Incredible COMPLETE SET of eight horseshoe nails from one of the shoes Secretariat wore in the his third stakes race win ever. Worn in the September 16, 1972 Belmont Futurity aka the New York Futurity. This was Secretariat’s third stakes victory ever, but perhaps more importantly, it was his first start at historic Belmont Park, which provided a future backdrop for his greatness. Nine months after this race, he would change the Sport of Kings forever in his record-breaking Belmont performance to sweep the deck in thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown. Secretariat’s 1 3/4 length victory in the Belmont Futurity was his fifth career win and a significant component of an extraordinary juvenile season that ultimately earned him the 1972 Horse of the Year, an unprecedented feat for a 2-year-old. Besides, it would forever make him immortal. The nails are on the familiar framed plaque well known for being used by noted Secretariat exercise rider Jim Gaffney in his framing. Many of the Secretariat nails and shoes emanate from Gaffney, including the Maiden Race & Win horseshoe also in this auction. He began collecting them right from the start in his pivotal role with the mount. Gaffney was Secretariat’s regular exercise rider from April, 1972 through May, 1973. He was intimately involved with the day-to-day activities of Secretariat for over 13 months and his experiences with Big Red are chronicled in William Nack’s book, Secretariat, The Making of A Champion (1975) and Raymond Woolfe’s, “Secretariat” (1974). Mr. Gaffney held Secretariat whenever he was shod and that is how he began acquiring the shoes of the great champion. On the verso of the plaque is a sticker from "All American Awards" with Jim Gaffney's handwriting reading, "Secretariat - New York Futurity." Obtaining a complete set of Secretariat nails is a collecting achievement worthy of the greatest horse of the modern era.