Sham (USA)
April 9, 1970 – April 3, 1993
Pretense (USA) x Sequoia (USA), by Princequillo (IRE)
Family 9-h
April 9, 1970 – April 3, 1993
Pretense (USA) x Sequoia (USA), by Princequillo (IRE)
Family 9-h
Although he won the Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1) impressively, Sham gained most of his reputation as the foil for Secretariat's record runs in the 1973 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) and Preakness Stakes (USA-G1). He came back lame from a workout a few weeks after running an exhausted fifth and last in the Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) and underwent surgery for a fractured cannon bone on July 6, 1973. It was initially hoped that he would be able to come back to racing, but he ended up being retired to stud, where he did well but was not exceptional.
Race record
13 starts, 5 wins, 5 seconds, 1 third, US$204,808
1973:
Assessments
Rated at 127 pounds on The Blood-Horse's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1973, 9 pounds below champion Secretariat but joint runner-up with Forego.
Rated at 129 lbs on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1973, 7 pounds below champion Secretariat but joint runner-up with Forego.
As an individual
A handsome, refined dark bay colt with plenty of size and power, Sham stood 16.2 hands. He had a kind and willing disposition and was extremely courageous. In the Kentucky Derby, he shaded Northern Dancer's track record as the runner-up in spite of having torn two teeth out when he slammed his head on the starting gate. Like Secretariat, he held his weight and condition extremely well between the Triple Crown races. An autopsy showed that his heart weighed 18 pounds compared to 8.5 pounds for the heart of a normal Thoroughbred.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Sham sired 347 winners (55.5%) and 44 stakes winners (7.0%) from 625 named foals. The Blood-Horse credits Sham with 47 stakes winners (7.5%). He was an influence for stamina.
Notable progeny
Arewehavingfunyet (USA), Jaazeiro (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Lovellon (ARG)
Connections
Sham was bred and owned by Claiborne Farm. Following the death of A. B. “Bull” Hancock in late 1972, the farm's racing stock was dispersed and Sham was purchased by Sigmund and Viola Sommer for US$200,000, the second-highest price of the dispersal. The colt was trained by Woody Stephens at 2 and by Frank “Pancho” Martin at 3. After being syndicated at a total valuation of US$3 million, Sham entered stud in Kentucky in 1974 at Spendthrift Farm. He later moved to Walmac Farm in November 1992 and died there of an apparent heart attack on April 3, 1993.
Pedigree notes
Sham is inbred 5x4x4 to Selene. He is a half brother to stakes winner Dendron (by Tatán) and to Little Sequoia (by Double Jay), dam of stakes winners Decidedly D (by Decidedly) and Princess Doubleday (by Hitting Away) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Broto. He is also a half brother to Shinnecock (by Tom Fool), dam of Grade 3 winner Top Competitor and stakes winner Poppycock.
Sham's dam Sequoia, winner of the 1957 Spinaway Stakes, is a full sister to 1951 Kentucky Oaks and Coaching Club American Oaks winner How, dam of 1965 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Pocahontas (by Roman). Sequoia is also a full sister to 1954 Coaching Club American Oaks winner Cherokee Rose, second dam of 1971 Horse of the Year Ack Ack and 1974 Futurity Stakes (USA-G1) winner Just the Time.
Sequoia and her siblings were produced from The Squaw II (by Sickle), a half sister to 1947 Grand Prix de Paris winner Avenger (by Victrix). The Squaw II is also a half sister to Dynamite II (by Dogat), second dam of 1959 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes winner Toluene. The Squaw II's dam Minnewaska (by Blandford) is out of 1926 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Nipisiquit (by Buchan), also the dam of the good English stakes winner Raymond (by Gainsborough).
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: July 7, 2021
Race record
13 starts, 5 wins, 5 seconds, 1 third, US$204,808
1973:
- Won Santa Catalina Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Kentucky Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
Assessments
Rated at 127 pounds on The Blood-Horse's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1973, 9 pounds below champion Secretariat but joint runner-up with Forego.
Rated at 129 lbs on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1973, 7 pounds below champion Secretariat but joint runner-up with Forego.
As an individual
A handsome, refined dark bay colt with plenty of size and power, Sham stood 16.2 hands. He had a kind and willing disposition and was extremely courageous. In the Kentucky Derby, he shaded Northern Dancer's track record as the runner-up in spite of having torn two teeth out when he slammed his head on the starting gate. Like Secretariat, he held his weight and condition extremely well between the Triple Crown races. An autopsy showed that his heart weighed 18 pounds compared to 8.5 pounds for the heart of a normal Thoroughbred.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Sham sired 347 winners (55.5%) and 44 stakes winners (7.0%) from 625 named foals. The Blood-Horse credits Sham with 47 stakes winners (7.5%). He was an influence for stamina.
Notable progeny
Arewehavingfunyet (USA), Jaazeiro (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Lovellon (ARG)
Connections
Sham was bred and owned by Claiborne Farm. Following the death of A. B. “Bull” Hancock in late 1972, the farm's racing stock was dispersed and Sham was purchased by Sigmund and Viola Sommer for US$200,000, the second-highest price of the dispersal. The colt was trained by Woody Stephens at 2 and by Frank “Pancho” Martin at 3. After being syndicated at a total valuation of US$3 million, Sham entered stud in Kentucky in 1974 at Spendthrift Farm. He later moved to Walmac Farm in November 1992 and died there of an apparent heart attack on April 3, 1993.
Pedigree notes
Sham is inbred 5x4x4 to Selene. He is a half brother to stakes winner Dendron (by Tatán) and to Little Sequoia (by Double Jay), dam of stakes winners Decidedly D (by Decidedly) and Princess Doubleday (by Hitting Away) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Broto. He is also a half brother to Shinnecock (by Tom Fool), dam of Grade 3 winner Top Competitor and stakes winner Poppycock.
Sham's dam Sequoia, winner of the 1957 Spinaway Stakes, is a full sister to 1951 Kentucky Oaks and Coaching Club American Oaks winner How, dam of 1965 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Pocahontas (by Roman). Sequoia is also a full sister to 1954 Coaching Club American Oaks winner Cherokee Rose, second dam of 1971 Horse of the Year Ack Ack and 1974 Futurity Stakes (USA-G1) winner Just the Time.
Sequoia and her siblings were produced from The Squaw II (by Sickle), a half sister to 1947 Grand Prix de Paris winner Avenger (by Victrix). The Squaw II is also a half sister to Dynamite II (by Dogat), second dam of 1959 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes winner Toluene. The Squaw II's dam Minnewaska (by Blandford) is out of 1926 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Nipisiquit (by Buchan), also the dam of the good English stakes winner Raymond (by Gainsborough).
Books and media
- Sham: In the Shadow of a Superhorse was written by Mary Walsh and released by Aventine Press in 2007. The unpublished manuscript had previously won the Eaton Literary Agency's 2005 award for Best Book. Ms. Walsh also wrote Sham's Dream, a children's book released by Echo Publishing in 2011.
- Sham: Great Was Second Best was written by Phil Dandrea. A Bronze Medal winner in the Sports/Fitness/Recreation category in the 2011 Independent Publisher Book Awards, the book was released by Acanthus Publishing in 2010.
Fun facts
- Because Sham finished 2-1/2 lengths behind Secretariat in the Kentucky Derby (USA-G1), it is generally believed that he also ran the race faster than Northern Dancer's track and stakes record of 2:00 flat. (This is based on Secretariat's final time of 1:59-2/5 and the rule of thumb that equates a length to 1/5 of a second at racing speed.) Since no time was taken for horses other than the winner, Sham's sub-2:00 10 furlongs remains unofficial. Sham likewise also finished close enough to Secretariat in the Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) to have run his race in time faster than the previous track and stakes record of 1:54, set by Canonero II in 1971--and this despite hitting the rail hard while going around the first turn.
- The Sham Stakes was inaugurated in 2001. It is currently carded for 3-year-olds at 1 mile on the dirt at Santa Anita and is a Grade 3 event.
- While Sham was not diagnosed with a leg fracture until some time after the Belmont Stakes (USA-G1), there is reason to think all was not well with him when he made his final attempt at defeating Secretariat. According to eyewitness accounts, he was nervous and sweating profusely prior to the Belmont, which was not normal race-day behavior for him. Unfortunately, his true condition will never be known as the veterinary technology to detect the microfractures that often precede a major break was not available in 1973.
- During his racing days, Sham routinely took a daily nap precisely at noon.
Last updated: July 7, 2021