Thanks to everyone for their fantastic fan mail.  It is my pleasure to share your enthusiasm for Sham below.       Mary

Sham Fan Mail:

Do you have films of Sham's races before the triple crown? I'd like to see Sham race, thanks.
Sharon
Clementon, NJ
(Sharon - watch Sham race on YouTube, he's great! Mary)

I am a large fan of the ill-fated Bay colt and so I, too, wish to bring Sham out of the shadows.  I loved your book and it inspired me to start work again on a project I had begun over a year ago.  I put a section of a video tribute I am doing for the son of Pretense up on YouTube.  Here is the link.
Edward
North Attleboro, MA
(Thanks Edward - it is so wonderful to watch Sham in action in your video. Mary)

Thanks for your wonderful effort Mary.  I would like to purchase a book.
Merritt
Morristown, NJ
(Merritt: Your timing is perfect as I now offer signed and dated copies at my Online Bookstore. Mary)

I am so delighted to find you have written a book about Sham. I have recently acquired one of Sham's sons: name - Shams Favorite, 6 yrs. old, off the track in NJ. I love this horse so much and I am delighted to learn more about his heritage. How did you come to be so interested in Sham?
Susane
Hendersonville, NC
(Wonderful Susane - Sham has been a favorite of mine since he challenged Secretariat and I first learned his name. Since then I realized no one really knew Sham because of Secretariat's spellbinding charisma, thus I became determined to bring Sham out of that shadow. I hope you enjoy my book. Mary)

I was so excited to get your book "Sham in the Shadow of a Superhorse". I never dreamed his story would be written and I am very thankful to see it in print. I fell in love with Sham when I was a teenager and watched the Wood Memorial on TV. I thought he would win the Derby, then I thought he would win the Preakness. Little did I know what would happen at the Belmont. Sham helped make history in all those races and ran his heart out. I was lucky to see Sham in person at Spendthrift Farm. He was part of my youth and I will always love and remember him. Thank you so much for writing this book. It is good to know other people loved him too.
Freida
California, KY

Sham, I want to be a fan of yours. I bet you were a good boy back then Sham but right now you're in Heaven with all the other horses who have died including Barbaro, too. So God bless you Sham and Barbaro and that goes for you too, Mary Walsh.
Angela Beth
Holiday, FL
(Hi Angela:  Thanks for being a fan of Sham's. It was great meeting you at Horse Connections. Keep on riding!  Mary)

In a different year, Sham could have been a Triple Crown Winner. Always admired his guts in his races against Secretariat. We were fortunate enough to acquire a daughter of his, Wooly Bully. She has produced a few foals for us by Basket Weave and Top Account, our stallions. Each one has the same large star on their forehead, almost a perfect heart. Did Sham have that marking? I have never seen a picture of him without blinkers on so have not been able to find out.
Kathie
Quincy, WA
(Hi Kathie - Sham had no white markings. The picture on page 125 of my book shows him without his blinkers. Thanks for your interest. Mary)

I bought a copy of your book on Sham and all I can say is thank you - saw Sham at Spendthrift and 2 years ago went to Walmac to place roses on his grave to tell him thank you.
Kathy
Tomball, TX

I love Sham, he was a great horse, I would love to see photos of him if possible, Thanks.
Sharon
Clementon, NJ
(Sharon: Thanks for the interest in Sham - a truly amazing horse. There are many great pictures in my book which is now available from the Online Book Store on this website. Feel free to check it out.  Mary)

Although my current passion is Paint horses, I was blessed to own a son of Sham about 18 years ago.  He was a magnificent 17.2 hand bay-with-white gelding who I evented through Preliminary Level.  The ultimate Thoroughbred, he was a credit to his sire. Can't wait to read the book!!
Lonnie
Reno, CA

It's wonderful that a book has been written honoring this horse. If he had been foaled a year sooner or later, he would be remembered differently. He gave all he had. Thanks to Mary Walsh for creating such a wonderful memory.
Neil
Narvon, PA

Sham is one of my all time favorite horses! A true champion with a huge heart! A very courageous racehorse, he'll always be remembered. :-)
Olivia
Walton, NY

A fine read. Sham gave it all he had. He was a champion that never got a full chance to show it. As a follow-up, I am hoping the writer will consider a book on Exceller, the forgotten champion whose death urged a people to reappraise animal slaughter practices.
Russ
Austin, TX

Although forever a Secretariat fan, I also love and appreciate Sham, who raced his heart out against Big Red. Sham would have been the best if not born in 1970! He deserves racing's highest honor with an entry into the Hall of Fame!
Don
New Bedford, MA

We have long waited for Sham's story. We all know that if not for Secretariat, this marvelous colt would have been the 9th Triple Winner and no doubt a Hall of Famer. He gave it everything he had and wouldn't quit. He would have been the horse Forego had to beat. Frankly, I believe he would have defeated most if not all other Triple Winners (including the great Seattle Slew). Unfortunately, his career was cut short before he could prove himself. He lives in our memories. Thank you again Mary Walsh for bringing him back. The Secretariat we know today was only because of the horse that challenged him then, and that horse was Sham.
Russ
San Antonio, AL

Thank you for writing this wonderful book about Sham. You have satisfied a curiosity I've had about the entire life of this great horse.
Judy
McMinnville, OR
(Thanks Judy - it was my pleasure. Mary)

I just finished reading the book this weekend. It was a wonderful and sensitive treatment of the story of this marvelous horse. He was indeed unfortunate for being foaled in 1970. I searched the internet for the history of the word "Sham" and found it has Arabic roots meaning "unlucky." Mary, your writing put me right in the saddle. I could feel the drama of his races as they unfolded. I experienced the joy of his victories and the loss of his defeats and I just about broke down when he broke down in his workout following the Belmont Stakes. Thank the Lord his owner spared his life. You expressed his final moments very poignantly. I had always wondered about this horse, had always wanted to know his side and you brought it to light. It is tragic and undeserved that his life ended in near obscurity as evidenced by his humble tombstone at Walmac. His humble stud fees during his last years also brings that into focus, but it is also touching that someone at Walmac sees it fit to continuously honor his grave with flowers. One thing for sure, naming a stakes race after him informs us that California hasn't forgotten him. Thanks for your hard work Mary. A volume on Sham has been long overdo.
RA
San Antonio, TX
(RA: Thanks for your kind words. I'm thrilled you obviously enjoyed my book so much. Mary)

Thanks so much for writing about Sham.  He must have been an incredible horse!
MD
Greensboro, AL

Sham—I can't tell you how much I enjoyed your book.  You were so descriptive, including with the horses' thoughts and feelings.  I could just picture each scene.  Not having followed horse racing, I couldn't put the book down in anticipation of what was to happen.  You even added a touch of romance in the paragraph where Sigmund is talking to Viola by phone and he caressed the phone line as if caressing her arm....  It does really make you sad to think that Sham didn't get the recognition he deserved.
Donna,
Burlington, ON, Canada
(Hi Donna - Welcome to the exciting world of horse racing. Mary)

I was 10 years old when Sham won the Santa Anita Derby.  He became my favorite and I was sad to see him run with all his heart only to be second best in the triple crown races.  I own a horse, El Gato Malo, who ran second in this year's Sham Stakes at Santa Anita.  Sham was a great champion who should be remembered.
Jon,
Wittmann, AZ

I remember :)
Chris
St. Ann, MO

With the Triple Crown about to be done again (Big Brown) it brought my attention to Secretariat and Sham again.  Your book looks wonderful, cannot wait to buy.
Karen,
Flushing, NY

Yesterday I finished reading Sham.  I had taken my time in order to savor it.  What a wonderful book!  Like many people, I have considered Secretariat to be one of the greatest racehorses of all time!  But I always had a soft spot for Sham, the "other" horse who ran the Derby in record time.  You have done an incredible job of researching and writing this book.  I felt like I was right there throughout Sham's heartening times and heartbreaking times.  You can bet I was sobbing by the end of the book!  "If only" are such sad words, if only he had not raced in the Belmont...but his trainer had such faith in him.  In 2004 I visited Walmac Farm in Lexington.  And I saw Sham's headstone.  Sham was an underdog—a brave one—and your book was heartwarming!  Thank you!
Edie,
Spring Creek, NV
(Thanks Edie - Sham will never be forgotten by many. Mary)

Secretariat.  Any horse enthusiast knows the name, probably a good percentage of people on the street do too.  You ask these same people about a horse named Sham and more than likely you will be met with blank stares.  I have personally been involved with horses for 30 years and have never heard the story of Sham.  Mary brings it to light.  I was so intrigued by her story of this wonderful horse that I didn't want to put the book down.  I want to thank her for bringing the story of this unsung hero into our homes!
Linda,
Elizabeth, CO

I so very much enjoyed reading your book about Sham.  Became misty-eyed when he was running the races.  My next door neighbor also thought the book was wonderful - such detail.  An amazing accomplishment putting it all together.
Rexene,
Fergus, ON, Canada
(Hi Rexene: It was my pleasure. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. Mary)

I did get to see Sham, at Spendthrift Farm. I can say I was not impressed at the time with General Assembly and Foolish Pleasure there. But after reading the book, I'm glad I did see him!
Laurie,
Clifton Park, NY


(Comments are views and opinions of Sham's fans)