Sham (horse)
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| Sham | ||
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| Sire: | Pretense | |
| Grandsire: | Endeavour | |
| Dam: | Seqoia | |
| Damsire: | Princequillo | |
| Sex: | Stallion | |
| Foaled: | 1970 | |
| Country: | USA | |
| Colour: | bay | |
| Breeder: | Claiborne Farm | |
| Owner: | Claiborne Farm Sigmund Sommer |
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| Trainer: | Frank "Pancho" Martin | |
| Record: | 13: 5-5-1 | |
| Earnings: | $204,808 | |
| Major Racing Wins & Honours & Awards | ||
| Honours | ||
| Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park | ||
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Infobox last updated on: January 22, 2007. |
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Sham (1970 – April 3, 1993) was an American thoroughbred race horse, often overlooked in history because of his larger than life peer, Secretariat, of the same birth year.
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[edit] Kentucky Derby Preparation
In 1973 at the age of three Sham won the Santa Catalina Stakes (G2)and took second place in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) over Secretariat who finished third. Most impressive however that spring was his effort in the Santa Anita Derby.
On March 31, 1973, at Santa Anita Derby (GI), California's main Kentucky Derby prep race, Sham scored a 2 ½ length victory under jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. Sham electrified a crowd of 49,564 by equaling the Santa Anita Derby record for the 1 1/8 miles of 1:47, which was set in 1965 by Lucky Debonair. Sham provided Pincay with his third win in the Derby.
[edit] 1973 Triple Crown chase
[edit] 99th running of the Kentucky Derby, May 5, 1973
Before the largest crowd to see a horse race in the United States to that date - 134,476 – the May 1973 Kentucky Derby went off with great anticipation.
Sham ripped two teeth out on the starting gate at the Kentucky Derby, bleeding from the start of the race he poured his entire heart into his effort. His time was an astounding 1:59:4 which would’ve been the fastest Derby time ever had it not been for fellow entry Secretariat being in the same race and winning in 1:59 2/5.
Secretariat won by 2 ½ lengths over Sham. It wouldn't be until 2001 that another horse won the Derby with a time under 2 minutes. Monarchos won it in 2001 in 1:59.97. No other horse, through and including the 2006 running of the Kentucky Derby has ever been below 2 minutes. Thus making Sham’s time the second fastest Derby ever.
[edit] Preakness
With a Maryland racing record audience of 61,653 looking on, the mighty chestnut Secretariat struck down rival Sham for the second time in two weeks. With a field of just six, Sham finished second to Secretariat by 2 ½ lengths again.
Odd fact, Sham was given only bottled water before the Preakness Stakes.
[edit] Belmont
Under orders Pincay was to keep Sham with Secretariat from the start. This worked fine through the first turn and into the backstretch. The gates crashed open, and they surged onto the track as one. Secretariat and Sham immediately went to the front. Neck and neck, they began to pull away from the field. They were racing as though this was a sprint race, ticking off quarter-mile fractions in incredible times that were record-breaking in themselves.
[edit] Retirement and Death
While Sham did not race again after the Belmont Stakes he was not retired, contrary to the perception of a Belmont breakdown, until July of 1973 while preparing to meet Secretariat again at Saratoga. It was in mid July that a hairline fracture of his leg was detected and he was retired. Sham was sent to stud duty at Walmac International near Lexington, Kentucky. Some of his progeny included stakes winners Arewehavingfunyet (f), Jaazeiro, and Safe Play. He died of a heart attack on April 3, 1993 at age 23 and is buried on the Walmac farm.
[edit] Sham’s heart
Today, the normal weight of a horse's heart is 8.5 pounds. Dr. Thomas Swerczek, head pathologist at the University of Kentucky, estimated the second-largest heart (behind Secretariat at 22 lbs) to be that of Sham's weighing it at 18 pounds.
