Events in Sport
- May 8 41st Kentucky Derby: Joe Notter aboard Regret wins in 2:05.4
- May 17 40th Preakness: Douglas Hoffman aboard Rhine Maiden wins in 1:58
- May 17 Cubs George "Zip" Zabel relieves with 2 outs in 1st & winds up with 4-3 19-inning win over Brooklyn in longest relief job ever
- May 31 Indianapolis 500: Italian-born American driver Ralph DePalma accompanied by riding mechanic Louis Fontaine wins from Englishman Dario Resta
Birthdays in Sport
- May 1 Archie Williams, American athlete (Olympic gold 400m 1936), born in Oakland, California (d. 1993)
- May 6 Freddie Cochrane, American boxer (World Welterweight champion 1941-1946), born in Elizabeth, New Jersey (d. 1993)
- May 30 Larry Kelley, American College Football Hall of Fame tight end (Heisman Trophy 1936; Unanimous All-American 1936; Yale), born in Hightstown, New Jersey (d. 2000)
Deaths in Sport
- May 7 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Sr., American businessman and sportsman (New York Central Railway), dies aboard the RMS Lusitania during World War I at 37
- May 9 François Faber, Luxembourgian cyclist (Tour de France 1909), dies of gunshot wounds at 28
- May 9 Anthony Wilding, New Zealand tennis player (Wimbledon 1910-13), dies on the Western Front at 31
- May 19 Bob Ferguson, Scottish golfer (British Open 1880-82), dies at 69