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Check out Sham's fan mail on this site.  Add your comments on Sham's contact page.

Read some excerpts from Sham, In the Shadow of a Superhorse:
California Thoroughbred Magazine - 2007 October issue Sham
ORDER SHAM NOW at the Online Book Store.  Secure PayPal site accepting credit cards and PayPal.


Back in 1973:

Watch Sham in action (video), and the trouble Twice a Prince (video) causes prior to the 1973 Kentucky Derby.  See what Penny Chenery (video) has to say about Secretariat and Sham.

Walt Disney movie "Secretariat," to be released in 2010.
Secretariat
Secretariat Movie Update
Secretariat: The Walt Disney Movie
Filming in Kentucky.

Read Steve Haskin's article on Sham.

Did you miss my article about the legendary filly, Ruffian?  Read it now:
Ruffian Comes to the Screen, by Mary Walsh
California Thoroughbred Magazine - 2007 June issue Ruffian

The 2010 Triple Crown Challenge:

2010 Sham Stakes:
  This year the 1 1/8 mile Sham Stakes was rained out on Saturday, February 27 at Santa Anita Park, CA, and rescheduled for Saturday March 6. So there's still time to pick your favorite for the race here. Get an early look at some of the horses on the 2010 Kentucky Derby trail.  
2010 Santa Anita Derby:
  The 1 1/8 mile Santa Anita Derby will be run on Saturday, April 3. Sham's 1973 win tied the stakes record of 1:47 set by Lucky Debonair in 1965. Indian Charlie duplicated that feat in 1998. Will it be surpassed in 2010?
2010 Kentucky Derby:
  As tradition dictates, the 1 1/4 mile Kentucky Derby will be run the first Saturday in May. Will Sham's unofficial record for the second-fastest time in the history of the Kentucky Derby remain intact or be broken this year?
Will this year's Derby horse capture the Triple Crown by winning The Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes? These questions will soon be answered on this website. 

Booksignings:

MEET THE AUTHOR:
  Thanks to everyone who came by Champions! Gift Shop before the races on February 28 at Santa Anita Park.  It was my pleasure to talk about the magnificent SHAM with you.  It was also wonderful to meet Laffit Pincay, Jr. (Sham's jockey - a busy guy who's hard to get a hold of) and leave a signed book for him.  Laffit smiled when I mentioned Sham and told me "He [Sham] was a great horse."  I have since heard that Laffit was thrilled to receive his copy of SHAM at his book signing on March 7.
  Unfortunately, I was never successful in my attempts to obtain interview commitments from either Laffit or Frank Martin (Sham's Trainer). Losing to Secretariat must have been devastating as both men had a fierce passion for winning.  Laffit's life was in turmoil after the 2003 riding accident that forced his retirement, right around the time I was researching. However, my book greatly benefited from interviews with Viola Sommer (Sham's owner), Penny Chenery (Secretariat's owner), and Butch Simpson and Peter Taaffe (grooms) -  in addition to many others who shared their knowledge of Sham's era with me. Thanks to Bill Mochon, Sham's photographer, for stopping by and spending a good part of his day with my husband Gary, and me.  My best to Christine Crocker at Champions! Gift Shop for hosting my first book signing.  It was a great experience.
Sincerely,
Mary



Mary Walsh with Bill Mochon at Santa Anita Park



MEET THE AUTHOR:
    My best to Amy Baird and Annette Noffz at Horse Connections, Inc. for including my second book signing in their October 24, 2009 fund raiser benefiting the Therapeutic Horsemanship and Riding Program.  It was such an enjoyable experience knowing all proceeds went to the non-profit group's therapy program for special needs children. Please take a minute to visit their website at www.HorseConnection.org to see the happiness they bring to the wonderful therapy class kids. It will tug at your heart strings.
Sincerely,
Mary