Description:
This race worn Belmont Stakes nail, catalogued and registered in The Official Secretariat Archives (#Sec060973jgfr3136), is part of a framed montage created by the late Jim Gaffney, the well-chronicled exercise rider intimately involved with the day-to-day activities of Secretariat in 1972-1973. Along with groom Eddie Sweat, Gaffney held Secretariat whenever he was shod and began acquiring the shoes and nails of the great champion from his maiden race forward. The featured nail was originally obtained on June 26, 1973, when Secretariat was re-shod by Meadow Stable farrier George Collins, 17 days after winning the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths, the still current world record for 1 1/2 miles on dirt, to complete his Triple Crown sweep. The performance was perhaps the most defining race in Secretariat's career, and considered one of the top 10 sporting achievements of the 20th century (Sports Illustrated, 2004). One of only a handful to exist - each individually cataloged and officially documented - the nail was initially sealed inside a brown envelope within the original shoe box. It has been kept in protected storage in the continued possession of either Mr. Gaffney or the Secretariat Archives since its acquisition more than 42 years ago. The impeccable provenance and historical significance cannot be overstated as the corresponding set of Belmont shoes from which the nails were removed reside in the collection of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York. Framed to 12x12" it is hand-signed by Secretariat's owner, Penny Chenery Tweedy, and comes with a graphite illustration of Hall of Fame Jockey Ron Turcotte (with his signature), as well as a small image of Secretariat rounding the far turn in his Belmont Stakes victory. The framed nail montage, one of only a few ever made, was personally assembled by Mr. Gaffney on November 15, 2004, with his own handwritten comments regarding the nail and its authenticity prominently featured on the reverse of the matting. A similar, but undocumented nail sold for $28,557.60 on October 27th, 2017 by Leland’s Auction House.

Insured Value: $30,000.00