In the annals of horse racing, some partnerships between horse and human transcend the sport. Few are more legendary than that of Secretariat and his trainer, a silver-haired French-Canadian man whose quiet demeanor belied a fierce competitive spirit and a profound understanding of the thoroughbred. This is the story of Lucien Laurin, the horse trainer who orchestrated one of the most remarkable achievements in sports history: the 1973 Triple Crown. While his name is forever linked with the mighty “Big Red,” his journey to the pinnacle of racing was a lifetime in the making.
Born in Joliette, Quebec, on March 18, 1912, Lucien Laurin’s life with horses began not in the trainer’s box, but in the saddle. He started his career in 1929 as a jockey at Montreal’s Blue Bonnets Raceway. Although he achieved moderate success, winning 161 races, his constant battle with maintaining weight eventually forced a career change. In 1942, Laurin traded his jockey silks for a trainer’s license, a decision that would ultimately reshape his destiny and the sport itself. He often remarked that getting too heavy to ride was one of the luckiest things that ever happened to him.
The Path to Greatness
Laurin began his training career on the New England circuit, steadily building a reputation for his horsemanship. His breakthrough came through his long and successful association with owner Reginald N. Webster, for whom he trained numerous winning horses. Among them was Quill, the American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 1958, and Amberoid, who gave Laurin his first American Classic victory in the 1966 Belmont Stakes. These successes proved Laurin could develop champions, setting the stage for the most pivotal chapter of his life.
In 1971, a twist of fate led him to Meadow Stable, owned by Penny Chenery (then Tweedy). Her father was ill, and she needed a steady hand to guide the stable’s promising young stock. The job was first held by Laurin’s son, Roger, who, upon deciding to train on his own, recommended his father for the position. It was a decision that would etch the Laurin and Chenery names into immortality.
The Meadow Stable Champions
Before Secretariat captured the world’s imagination, there was Riva Ridge. In his very first year with Meadow Stable, Laurin developed Riva Ridge into the American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt of 1971. The following year, Laurin guided the colt to glorious victories in the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes, narrowly missing a Triple Crown with a fourth-place finish on a sloppy track in the Preakness. For his incredible work, Laurin was honored with the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer in 1972.
As brilliant as Riva Ridge was, a younger stablemate was beginning to show otherworldly talent. That horse was Secretariat. Under Laurin’s meticulous guidance, Secretariat was named Horse of the Year as a two-year-old in 1972—an honor rarely bestowed upon such a young horse. But it was the 1973 season that would become the stuff of legend.
How Did Lucien Laurin Train a Legend?
Training Secretariat was a unique challenge. The colt was a powerhouse of muscle and energy, and he needed a firm, confident trainer who wasn’t afraid to push him. Penny Chenery herself stated, “I’ve always thought Lucien was the perfect trainer for Secretariat, because Lucien was hard on his horses and he liked the horse he could really put the work to. And that’s what Secretariat was.” Laurin never trained a horse as hard, recognizing that the “big bruiser” needed the rigorous work to channel his immense power.
His strategy was not just about hard work, but also about understanding the horse’s mind. Laurin was not intimidated by Secretariat’s power and presence, which prevented the colt from becoming difficult or mean. This perfect balance of tough conditioning and intuitive horsemanship prepared Secretariat for the grueling Triple Crown campaign. He famously upset his own champion in the Wood Memorial, when stablemate Angle Light defeated Secretariat, but Laurin never lost faith, preparing his star for the ultimate test.
The result was a spectacle the world had never seen. Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, setting track records in both. Then came the Belmont Stakes, where he delivered the single greatest performance in racing history, winning by an astonishing 31 lengths and setting a world record that still stands. Lucien Laurin had guided a horse to become the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years.
The Laurin Legacy
Lucien Laurin’s career was far more than just two legendary horses. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he trained 36 stakes winners. His incredible success in 1972 and 1973 included winning four of the six consecutive Triple Crown races, a remarkable feat.
He was recognized for his monumental contributions to the sport with inductions into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1977 and the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1978. His approach combined old-school horsemanship with an intuitive feel for what each individual horse needed to reach its full potential. He wasn’t just a conditioner; he was a master psychologist for equine athletes. The story of his career has inspired many, including individuals like earl jansen horse trainer, who carry on the tradition of excellence in horsemanship.
Laurin retired for a second time in 1976 but made a brief return in 1983. He passed away on June 26, 2000, at the age of 88. Yet his legacy endures every time the story of Secretariat is told. As legendary racing journalist Joe Hirsch wrote, the eulogy on his tablet could simply read: “He trained Secretariat.” For those who witnessed the magic of 1973, that says it all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Lucien Laurin?
Lucien Laurin was a French-Canadian thoroughbred horse trainer who began his career as a jockey. He is most famous for being the trainer of the 1973 Triple Crown winner, Secretariat, and the 1972 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner, Riva Ridge. He was inducted into both the American and Canadian horse racing halls of fame.
What were Lucien Laurin’s most famous horses?
His two most famous horses were Secretariat, widely considered the greatest racehorse of all time, and Riva Ridge. Both horses were owned by Meadow Stable and achieved champion status under Laurin’s training.
How many Triple Crown races did Lucien Laurin win?
Lucien Laurin won the Kentucky Derby twice (1972, 1973), the Preakness Stakes once (1973), and the Belmont Stakes three times (1966, 1972, 1973). His victories with Riva Ridge and Secretariat in 1972-73 gave him four consecutive wins in Triple Crown events.
What was Lucien Laurin’s training philosophy?
Laurin was known for being a tough but intuitive trainer. He believed in rigorous conditioning to bring out a horse’s stamina and was not afraid to push talented horses like Secretariat to their limits, which he believed was necessary to unlock their greatness.
When was Lucien Laurin inducted into the Hall of Fame?
He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga, N.Y., in 1977 and the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1978.
