Anonymous/Associated Press Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby: Triple Crown Showdown, a virtual race featuring the 13 winners of the American horse racing Triple Crown, on Saturday in lieu of the 2020 Kentucky Derby.
Seattle Slew bolted out to the early lead and maintained that position for a vast majority of the race. A parade of champions made their charge during the stretch run, however, as four different contenders emerged inside the final quarter-mile.
Secretariat, the most dominant horse in history, couldn't be stopped, though. He overcame a pack that also featured Seattle Slew, Citation, Affirmed and American Pharoah.
This year's Run for the Roses has been postponed until Sept. 5 because of the coronavirus pandemic. NBC showcased an eerily quiet Churchill Downs in Louisville, which typically welcomes over 150,000 fans to its grounds each year on the first Saturday in May, during its coverage of the virtual race.
Churchill Downs announced Wednesday the event was part of an effort to raise $2 million for COVID-19 emergency relief and provided a statement from track president Kevin Flanery:
"For many fans around the country, the first Saturday in May has become a part of their family's yearly traditions. While we eagerly look forward to the 146th Kentucky Derby this year on the first Saturday in September, we will celebrate the annual excitement of our traditional date with our fans and community by offering ways for us to join together for a great cause. Our fans will be captivated by the realistic view of the virtual race and we can debate, as we do each year, our favorite to win."The remainder of the 2020 Triple Crown slate remains uncertain as officials for the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, respectively scheduled for May 16 and June 6 before the COVID-19 pandemic forced widespread sports cancellations, have yet to announce new dates.
Virtual sports have taken center stage in recent months in order to fill the television void. The Triple Crown Showdown was one of the more unique events created alongside esports competitions ranging from the NBA and MLB to NASCAR and soccer.
Here's a look at the complete field that took part in Saturday's race with their post positions and the year they captured the Triple Crown:
In the end, it was Secretariat who unsurprisingly earned the bragging rights after the 1¼-mile battle under the computer-generated famed twin spires at virtual Churchill Downs.
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