Secretariat was a champion thoroughbred horse who set speed records for multiple distances and won a number of races. He humiliated his opponents and shattered course records. However, the Guinness World Records recognized Winning Brew as the fastest horse ever. Winning Brew, who was a two years old filly thoroughbred at the time, covered the quarter-mile (402 m, 2 furlongs) in 20.57 sec.