May 5, 1973 – The Historic Kentucky Derby
This iconic photograph captures one of the most legendary moments in horse racing history—Secretariat surging past the finish line to win the 1973 Kentucky Derby in record time. Wearing saddlecloth #14, Secretariat stormed down Churchill Downs’ homestretch, leaving Sham (#5) and the rest of the field behind. His time of 1:59 2/5 remains unbeaten to this day.
Despite his incredible speed, Sham also made history that day. He finished second with a time of 1:59 4/5, which was faster than any previous Derby winner before him. His performance was astonishing, but it was overshadowed by Secretariat’s sheer dominance.
After the race, heartbreak struck Sham’s camp. Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. had believed his horse had enough left to hold off the competition, only to watch Secretariat accelerate past him in the final stretch. To make matters worse, Sham had slammed his head on the starting gate, loosening two teeth, causing heavy bleeding. His trainer, Frank Martin, and groom, Gato, struggled to stop the bleeding, with Gato even becoming sickened by the sight.
Even in defeat, Sham proved himself a champion. His speed and heart were undeniable, but he had the misfortune of racing against perhaps the greatest horse of all time.
As fans look back on this historic day, we honor Sham’s courage and Secretariat’s greatness—two of the fastest Derby runners ever, immortalized in one unforgettable race.
