Tim Tam (1955-1982) was an American thoroughbred racehorse. Sired by Tom Fool and out of the great racing mare Two Lea (both sire and dam listed on the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century; Tom Fool at #11 and Two Lea at #77), the dark bay colt was owned and bred by Calumet Farm. Trained by Jimmy Jones, Tim Tam won the Everglades Stakes, the Flamingo Stakes, the Fountain of Youth Stakes, the Florida Derby, the Forerunner Stakes and the Derby Trial en route to winning the 1958 Kentucky Derby.
After winning the Preakness Stakes, Tim Tam was considered to have a strong chance to capture the American Triple Crown. However, in the Belmont Stakes, coming down the home stretch toward the lead that seemed to assure victory, Tim Tam fractured a sesamoid bone and hobbled the last yards across the finish line in second place. His injury ended his career but he went on to be a successful sire.
Although his racing season was cut short, Tim Tam still was elected American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse. Retired to stud, he sired 14 stakes race winners, among them the Hall of Fame filly Tosmah.
In 1985, Tim Tam was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
It has been speculated that Tim Tam was named after Calumet Farm's owner Lucille Markey's beloved Yorkshire Terrier, Timmy Tammy.
The rock group Tim Tam And The Turn-Ons got their name from the horse Tim Tam.
The Australian snack biscuit Tim Tam was named after the horse.
Famous quotes containing the word tam:
“O I forbid you, maidens a’
That wear gowd on your hair,
To come, or gae by Carterhaugh,
For young Tom-lin is there.”
—Unknown. Tam Lin (l. 1–4)