Frank Hayes, an Irish horse trainer and jockey, achieved an extraordinary feat on June 4, 1923, at Belmont Park racetrack in Elmont, New York. Despite experiencing a fatal heart attack during the latter stages of the race, he miraculously emerged as the victor.

At the age of twenty-two, Frank Hayes had never secured a race victory, primarily because his profession centered around horse training and stable management rather than being a jockey. The horse he rode, Sweet Kiss, was the property of Miss A. M. Frayling. Tragically, Hayes passed away during the final stretch of the race, yet his lifeless body remained in the saddle as Sweet Kiss crossed the finish line, securing the win by a narrow margin. This extraordinary occurrence marked Frank Hayes as the first and, to date, the only jockey known to have won a race in that way.

The news of Frank Hayes’ demise came to light when Miss Frayling and race officials arrived to offer their congratulations shortly after the race. It was speculated that Hayes’ fatal heart attack might have been triggered by his strenuous efforts to meet the weight requirements. A newspaper report revealed that he had managed to reduce his weight from 142 pounds to 130 pounds within a remarkably short period of time.

Upon the discovery of Hayes’ passing, the Jockey Club waived all further post-race formalities. As a result, the race’s outcome was declared official without the customary weighing in procedure. Three days later, Hayes was laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, donning his racing silks. The horse, Sweet Kiss, never raced again, and it is said that she acquired the moniker “Sweet Kiss of Death” for the remainder of her life.