.There, on April 24, a group primarily of relatives -- no one from Secretariat's inner circle was present -- gathered at Rock Hill A.M.E. Church in Vance, S.C., to bid farewell to Edward "Shorty" Sweat.

Secretariat's races are legend. Could one of them now become law?Citing evidence that Secretariat was robbed of a record in winning the 1973 Preakness, racing mogul Joe De Francis said yesterday that he may appeal to the Maryland General Assembly to give the horse his due.Secretariat won the Triple Crown, setting records in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. However, because of a malfunctioning timer, the colt was not credited with what many horsemen agree was a record for the Preakness.

Twenty-five years ago, Secretariat won the Preakness, but lost a protest denying him the track record.Now, there's a move ahoof to reopen the case. Joe De Francis, owner of Pimlico Race Course, yesterday appealed to the Maryland Racing Commission to review tapes of the race to verify Secretariat's time -- and possibly rewrite history."

It is rare for officials in any sport to rectify a lingering, embarrassing mistake. It is even rarer when a silver-lined opportunity presents itself to correct the error, especially when it would benefit everyone connected to the sport.That is precisely the opportunity Maryland racing officials have this week as they salute the 25th anniversary of Secretariat's spectacular Triple Crown sweep in conjunction with the 123rd running of the Preakness.You see, 25 years ago, while the great horse was winning the hearts of millions in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes, Maryland racing officials failed to honor him with their best effort - robbed him, in fact, of the singular most amazing feat in Triple Crown history.

He won his Triple Crown a quarter-century ago and died in 1989, but Secretariat is still running.As a matter of fact, as weird as it sounds, he hasn't lost a race since he retired."

Because of a computer error, fractions were dropped from an article on the 25th anniversary of Secretariat's Triple Crown in Saturday's editions. The colt won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness by 2 1/2 lengths, and he won the Belmont in world-record time for 1 1/2 miles.The Sun regrets the errors.It has been 25 years since Secretariat took America on a white-knuckled joy ride, but his fans refuse to let go of the reins.Fresh flowers adorn the grave of the Triple Crown winner, nine years after his death.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- For the first time in 25 years, the Horse of the Year will compete in the race of the year.Favorite Trick, the first 2-year-old Horse of the Year since Secretariat, will put his pedigree and reputation on the line at 5: 27 p.m. today when 15 3-year-olds burst from the starting gate in the Kentucky Derby.On May 5, 1973, Secretariat erased all doubt about his pedigree -- yes, even Secretariat had doubters -- and stormed to a 2 1/2 -length victory in the 99th Derby. His time of 1 minute, 59 2/5 seconds stands as the only Kentucky Derby ever run in less than two minutes.

Baltimore resident H. Richard McCord has been named executive director of the Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women and Youth of the U.S. Catholic bishops conference in Washington.Associate director of the secretariat for the past 10 years, McCord succeeds Dolores Leckey, who is retiring at the end of the year from the post she has held since 1977.Before going to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, McCord served the Archdiocese of Baltimore in various positions for 13 years in the Department of Christian Formation, the Comprehensive Ministry Formation Program, the Division of Adult and Family Ministry and the Division of Adult Religious Education.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Sonny Hine and Skip Away weren't here yet. D. Wayne Lukas was stabled 30 miles away at Santa Anita, which was fine with everybody here at Hollywood Park. Bill Mott was here, gracious as usual, but with no Cigar.So who was the short guy in the windbreaker and jeans nearly lost yesterday in a sea of reporters and TV crews?That was Patrick Byrne, a horse trainer little known until this spring, but now the hottest horseman in the business. He trains three horses who might be favored Saturday in Breeders' Cup races, including one sensational 2-year-old colt who could defy the odds and be voted Horse of the Year.

ELMONT, N.Y. -- He failed to win either of his last two races leading up to the Kentucky Derby.After winning the Derby, he was relegated to the third choice among bettors at the Preakness.Overall, he has stood in the winner's circle just five times in his career.That's the biography of a Triple Crown winner?Say hello to Silver Charm, the gray colt who will redefine the shimmering image of racing's greatest achievement if he wins the Belmont Stakes tomorrow.He isn't a superhorse out of the mold of Secretariat, Seattle Slew or Affirmed -- the only three horses to win the Triple Crown since Harry Truman's presidency.