“Each year when it’s Triple Crown time, I keep thinking that it should be me again, but you only get a chance like that once in a lifetime.”        Eddie Sweat

November 12, 1973 – Paris, Kentucky: It was a sad Monday morning for Eddie Sweat. The 34-year-old racehorse groom flew with the big chestnut stallion for the last time. The horse’s destination was Claiborne Farm in Paris. The $6 million champion was going to stud at the renowned stables 100 miles from Churchill Downs. Eddie groomed the horse, settled him in the new stable at Claiborne, and said goodbye.  

In 1939, Eddie was born in Holly Hill, South Carolina, one of nine children born to poor sharecroppers. His family lived in a cinder block house with no electricity or running water. Eddie’s most likely destiny was in the Orangeburg County, SC, cotton and tobacco fields.

The family’s house was only two miles from the Lucien Lauren horse stables. Lauren was a hall of fame thoroughbred trainer who had a reputation for being one of the best in the business. Eddie was fascinated with horses. He dropped out of school in the sixth grade and soon hung around the stables.

One day, Lauren noticed the young teenager studying the horses through the fence and offered him a job. He paid Eddie a small salary and promised him one percent of the winnings of any horses he groomed.

Rather than picking cotton or cropping tobacco, Eddie became an exercise rider and then a groom. Lauren taught Eddie the art of grooming and handling horses. Eddie was a natural. He had a calm, gentle way with high-spirited racehorses, and they trusted him.

On March 30, 1970, a beautiful chestnut colt was born at The Meadow Horse Farm in Caroline County, Virginia, 450 miles from Holly Hill. Penny Chenery, who owned the struggling horse farm, badly needed a winner. She loved the horse’s temperament and the size of the massive colt. She named him Secretariat but mostly called him “Big Red” because of his shiny red coat.

Secretariat arrived at Lucian Lauren’s training stable in early 1972 and Eddie fell in love with the horse. They were kindred spirits. Each day Eddie arrived before daylight and was often at Secretariat’s stall after dark. On many nights when the horse seemed stressed, Eddie slept on a cot outside his stall.

Despite losing his first race as a two-year-old in 1972, Secretariat showed great promise, reeling off eight straight wins. A year later, three-year-old Secretariat fulfilled that promise, becoming the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years. He shattered track records in all three races in the Triple Crown Series: Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. His incredible 31-length victory in the Belmont Stakes is perhaps the most memorable in horse racing history.

After the record-shattering run at Belmont, Eddie led the horse to the winner’s circle. He stood nearby, overcome with emotion, knowing he had been a part of horse racing history. There might never be another champion like Secretariat, or another race like the one he had just seen.

Sixteen years later, during Secretariat’s final days at Claiborne Farm, Eddie was there with him in his stall. Brushing the horse, Eddie whispered, “You are a good boy, Big Red. If I live to be 100, I’ll never see another one like you.” He kissed his old friend on the nose and walked to his truck. The legendary racehorse was put down the following day, October 4, 1989, at age 19.

Eddie Sweat never got his one percent of Secretariat’s winnings. That was OK with him. He had one final wish before he died of leukemia in 1998 at age 59: to be the first groom inducted into the hall of fame. Four years later, in August 2002, Eddie’s wish was granted when he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. He is the only groom to handle two consecutive Kentucky Derby winners – Riva Ridge in 1972 and Secretariat in 1973.

More than 50 years later, Secretariat still holds the record time in the three Triple Crown races. All 21 horses entered in the 2025 Kentucky Derby were descended from the 1973 Triple Crown winner. Eddie was right. There may never be another one like Big Red. “Horses are like people,” Eddie often said, “Only way that horses win is if you spend time with ‘em. Show ‘em you’re trying to help ’em. Talk to ‘em and love ‘em and they’ll run their hearts out.”