In 1973 Secretariat was the first American horse in 25 years to become a champion of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing - a series of three races, which include The Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Although his career was only 16 months long, he was very successful; of the 21 races he started, Secretariat placed first 16 times. After placing third in the Wood Memorial Race, Secretariat was examined by a trainer who discovered he was suffering from a tooth abscess. A tooth abscess is pus enclosed in the tissues of the jawbone at the base of an infected tooth. A tooth abscess can cause anyone - human or animal – a great deal of pain. Symptoms of a dental abscess include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Redness of the mouth and face.

With an advanced infection, you can also experience the following:
-Nausea
-Vomiting
-Fever
-Chills

There is a simple and effective way to avoid ever having to deal with this kind of pain! Because dental abscesses start out as tooth infections, the easiest way to prevent them is to take proper care of your mouth. Brushing twice daily and seeing your dentist at least twice a year will make sure that any infections or cavities are found and treated before they can become abscesses. Although Secretariat was able to fight through the pain and place in the top three at Wood Memorial, abscesses (and they pain they can cause) should not be taken lightly. Secretariat is a prime example of how strong will and determination can help anyone to achieve his or her goals, no matter the challenges. With horse racing on our minds, we are excited about the upcoming Arkansas Derby, where you can watch people and animals achieve their goals together. The Annual Arkansas Derby will take place at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas on Saturday, April 13. Bring your smiles to the track, and we hope you have a little bit of luck with your bids!