2015 Triple Crown

One of the most anticipated events in sport history took place last Saturday in New York State. American Pharoah broke from the post and led the Belmont Stakes race from wire to wire to complete the Triple Crown.

The win capped an amazing season for the horse, his seventh victory in a row. It also ended the Triple Crown’s, the 37 year drought. With jockey Victor Espinoza on his back, American Pharoah easily outdistanced the field, and won by five and a half lengths. It was the first Triple Crown victory for a Mexican jockey, and the first for trainer Bob Baffert.

The question that always arises after such an event is whether they will let the horse run again or turn him out to pasture. There is a fabulous amount of money to be earned once such a horse finishes his career. However, Baffert has indicated Pharoah’s career is not over. In no uncertain terms, he stated that the horse will definitely race again.

The Triple Crown’s first event is the Kentucky Derby. It is more or less the start of the season in early May, although there are preliminary races beforehand to weed out contenders. Eighteen horses started the Derby. Pharoah was sent off as the betting favourite, but the race was by no means a cakewalk for the colt. He took the lead in the stretch and won by a length. Espinoza went to the whip 32 times to coax Pharoah to the finish line. The chief steward at the track, Barbara Borden, stated that his use of the crop did not exceed the regulations, and no discipline was warranted.

Some observers believed Pharoah might have expended too much energy at the Derby, and might not be ready for the Preakness in Baltimore. Bob Baffert had won the Preakness six times, and was confident in his horse. Again, the bettors made Pharoah the favourite, and he did not disappoint. He jumped out to the lead on a sloppy track, and won by seven lengths.

With his win at the Belmont Stakes, American Pharoah convinced a lot of horse people he is a true champion. He has won in all conditions, at various lengths, on different tracks. Naturally his feat will be compared to all other great racehorses who have won the Triple Crown. All three races take place within a five-week span, with much of the travel by air. Therefore, comparisons to past winners may not be justified.

Secretariat won the Triple Crown in 1973. He won the Derby in 1:59, the Preakness in 1:53 and the Belmont in 2:24. Those records still stand today.

The last Triple Crown winner was Affirmed in 1978, just a year after Seattle Slew won in 1977. Other winners from the 1930s onward include War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), and Citation (1948).

I heard a suggestion that perhaps a Match Race might be good for the game. I remember Swaps and Nashua going head to head with no other horses on the track. Those are exciting events.

More than 90,000 fans witnessed the event. There are reports that they made more noise than you would hear at a Michigan football game. Great stuff for racing fans.

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