This Day in History: 1973-10-08

Secretariat made his grass-racing debut in the Man o’ War Stakes at Belmont Park, winning the 1 1/2-mile race by five lengths in a time of 2:24 4/5. He overran the finish line by another furlong, running 1 5/8 miles in a world-record-equaling time of 2:37 4/5.