A tangent from the latest episode of the New Heights podcast has forced Jason Kelce to apologize for starting a debate over whether or not Secretariat was on the juice.
Yes, surprisingly in 2024, the now-retired Eagles center decided to voice his opinion on the doping habits of the horse that won the Triple Crown in 1973 and who died in 1989.
That’s because his brother, Travis, attended the Kentucky Derby – and their discussion of the derby led to a conversation about horse racing.
‘Secretariat was juiced to the gills,’ Kelce claimed on the podcast. ‘Secretariat just so happens to be right in the heart of the steroid era.
‘(In) 1973, every NFL player, every baseball player, they were juicing them to the gills. You don’t think Secretariat was f–king juiced to the rafters? Of course it’s the fastest horse of all-time.
Jason Kelce opened up on his belief that Secretariat, the race horse, was on the juice
![Secretariat is arguably the most famous and greatest horse in American history](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/09/23/84685595-13402189-image-a-17_1715294389694.jpg)
Secretariat is arguably the most famous and greatest horse in American history
‘They didn’t drug test Secretariat the way they did Mystik Dan. Nobody talks about it. Secretariat was doping, there’s no chance Secretariat wasn’t doping.’
Jason then continued the discussion on his Twitter account – where he fielded negative backlash from those who wouldn’t stand to see the name of the most famous racehorse in American history besmirched.
Secretariat is one of 13 horses to win the American Triple Crown of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. In the third race, Secretariat beat the rest of the pack by an astounding 31 lengths – which still stands as the American record for a 1.5 mile dirt track race.
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One person tried using the argument that Secretariat had a naturally enlarged heart, but Kelce wouldn’t budge.
‘Just going to put this out there, you know who else has enlarged hearts. People who take copious amounts of steroids,’ Jason posted.
‘I’ll admit I don’t know whether Secretariat was on steroids or not, it’s impossible to know, because in 1973 when Secretariat won the triple crown there was not adequate testing available to find out.
‘But, the fact this horse had unparalleled muscular stature and died with an enlarged heart, and raced at a time when steroids were extremely prevalent, without adequate testing, raises flags in my book.
‘Thoroughbred steroid use dates back to the 60s at least. I’m not saying what Secretariat did was unimpressive, because he was likely also racing against other majorly juiced up horses of his time, and if Secretariat was indeed a natural horse, that would make his accomplishments all the more impressive.
![The discussion came about after Jason's brother, Travis, attended the Kentucky Derby](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/09/23/84685341-13402189-image-a-18_1715294392655.jpg)
The discussion came about after Jason’s brother, Travis, attended the Kentucky Derby
![Kelce showed up in a white pinstriped suit and a dark fedora at the Run for the Roses](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/09/23/84685379-13402189-image-m-19_1715294574872.jpg)
Kelce showed up in a white pinstriped suit and a dark fedora at the Run for the Roses
‘I just find it highly unlikely given the circumstances of where the sport was at at that time, how dominant the horse was in the era, and the records it still holds to this day. The enlarged heart in my mind is actually more evidence that at some point the horse was being juiced.
‘There is a gene that some thoroughbreds carry that causes a larger heart, but this wasn’t just a larger heart, this was a heart large enough for the vet to say it was the largest heart he had ever seen.
‘The horse was undoubtedly born with incredible natural mechanics and ability, and may have been natural, but I also think that it’s unlikely given the time it raced and what was happening with a lot of those horses and the lack of testing available.’
Jason put up a few more posts before offering up his apology – backtracking from his stance.
‘I’m sorry everyone, wasn’t trying to get people riled up, I really thought it was just known that in the 70s steroid use was rampant,’ he posted on Twitter. ‘I’m not trying to take away from Secretariat’s, or anyone from that eras legacy.
‘You’re right, without proof it is unfair to assume these things publicly, I apologize.’