Eddie Sweat & Secretariat: The Unbreakable Bond Behind the Legendary Racehorse (Part Two)

Discover the heartwarming story of Eddie Sweat, the devoted groom to the legendary racehorse, Secretariat. This captivating montage features rare photos of Eddie and Secretariat together, showcasing the deep bond that helped create a racing legend. Experience their extraordinary journey as you listen to excerpts from Raymond Woolfe's acclaimed book 'Secretariat,' narrated by the talented Tim H. Dixon. Join us in celebrating the unsung hero who played an essential role in the making of an equine icon.
Find the complete audiobook on:
Amazon US: amzn.to/3ml0t47
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3KIATiI
Audible US: www.audible.com/pd/Secretaria...
Audible UK: www.audible.co.uk/pd/Secretar...
Eddie Sweat (1939-1998)
Eddie Sweat was born in Holly Hill, South Carolina, the ninth of nine children to a sharecropper. Lucien Laurin, a future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame trainer, kept a Thoroughbred horse farm in Holly Hill. Sweat was offered a job by Laurin after he noticed the wide-eyed teen frequently peering through a fence to the property. Sweat accepted a full-time job as a groom for the Laurin stable of racehorses in 1957, when he was eighteen, for a small fixed salary plus 1% of the horse's earnings.
The 1958 American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Quill was one of Sweat's first successful horses. Sweat was a member of the Laurin stable's first American Classic victory in 1966, when Amberoid won the Belmont Stakes. Sweat gained national media attention for his abilities with Thoroughbreds six years later, when sportswriter William Nack spent many hours with him outside the Laurin stable stalls of Kentucky Derby winners Riva Ridge and Secretariat in 1972 and 1973. In a feature article for Sports Illustrated, Nack stated that he took notes compulsively and endlessly, feeling for the texture of the life around the horse. [1] Secretariat was voted the 1972 American Horse of the Year, an extraordinary feat for a two-year-old, and all of the key people involved with Secretariat received massive national and international attention leading up to and during the horse's 1973 Triple Crown victory. Sweat was interviewed and photographed numerous times, and he was featured on television and on the covers of Ebony and Jet magazines. Eddie was also the first groom to train Kentucky Derby winners Riva Ridge in 1972 and Secretariat in 1973.
Sweat worked for Lucien Laurin's son, Roger Laurin, after he retired, and received significant national media attention with Chief's Crown in 1984. The colt won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, was named American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt by the Eclipse Award, and was the betting favorite in all three of the 1985 Triple Crown races.

[@denisewharton8418]

I had the privilege of working with "Shorty", as Eddie Sweat was called, and he was true perfection. If ever there was a "horse whisperer" that was Shorty. With a soft-spoken, kind demeanor, Shorty was always cool, calm and collected. A true horseman whom I'll always think of fondly.💖 RIP Shorty

[@user-vt9kd4no8j]

Thank You for the memory of Shorty and Red! I just knew that he had a lot to do with Reds success! 🐎🙋🏾💞

[@christinematton4125]

You are so LUCKY thank you for sharing ☺️

[@oshea2217]

What a great memory you have shared. I always weep when I see that photo of Eddie from the back when he was done dropping Secretariat and Riva off at Claiborne farm and was obviously crying. I so wished he had taken the offer from Seth Hancock and stayed with those horses in their new home. Thank you.

[@gailmckay5551]

One of the most awesome grooms in history. Everybody gives the trainer all the credit, but it's the grooms that keep em right. Great groom keeps great horses great.

[@janetgallo5720]

Secretariat was lucky to have a groom, like Eddie, who took such good care of him

[@lamara8497]

Thank you for pointing him out and giving tribute to the man that spent the most time with the greatest horse in the world

[@sergeantmasson3669]

Eddie Sweat spent more time with Secretariat than any human ever did. Penny Chenery trusted Eddie 100% 24/7/365.

[@mariciamariani2468]

He never called the horse secretariat! He called him Big Red! He loved that horse and the horse loved him❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@laurenurban3942]

I can’t think of Secretariat without thinking of Eddie….and Charley, Penny, Ronnie, Lucien and Jim Gaffney…people forget Jim too. He was very important in the beginning, helping to break Secretariat of some bad habits. He was let go abruptly when he was no longer needed. It’s all in Bill Nack’s book, the Making of a Champion……which every Secretariat fan should read.

[@sergeantmasson3669]

Lauren Urban, Lucien was afraid of Secretariat. Ronnie Turcotte always let Secretariat do his own thing 100%. No whip ever needed. At the Belmont, Ronnie has often said, all he did was hold on and ride. Secretariat did everything else.

[@jmardo6825]

I always admired watching Eddie with Secretariat. They were so in tune. Best friends act like that. It's an absolute pleasure to watch these clips. There will never be another Secretariat nor will there ever be another Eddie Sweat. May you both rest in peace

[@christinematton4125]

Secretariat was lucky to have Eddie.... i wish Eddie stayed with him at Claiborne when he retired ( the horse )

[@christinematton4125]

I am sitting here at Claiborne Farm right now !!! Waiting for my tour

[@maryj2671]

Eddie would of checked Secretariat's hooves and maybe could of saved him from all the hurt . Who knows? RIP Eddie and Secretariat.

[@kennethbailey6634]

I never knew this story. Wow!

[@johnflynn5044]

Clock the arms on Eddie. he almost as muscular as Big Red.. Wonderful quite gentle man with very special hands.. He read horses body language and somehow connected with them mentally.. If the term horse whisperer was coined for anyone its Eddie Great to see history looking back kindly on its man who had more to do with Big Reds success than anyone. I dont know much about his later life but always hope some of the wealth generated by this monster horse found its way to this loyal and unique man ..RIP Eddie

[@user-pz7cr8di8x]

I know Eddie Schwartz sister her name is Geraldine she lives in Florida and I'm always communicating with her either by letter or calling her she is such a sweetheart Eddie was not treated right he is the reason that Secretariat was so successful he was the one that slept with that horse groomed that horse fed that horse and love that horse more than anyone else it is such an honor to know Geraldine and still be able to communicate with her God bless you Geraldine Bob Welch

[@thomasryan5736]

There is a wonderful book “The Horse that God Built”. Most of the story, other than the races, is about the bond between Big Red and Eddie. I recommend it.

[@markbroadhurst8366]

He was a great groom

[@samyoung3592]

ironic that a horse with such wonderful feet, died from complications of laminitis....