There was no surprise in the Kentucky Derby Triple Crown Showdown, which took the place of the actual Run for the Roses, postponed until September because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The virtual race, shown on NBC-TV, saw all 13 Triple Crown winners in the starting gate at Churchill Downs.
The winner … none other than the great Secretariat. The winner of the 1973 Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont moved to the front in the shadows of the wire. Second, was another incomparable horse, Citation. Third, was 1977 champion Seattle Slew, who set the pace for much of the mile-and-a-quarter.
Check out the race:
Watch it again! The 13 Triple Crown winners face off in a virtual race under the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs.
Donate to COVID-19 relief at https://t.co/6W7xpgby5a. | #KyDerbyAtHome pic.twitter.com/QCDkrrPB5p
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) May 2, 2020
What was real was NBC using a clever camera to show American Pharoah watch his Kentucky Derby win from his stall.
American Pharoah watching himself win the Kentucky Derby is everything🙌🙌🙌 pic.twitter.com/bRfsmpNQc0
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) May 2, 2020
And since it never gets old, a look at Secretariat’s immortal Belmont victory in 1973.