Sham: Great Was Second Best

Book excerpt: Sham was a horse that seemed destined for greatness. He boasted a winning pedigree, a sleek and muscular frame, experienced trainers, and talented jockeys. Early races validated his potential, as he ran to victories by as many as fifteen lengths. After he defeated the mighty Secretariat in the Wood Memorial, many turf writers were touting Sham as the Kentucky Derby favorite. The stage was set for Sham-mania to sweep the country at a time when the nation needed a hero. But it was Secretariat who won over the nation. Despite impressive victories and record-breaking performances, Sham's popularity paled in comparison. If Secretariat was America's horse, Sham might well have been everyman's horse, a working-class hero who couldn't get the recognition he deserved. This is the other side of the story of Secretariat's famous Triple Crown season and of his remarkable challenger who found that great was only second best.