Following the death last month of Trusted Company in Pennsylvania at the age of 34, Patricia McQueen recalls a recent visit to the last-known living offspring of Secretariat
In a small pasture nestled against acres of woods, a bright chestnut stallion holds court, often sharing his otherwise private domain with the wildlife that call those woods home.
At 33 years of age, Maritime Traveler has spent almost his entire life at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Florida, except for his first year in Canada and a short unsuccessful foray to the racetrack.
Eureka moment: Secretariat’s son Maritime Traveler is a welcome surprise
Now, following the passing of 34-year-old Trusted Company in Pennsylvania last month, the regal stallion is the last of his kind. The last-known living embodiment of his sire Secretariat, 50 years after the great one’s record-breaking Triple Crown sweep in 1973.
It is rare for Thoroughbreds to reach such an advanced age, and the years do take their toll. Yet Maritime Traveler is an honored elderly statesman, and still enjoys grazing, dozing in the sunshine, wandering around, and eyeing both the wildlife and his immediate neighbor Wagon Limit, a 29-year-old pensioned stallion who won the 1998 Jockey Club Gold Cup.
A couple of pastures over, but out of view, is Stormy Atlantic, another 29-year-old pensioner, this one a stakes winner by Storm Cat.
Maritime Traveler was never a breeding stallion – he served another purpose. As a teaser, he made sure that mares being bred to any of the farm’s stallions were receptive.
It’s a lowly job, but one of vital importance in a seemingly limitless breeding industry, where mares can be worth millions and stallions many times that.
Life of leisure
Retired from that duty several years ago, he now lives a life of leisure. And since he came into the public eye last fall, thanks to Bridlewood’s administrative assistant Christina Clary, he’s been a celebrity worthy of his heritage. Thankfully, the farm has been quite accommodating with visitor requests.
Asked to ballpark the number of visitors Maritime Traveler has received over the past few months, Clary suggested “about 30-ish”.
They’ve come from a number of different states, representing all ages. Many of them saw Secretariat race, either in person or on television, or visited him at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky after his racing career.
Clary remembers one visitor, a woman in her late 80s, who was an outrider who ponied Secretariat himself back in the day.
There have been others as young as three years old, whose grandparents wanted the kids to meet the last living son of Secretariat.
Equine joybringer
“It has been amazing to talk with these people. Since most of his visitors are from Secretariat’s era, seeing them reminiscing – and the joy that Maritime brings them – makes me extremely happy,” she says. “I feel privileged to be able to offer this to them.”
Not all of the visitors have had first-hand experience with Secretariat. Some never got the chance to see Big Red in person, and they are “overjoyed to meet his offspring and get to touch and pet Maritime”.
The horse might even sense his newfound importance. “I think he enjoys the visits just as much as [the people] do,” says Clary.
My own visit with Maritime Traveler four months ago coincided with the celebration of his 33rd birthday on May 15. It was a little more than 30 years after I had last seen him, as a three-year-old in training at Bridlewood in March 1993.
That was part of my quest to photograph members of Secretariat’s final crop; Maritime was one of the last few born in 1990. I remember that morning vividly, foggy at first and then becoming glorious Florida sunshine. It seems strange, but I can still see that colt in his racing prime when I look at the 33-year-old version in 2023.
The morning of May 15, Maritime was offered a birthday cake – carrot of course – with lots of molasses and carrots on top. After a brief sniff, though, he turned away. He clearly prefers his carrots au naturel. In fact, he loves baby carrots, and would follow anyone with the tempting morsels to the ends of the earth. Well, at least to the end of his pasture.
Although an Ontario native, produced from the Northern Dancer mare Oceana, Maritime Traveler is well acclimated to Florida’s hot summers. He didn’t seem particularly bothered by the heat of the past few months. That said, Clary knows he will appreciate a return to cooler weather this fall. At least he doesn’t face the harsh winters that are always a worry with older horses in northern climates.
When Hurricane Idalia slammed into Florida at the end of August, Bridlewood’s pensioners were brought up to the main stallion barn just to be on the safe side. Fortunately, Ocala was spared most of the storm’s wrath. “He didn’t seem to mind” the short stay with the younger studs, says Clary. Aside from that unusual occurrence, Maritime mostly spends life in his pasture, with a run-in shed available if he’s so inclined.
All in all, Maritime Traveler is doing quite well. Although as everyone knows, each day with a horse, no matter his or her age, is a precious gift.
Secretariat’s Legacy by Patricia McQueen can be ordered here for $54.95 at secretariatslegacy.com
Up close and personal at the court of king Secretariat – recalling one acolyte’s pilgrimage
‘Ol’ Border knew it was time’: farewell to the oldest known Secretariat, gone at 34
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