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Every horse running in Kentucky Derby 2025 is a descendant of this racing legend

Related Topics: Kentucky Derby

Secretariat. 1973. The fastest mile-and-a-quarter in Kentucky Derby history.

You know the stats.

But did you know that more than 50 years after Big Red ran for the roses (and then the Triple Crown), his greatness still factors prominently in American horse racing.

In fact, a search of pedigrees shows every horse running in the 151st Kentucky Derby is a descendant of Secretariat.

While it sounds impressive, more often than not, if you go back six generations in most horses, you'll find they're a descendant of some great, like Secretariat or Northern Dancer.