Flashback: In the shadow of Secretariat, Sham was a star too

Since its inaugural running in 2001, the Sham (G3) at Santa Anita has been run over many different dates and distances. But its commitment to honoring the memory of Sham has never changed.

Best remembered as Secretariat’s key rival during the latter’s spectacular 1973 Triple Crown sweep, Sham wasn’t in quite the same league as racing’s immortal superhorse. But on his best day, the bay colt was close — very close.

Let’s give Sham a turn in the spotlight and recall four of his greatest performances:

Sham equals a stakes record in the Santa Anita Derby

Sham’s greatest victory came in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), where he finished strongly to win by 2 1/2 lengths. His final time of 1:47 flat for 1 1/8 miles equaled the stakes record, and to this day no Santa Anita Derby winner has ever run faster.

Some might argue a fast track contributed to Sham’s rapid time, but there’s no doubt he beat a strong field. Runner-up Linda’s Chief won seven graded stakes by the time of his retirement, and fourth-place runner Ancient Title eventually nabbed 17 graded wins during his Hall of Fame career.

Sham just misses in the Wood Memorial

Sham’s first meeting with Secretariat produced a surprising result. Sham spent much of the race rating in second place, biding his time and waiting for Secretariat to challenge. When the latter famously failed to fire, Sham set off in pursuit of Secretariat’s front-running stablemate Angle Light. But Sham’s bid came too late, and he failed by a head to catch the pacesetter.

Sham runs the second-fastest Kentucky Derby ever

Sham ran too well to lose in the Kentucky Derby. Even after banging his head in the starting gate (losing two teeth in the process), Sham tracked the pace and rallied to lead at the top of the stretch. Though he couldn’t withstand Secretariat’s late charge, Sham stayed on gamely to finish just 2 1/2 lengths behind the Triple Crown winner while pulling eight lengths clear of the rest.

Secretariat’s final time of 1:59 2/5 shattered the Kentucky Derby record and remains an unchallenged standard. Sham, in turn, clocked the distance in about 1:59 4/5, still the second-fastest Derby on record.

Sham chases home Secretariat in the Preakness

Sham turned in another gallant effort in the Preakness. Caught unprepared when Secretariat unleashed an unprecedented last-to-first rally around the clubhouse turn, Sham wound up making a premature move of his own on the backstretch, trying hard to keep pace with Secretariat.

In the end, Sham couldn’t close the gap, finishing second by 2 1/2 lengths. But he did pull eight lengths clear of the rest while hitting the wire in approximately 1:53 2/5, which remains one of the fastest Preakness times ever recorded.

J. Keeler Johnson is a writer, videographer, handicapper, and all-around horse racing enthusiast. A great fan of racing history, he considers Dr. Fager to be the greatest racehorse ever produced in America, but counts Zenyatta as his all-time favorite. You can follow him on Twitter at @J_Keelerman.