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I remember this had made the news shortly after Secretariat's death, but had quickly forgotten about it until just now. When I went and read about Secretariat, I was reminded of the news report I had forgotten. It was about the size of his heart, and the genetic reason for all this. You can read about it here: Large heart and the X Factor. Just scroll down to that heading, and read about his unusually large heart, and how other champions also had this trait. Its an 'X' chromosome link(from the female) that gives these horses a 'select advantage' for winning races. A large heart, which is a huge muscle, is far better at providing oxygen to the muscles because it has so much pumping power. And though Secretariat's heart was never officially weighed, it was still the largest ever recorded, and estimated to be at least 22 pounds.
In the Sports Illustrated article "Pure Heart", is this explanation:
I think its safe to say that if "I'll Have Another" does with the Triple Crown, experts will be very much interested in weighing his heart.
And interesting bit of genetic information worth storing away.
In the Sports Illustrated article "Pure Heart", is this explanation:
Quote:........Dr. Thomas Swerczek, a professor of veterinary science at the University of Kentucky, performed the necropsy. All of the horse's vital organs were normal in size except for the heart.
"We were all shocked," Swerczek said. "I've seen and done thousands of autopsies on horses, and nothing I'd ever seen compared to it. The heart of the average horse weighs about nine pounds. This was almost twice the average size, and a third larger than any equine heart I'd ever seen. And it wasn't pathologically enlarged. All the chambers and the valves were normal. It was just larger. I think it told us why he was able to do what he did."
I think its safe to say that if "I'll Have Another" does with the Triple Crown, experts will be very much interested in weighing his heart.
And interesting bit of genetic information worth storing away.