Sigmund Sommer (June 19, 1916 – April 30, 1979) was a

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

, New York building contractor, philanthropist, and racehorse owner of Sham, the horse that placed second to

Secretariat Secretariat may refer to: * Secretariat (administrative office) * Secretariat (horse) Secretariat (March 30, 1970 – October 4, 1989), also known as Big Red, was a champion American thoroughbred racehorse who is the ninth winner of the Ame ...

in two legs of the 1973 U.S. Triple Crown series. At the time of Sommer's death at 62 in 1979, his estate was valued at almost $1 billion.

Biography

Sigmund Sommer came from a family that had dealt in real estate since 1885. He built up his real estate business in the 1930s and 40s by building small apartment buildings in Brooklyn and single family homes in northern New Jersey. By the 1970s, Sommer had expanded his real estate holdings to include shopping malls and commercial and residential properties in and around the metropolitan New York City area.

Thoroughbred Racehorse Owner

In the 1960s, Sommer purchased his first race horse, and along with his wife, Viola, oversaw one of the most successful thoroughbred racing stables through the 70s. The stable was among the leading money earners for ten consecutive years, earning over $1.5 million in 1971, a record, and beating that amount in 1972. At the time the Sommers owned 40 horses who ran under the stable's green and gold colors. With U.S. Racing Hall of Fame trainer Frank "Pancho" Martin, Sommer enjoyed considerable success that included winning the Display Handicap five times (1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1978).

Horse Racing

Sham, the Sommer stable’s most famous horse, purchased from Claiborne Farm after the death of Arthur B. Hancock, Jr. in 1972, and trained by Pancho Martin, holds the unofficial record for the second-fastest time in the Kentucky Derby when he placed second to Secretariat, clocking in unofficially in 1:59 4/5. In 1982, Viola Sommer won the

Eclipse Award for Outstanding Owner Eclipse Award for Outstanding Owner is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor for racehorse owners. Created in 1971, it is part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually. Past winners: *1971 : Mr. & Mrs. E. E. Fogelson *1972 : ...

. Mr. Sommer, who frequented the race tracks daily, died of a heart attack while at the Aqueduct Race Track. He was survived by Viola Sommer, his wife, and three children: Jack Sommer, Susan Sommer Schweitzman, and Dr. Barbara Sommer Fisher.

References

External links

Sham: In the Shadow of a Superhorse
Includes an image of Sigmund Sommer.
Sham Rocks

Sham: Great Was Second Best
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sommer, Sigmund 1916 births 1979 deaths Businesspeople from Brooklyn American racehorse owners and breeders Eclipse Award winners American real estate businesspeople 20th-century American businesspeople