Let The Big Horse Run: John Stewart

A musical tribute to the thoroughbred Secretariat by singer-songwriter John Stewart (1939-2008) from his 1975 album "Wingless Angels." In 1973 Secretariat had become the most dominant horse in Triple Crown history, winning the coveted trifecta that year and outdistancing the rest of the field at the Belmont Stakes by an astounding 31 lengths. Owner Mrs. Penny Tweedy had planned a limited number of post-Belmont races for the horse, and Stewart's song is a plea to send Secretariat west to run in the Santa Anita Derby, but the horse was put to stud without ever racing west of the Mississippi. Stewart's father was a horse trainer by profession, and as a boy Stewart had worked as a "hot-walker" at Santa Anita and retained a life-long affection for horses and the tracks that they ran on.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Secretariat
• JohnStewart
• horse
• TripleCrown
• KingstonTrio

[JamesMForbes]

Joh n Stewart did in fact work for his dad at the LA County Fair. his song "Back in Pomona" is about the experience. I'm a retired reporter and wrote a couple of stories about John Stewart and the influences that shaped his music.

Ironically, Stewat died in the same hospital where he was born, down here in San Diego County. I so wish "let The Big Horse Run" would have been used on the movie "Secretariat."

[RoadWolf98]

@JamesMForbes - please check the email acct on your "Forbes on Tech" blog. I included a link to your excellent memorial to JS on my "A Page In Memory of John Stewart," which I think you might enjoy.

[mjcamck]

@RoadWolf98 - Hello. Post APPRECIATED. I clearly recall Jon Stewart appearing on a TV variety show in 1973. He sang this wonderful song to broadcast footage of Secretariat running in his majestic manner. Do you remember that? Do you know what TV show it was? It may have just been a special vs. a regular variety show. If not, I guess I won't hear back which I understand. In any event, THANK YOU.

[RoadWolf98]

@mjcamck - Hi mjc, and thanks for the comments! I don't remember that TV show, and I would guess that it might have been regional. I know JS made a lot more TV appearances in CA and AZ and the west in general than he did nationally. I'll ask around on his newsgroup and post here if I finds anything out.

[tizfrreecharm]

I got to this awesome song via a link posted on a Daily Racing Form's writer's blog, Jay Hovdey, in which he laments the time between the movie. But he also writes that there's no Riva Ridge. How is that possible? Who are these so-called film makers?

Oh well, great song, good article; thanks for posting!

[RoadWolf98]

Respond to this video...more from mstrunn - We're lucky they made a film about him.

[RoadWolf98]

@tizfrreecharm - From Viewer mstrunn - in all fairness to the movie, which btw, I thought was great and had a wonderful message for young adults, but where would you have placed Riva Ridge? If they were to make a full true story about Big Red it would have taken 3 hours, and yes, RR should have been included. The movie depicted the relationship between Penny Tweedy and Big Red and the odds they overcame, the majority of movie goers did not even know who Big Red was, let alone Riva Ridge.

[helpfoals]

Sorry to hear this song was too late for the movie, it's perfect. The movie was great and it was good to see the Big Red horse thundering across the racetrack again!

[mjcamck]

APPRECIATE THIS more than I can say. I still recall the song performed on a variety show with John Stewart singing live & race footage in the background. I've been looking for this for quite a while; so glad to have found it. If, by chance, you're able to do a moving film video to this song, we "Big Red" fans will be forever grateful. I hope you enjoyed the movie. THANK YOU.

[MrAcf37]

Truly the Greatest Horse to ever set foot on a track, What a pleasure to watch.

[greatbigbubby]

@nightimelady best horses and best music from my generation!!

[greatbigbubby]

he's going so fast his socks look like they're coming off!!

[KitJR50]

I wish someone would write a biography for us on John Stewart. I think he once worked at the L.A. County Fair as a stable boy for his dad when he was growing up in Pomona, which is my hometown. If someone could write us his story, these facts could all be clarified and brought together.

[MrMudcup]

If you ever went and seen John in any concert you were His friend. He was a entertainer and a Patriot. Me and my friend Blake Shira will always miis this guy. May tou rest forever John We Miss You