In the storied annals of horse racing, few tales are as astonishing and poignant as that of Frank Hayes, a 35-year-old jockey who posthumously won a race despite suffering a fatal heart attack mid-competition. The bizarre event unfolded on June 4, 1923, at New York's Belmont Park, cementing itself as one of the sport’s most unusual occurrences.
Frank Hayes, a relatively inexperienced jockey with a background as a stableman and horse trainer, had not anticipated participating in the steeplechase race that day. He was given the chance to ride a horse named Sweet Kiss, owned by Miss A.M. Frayling. Hayes, who loved horses and racing, eagerly accepted the opportunity. The race started off without any indications of the impending drama. As they approached the fences, Hayes expertly guided Sweet Kiss over the obstacles, maintaining a smooth and steady pace.
Tragically, at some point during the race, Hayes suffered a heart attack. Despite his sudden incapacitation, he remarkably remained in the saddle. Sweet Kiss, perhaps sensing something amiss but trained to run, continued the race undeterred. The horse, seemingly running on instinct and training, maintained her lead and crossed the finish line first, unknowingly carrying her deceased rider to a posthumous victory.
The crowd’s initial cheer morphed into a stunned silence followed by disbelief as attendants rushed to Hayes and discovered that he had died. The win was officially recorded, making Frank Hayes the only jockey to win a race after his death. It was later revealed that Hayes was likely affected by extreme dieting he undertook to meet the weight requirements for racing, which may have contributed to his heart attack.
Hayes's unexpected triumph was both celebrated and mourned. Sweet Kiss was thereafter nicknamed "Sweet Kiss of Death," a morose reminder of the victory’s cost. Following this incident, the horse never raced again, adding to the eerie legacy of that fateful day.
The story of Frank Hayes is a surreal blend of triumph and tragedy, underscored by the powerful bond and trust between a rider and his horse. It highlights the unpredictabilities and inherent risks of horse racing, serving also as a caution about the physical demands athletes sometimes undergo. Hayes’s win remains one of the most extraordinary events in the history of sports, a reminder of the remarkable and often unpredictable nature of competitive racing.
