“Secretariat” is a name often spoken as a sacred word.
After spending years marveling over Secretariat’s spectacular racing achievements, I became curious about his lifestyle once he retired from racing.
Upon making several calls to find someone with first-hand experience with the legendary horse, everyone pointed to one man: John Sosby.
A few weeks later, I entered the gates of Claiborne Farm to meet John Sosby. Sosby was General Manager of Claiborne Farm from 1975 until he retired in 2006. 
As we walked along the paths of Claiborne Farm, Sosby, whose father was a groom for broodmares and foals, explained that he lived at Claiborne since he was a three-year-old child.
Through observing his father’s work, Sosby learned to be gentle with horses, while exercising patience and control.
The lessons from his childhood eventually led to his own career at Claiborne Farm. In 1964, Sosby became supervisor of the yearlings at the farm.
In regard to Secretariat’s initial arrival at Claiborne, Sosby remarked, “I was still in charge of breaking yearlings, which I thought was the best job here.”
However, Sosby soon earned a promotion to General Manager in 1975. In the years to follow, his daily life became interwoven with the legendary presence of Secretariat.
The Grand Entrance: Big Red Arrives at Claiborne Farm.
As with his career, Secretariat’s arrival to Claiborne Farm was no small event.
When he retired from racing, Secretariat made a farewell appearance for roughly 30,000 fans at Aqueduct race track. At the time, the date had been set for him to be shipped to Kentucky, but it remained a secret to the public. Sosby explained:
After the parade for the general public, a plane flew him and Riva Ridge to Bluegrass Field, across from Keeneland. Two vans were waiting, along with an escort from the Paris and Lexington Police.
It was one of those situations where you knew he was coming to Claiborne, but the general public didn’t know exactly what time, so that we could keep the crowd down.
[At Claiborne,] we had security. When they backed down into the loading chute here, we were waiting. Seth [Hancock] did not want a bunch of fan fare. He just put the guard at the gate. If you weren’t on the list of whomever Seth had invited in, you weren’t coming in.
Sosby then recalled the moment that Secretariat first set foot on the grounds of Claiborne Farm.
When they unloaded him, they turned him around. As they led him out, I can remember him looking at the barn and his new surroundings.
He was a beautiful animal. He walked with pride. He had something about him. And, somehow or another, he knew it.
Sosby reflected, “He was The Man.”
Perhaps, they both knew it.
The Camera Eye: Secretariat’s Presence at Claiborne Farm.
As we walked down the trail to the stables at Claiborne Farm, Sosby directed me to Secretariat’s former stall. As he stood beside Secretariat’s golden name plate, Sosby talked about the fans that visited Claiborne to meet the legendary horse.
Between 8,500 and 10,000 people a year came to Bourbon County to visit Secretariat.
Some of them would go in the stall and lay in the hay. They would say, ‘If it’s good enough for Secretariat, it’s good enough for me.’
Every now and then, fans would bring Secretariat an apple or peppermint candy during their visit. His groom was in charge of giving those gifts to Secretariat.
In an interesting note, Sosby recalled that the horse particularly enjoyed two items – cameras and shiny objects.
As we arrived at Secretariat’s paddock, Sosby recounted Secretariat’s “Trademark Greeting” to his visitors. Pointing to the top of the hill, he explained that when a person walked up to Secretariat’s paddock, the horse would run up to the gate and stop.
Sosby then elaborated, “With a camera, he’d pose. He was a showman, but he was kind. You could walk right up and get your picture taken with him.”
I began to wonder about Sosby’s earlier comment about how Secretariat enjoyed “shiny things.” Was it a simple flash on a camera or did it go beyond that?
It was then that Sosby recounted the tale of “Secretariat and The Golden Earring.” He explained:
One day, I had gone to lunch in town. I got a call from the farm saying ‘You need to come out here. Secretariat just bit a woman.’
I was a mile and a half away from the farm. My first thought was a million-dollar lawsuit.
Well, I get there and they called a doctor out to try to stop the bleeding on her earlobe.
She had taken a picture and turned away. He reached to get her earring and just pulled it through her ear.
Sosby laughed when I asked if the woman was upset.
No. She was happy. She’d been bit by Secretariat!
As he smiled, he clarified, “He was not mean. It wasn’t his character. The earring was there - and it was shiny. He just reached and grabbed it.”
The King of Roses: Secretariat’s Legacy.
In 1989, Secretariat lost his battle with lamanitis and was buried at Claiborne Farm. As Sosby stood next to Secretariat’s grave, he briefly discussed the private service that was held.
He was put in the ground late in the afternoon. It was Claiborne family [present]. Nobody in the gate.
We didn’t want a circus or festival atmostphere.
We had just laid a good one to rest.
Sosby recounted that after Secretariat’s burial, “Over a hundred flower arrangements were on his grave by the next morning.”
In over two decades since his death, Secretariat still leaves his mark at Claiborne Farm. Sosby explained, “On his birthday, there will be twelve red roses on his grave [from an] unknown source. It’s been [going on for] twenty-one years.”
In his closing remarks, Sosby marveled, “I don’t know who his critics would be. He was perfect.”
Jennifer,
This is lovely. I visited His Chestnut Perfection several times, and every time I saw the horse, he proved himself quite a ham for attention (and cameras). He even loved to have video taken of him, which I did on at least a couple of occasions.
Thanks for sharing,
Frank
Thank you for the nice compliment, Frank. I appreciate you reading my story - and for providing such a great story in your feedback.
Yet another beautiful article Jennifer. I especially loved the part about the earring, I always joke with my family that when I go to meet Curlin for the first time I hope I get a bitten or kicked so as to have a “treasured” scar! (:
Wonderful post, thank you!
Hi Brian. Thanks for the nice words. I thought the golden earring story was adorable. I wish I could have videotaped him telling it and just posted the interview via video. He was such a nice guy and a wonderful storyteller.
[...] April 15, 2010 · Leave a Comment Former Claiborne Farm general manager John Sosby recalls some of his memories of Triple Crown winner Secretariat in an interview with Jennifer Wirth at the Saturday Post. [...]
Ms. Wirth;
Heart warming story….I would imagine Mr. Sosby is someone with such a treasure of experiences with the greats of Claiborne that I would like to talk to him for days!! I was lucky enough to visit Claiborne in 1975; got photos of Secretariat, Damascus, Riva Ridge and Buckpasser. A funny thing: Secretariat had his head down and my fiancee made a clicking sound to try and make him look at the camera (it worked) and I said..” You can’t do that! That’s Secretariat!!!”
Thank you, Guy. I enjoyed your story as well - I bet it was amazing to visit Claiborne in 1975. Thanks for reading!
What a wonderful story
. I was lucky enough that I was able to nag my grandfather into taking me to see Secretariats last race, as we had a summer cabin in Canada and I nagged him so much he finaly gave in. One of my fondest, most treasured memories, seeing HIM run and soon after, losing my grandfather, so that was our last trip.
Hi Connie. I imagine it was wonderful to see Secretariat race in person. Thanks for the great comment!
I never met Secretariat but remember well his achievements. However, I did get to meet Mr. and Mrs. Ron Turcotte at their home in Grand Falls, New Brunswick. Ron spoke with great pride of the big red horse. He spoke of his beginnings and how he didn’t care to run much at first and they had to teach him to run. Of course once he got the hang of what was expected, well the rest is history. It is always nice to hear from those who were blessed to have known such greatness. It is truly rare and as the years continue to pass, we can only appreciate it more. There will never be another quite like him. However, I would certainly love to be proven wrong on that theory.
it is with humility and great honor to comment on the greatest race horse who “ever lived”. even though i did not ever see Secreatarit while he was alive i have personally visited his gravesite at least 7 times.. im just another one of millions of other fans who just adored “Big Red”.. Gary Saraceno Coraopolis Penna.
Thanks for the the nice comment about “Big Red.”
Being from Paris KY, which is a half hour outside of Lexington I have 2 uncles who have worked at the Claiborne Farms, one who is still there I believe; I remember going and seeing Secretariat as a kid although I did not realize at the time what I was priviledged to see from behind the scenes. But having seen the new Disney movie I now realize this was a very special horse the world may never know again. thank you for this article.
Thank you for the nice comment, Doug. (I bet it was amazing to see Secretariat as a kid.)
Thank you so much for this walk down memory lane. I was involved with a large breeding farm as a young woman. I was a bit of a novelty at the time. When we dropped the broodmares off in Lexington we were able to have a few days to sight see. My best memory is with Secretariat and Clay Arnold, my picture with them both is one of mt most treasured possessions. Thank you so much for keeping his memory alive.
It is amazing that the Secretariat story continues as it does. Any great athlete leaves a legacy and obviously this horse did that. The main character in the sotry is the four legged character, but also the two legged characters add to the story greatly. Even after the horse was reoired to stud he continued to intrance characters into what he was and where he was. I was just back from View Nam and starting to work when he ran his big races, and likely was not as drawn in then as I am now at what the Secretariat story says. What a great story and it continues. This was a great follow up. Thank you.
I am proud to be able to say John Sosby was my friend. I remember well when John worked so hard to establish a softball league for the girls of Paris and Bourbon County. I’ll never forget the look of awe on the faces of my daughters when John promised them, “Us girls are going to play ball!” He was a hero to them. John believed in them as he did all the many children in our community.
Words can not experess the sadness felt at this loss. I can not even begin to count the many wonderful acts of kindness John performed. Whether it was helping a down and out family man collect walnuts to help make ends meet or just sharing a kind word and a big smile when a friend was feeling blue. It never mattered to John how rich or poor a person was, he seemed not to notice social class when it came to making a person feel valued.
I shall miss him. I’ll miss his voice, the hug he had every time our paths crossed and the way he used to call me “Little Rambo.” Godspeed, John, See you on the other side.
I’m so glad that this interview was shared again. I loved it!!
Jeanne ~
Thank you for your wonderful words about Mr. Sosby. I actually learned the sad news from reading your comment.
He was such a kind man. I feel like the world has lost someone very special. He was nice to everyone and full of wonderful stories.
I remember when I interviewed him, we got in his truck to drive around Claiborne Farm. I noticed he had at least fifty sets of keys in his truck. I finally asked, “Why do you have all those keys?” He listed all the things in the community that they opened. (I never forgot that laundry list. It showed how many things he did for everyone.)
I bet I met him when I went out to Claiborne to see Big Red in the summer of ‘83, and didnt even know who it was at the time! I remember all the horses I met vividly but wish I’d paid more attn to the people I met.
At any rate, I bet that dozen roses every yr are from Red’s “Mama”, Penny!
A very nice interview, thanx for posting!
I enjoyed this article very much. I watched Secretariat race as a three year old and I have read many books and stories about him. Billy Silver is rarely mentioned…just wondered if anyone knows what happened to him…??
I have loved horses ever since I was seven,It was at this age that I learned to ride a horse.As a child growing up I went to alot of fairs,thus seeing alot of horses.Over the last few days, I have spent some time reading about this wonderful horse named Secretariat.It was only by watching him race on youtube, did I get the full marvel of this master pice of a horse.I only wished I could of met this wonderful horse, just even once.