LOUISVILLE, Ky. - By almost all accounts, Sham had the perfect race in the 1973 Kentucky Derby.
He broke clean from the gate, settling into 5th the first time the field passed the finish line. As the pack went through the first turn, he made his first move, sneaking up to within the length of the lead. He slowly reeled in the leaders until the top of the second turn, when he inched ahead.
At the top of the stretch, Sham turned on his final burst of speed, leaving the rest of the field in the dust. He cruised to the finish line in a Kentucky Derby-record time.
Nearly perfect, in every way. Except one. See, Sham didn't win the Kentucky Derby in 1973. His record-setting performance was marred by his bad luck of being born the same year as Secretariat.
Everything Sham did, Secretariat did better. Fifth the first time through the finish line? Secretariat was last. Moving up to third in the first turn? Secretariat moved up to fifth. Closing to within a nose on the back stretch? Secretariat moved up to third. Completely dominating the field on the back stretch? Secretariat did that, with the added benefit of leaving Sham in his wake on his way to a two-length victory.
That's the most shocking thing about Secretariat's Kentucky Derby victory. He was already the most famous horse in America, one of his opponents had just set the track record in the most celebrated race in the country, and Secretariat beat him handily. He appeared unstoppable. And over the course of the next month, he would prove to be exactly that.
HONORABLE MENTION:
May 5, 1969: LOS ANGELES - There were purple and gold balloons in the rafters. A marching band was standing by. All the details for post-game interviews had been finalized. Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke was prepared for his team's first championship. It didn't matter that they still had one game to win - no NBA team had ever lost a Game 7 at home, so the Lakers had to be shoo-ins. Except for one problem - they were playing the Celtics. In legendary center Bill Russell's final game, the Celtics pushed the tempo from the opening tip, running out to a quick 12-point lead. The Lakers tried to come back, but a fortunate bounce on a jump shot from Don Nelson - the shot hit the back rim, bounced straight up, and fell in - gave the Celtics an insurmountable lead. Russell had his 11th title, and the Lakers' championship celebration would have to wait for three more years.
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