GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (AP) — Hall of Fame trainer Frank “Pancho” Martin, who oversaw 1973 Kentucky Derby and Preakness runner-up Sham, has died. He was 86.
He died at his home in Garden City, N.Y., on Wednesday night after a brief illness, according to the New York Racing Association.
Martin won 3,240 career races and had purse earnings of $47,586,039, according to Equibase. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1981.
Sham was the most famous horse Martin trained. The colt lost to Secretariat in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. They hooked up again in the Belmont Stakes, and Sham dueled with Secretariat around the first turn and into the backstretch before fading. Secretariat won by a record 31 lengths, and became a Triple Crown winner. Sham finished last and never raced again.
