Triple Crown hero a welcome alternative to Watergate scandal

1 Secretariat was the sixth name for the chestnut colt with three white socks – by Bold Ruler out of Somethingroyal – that owner Penny Tweedy submitted to the Jockey Club. The first five names – Scepter, Royal Line, Something Special, Games Of Chance, Deo Volente – were all rejected. The sixth name was suggested by Tweedy's personal secretary Elizabeth Ham, and was accepted. He was to be called Secretariat.

2 Following his barnstorming two-year-old campaign – undefeated in eight starts after finishing fourth when meeting considerable interference on his debut – Secretariat was voted Horse of the Year at the Eclipse Awards. Only one two-year-old since then – Favorite Trick, in 1997 – has been so honoured.

3 Following the death of Tweedy's father Christopher Chenery, Secretariat was syndicated for stud before he raced at three. There were 32 shares made available in the colt at $190,000 a share, valuing him at a world-record $6,080,000 – more than the valuation placed on the head of Nijinsky, who had after all already won a Triple Crown.