Trivia

Before the start of the Belmont Stakes, Bill Nack remarks to another reporter "Got a couple thousand you can lend me?" This is referring to the virtual sure bet on Secretariat in the race. Actually, Secretariat went off at a 1-10 favorite and only paid two dollars and twenty cents on a two dollar wager. So a bet of two thousand dollars would only garner a two hundred dollar payout, hardly a killing considering the amount needed to wager. In fact, around five thousand bettors never redeemed their two dollar tickets, keeping them as souvenirs. See more