Everyone always wants to know about the greatest racehorses. Who ran the fastest, the hardest? What was it like to be there and watch them succeed? 

Most horse racing fans recognize that Secretariat was one of the best — if not the best — racehorses of all time, and to this day Secretariat’s races are some of the most unforgettable performances in the history of the sport. During the 1973 Triple Crown, Secretariat had a rivalry with a talented colt in his own right, Sham.  

A bay colt born at historic Claiborne Farm in 1970, Sham equaled a stakes record when he won the 1973 Santa Anita Derby (WATCH), a record that stands to this day. He then finished ahead of Secretariat in the Wood Memorial Stakes when second by a head to Angle Light, with Secretariat running third as the heavy favorite in his final start before the Kentucky Derby.

Sham probably is best remembered, however, as the horse who always finished second to Secretariat.   

After Secretariat completed the 1973 Triple Crown sweep by winning the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths, he ascended to legendary status and appeared on the cover of TIME magazine. There has not been a horse since that has compared with Secretariat with his amazing stride length and the size of his heart. But what happened to his rival after the Belmont? 

After coming second to Secretariat in both the 1973 Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, Sham tired and faded to finish last of five in the Belmont Stakes. 

Weeks after the Belmont Stakes following morning exercise in July 1973, Sham was diagnosed with a cannon bone fracture and had to undergo surgery. His trainer, Frank “Pancho” Martin, later speculated that the injury might have originated in the Belmont Stakes and led to the disappointing finish.

Sham’s surgery was successful, and owner Sigmund Sommer and trainer Martin were hopeful the horse would be able to go on to have a successful 4-year-old season. Unfortunately, Sham never made it back to the racetrack and in his best interest, he was retired to stud at Spendthrift Farm. 

The often-overshadowed Sham. (BloodHorse Library)

During his stud career, Sham sired 625 foals according to Equineline statistics. His progeny had total lifetime earnings of $17,720,006 and his 487 starters earned an average of $36,386. Sham’s top runners included a Grade 1-winning filly by the name of Arewehavingfunyet, who had 17 starts in her career and a total earning of $508,892. His top colts included Prince Syn, who was a standout in Japan, and multiple graded stakes winner Colonel Moran.  

Sham finished out his stud career at Walmac Farm. He passed away on April 3, 1993, and an autopsy was done on his heart. It was found that Sham’s heart was only four pounds lighter than Secretariat’s, his coming in at a whopping 18 pounds and more than double the average size. Perhaps this was the reason he was able to push Secretariat in the Kentucky Derby, finishing 2 ½ lengths behind him in 1:59 4/5, a time that would have been a track record if not for Secretariat’s winning time of 1:59 2/5. 

Unfortunately for Sham, he was born in the same foal crop of one of history’s greatest racehorses. Had things been different, Sham might have been a Triple Crown winner but instead he is most often remembered as the rival who helped push Secretariat to true greatness.