American Pharoah Retired In Style

After becoming the first horse ever to win the "Grand Slam" of American horse racing, American Pharoah has retired in style to his plush new homestead. The greatest racing horse of all time is such a celebrity that when he was brought to his new home in Kentucky he was given a police escort. American Pharoah was born and raised in Kentucky, so he is feeling right at home, no doubt.

American Pharoah will continue to earn big money when he is "put out to stud" in Spring, 2016. Ahmed Zayat, American Pharoah's owner, sold the breeding rights of the horse to Coolmore Stud Farm, an Ireland-based company that has farms throughout the world. The owner of Coolmore Stud Farms said that there is a waiting list of mares that want to do the hanky-panky with the champion. And, for each female that he bangs, he will earn $200,000. It is estimated that American Pharoah will do his thing with 100 mares in just his first year alone. That is a lot of money waiting to be had. Do the math, Mr. Wizard. Nevermind, I'll do it for you... it's $20 million! Cha-ching! American Pharoah earned $8,288,800 for running on the ovals in 2015. It appears that the horse's retirement income will exceed his career earnings by a wide margin.

After American Pharoah came in second place in the Travers Stakes at my hometown racetrack in Saratoga, New York, I spoke to the clearly upset thoroughbred. 

Me: After leading the race from the wire, Frosted came up to challenge you around the third turn. But you pulled ahead of him and retook the lead. Did you have any idea that Keen Ice was coming up on the outside so fast on the backstretch.

American Pharoah: No, I had no idea. I thought I was going to win and beat the curse at "the Graveyard of Champions," but it looks like it got me, too.

Me: It appears that Frosted made you pick up your pace sooner than you wanted to, and that is what made it possible for Keen Ice to make that great sprint finish and pass you just a few lengths from the finish.

American Pharoah: Perhaps I should've maintained my pace and waited to see if Frosted would maybe lose steam and start falling back. But, I didn't. I made a mistake. I'm only a horse. I'm not perfect. I put my shoes on one hoof at a time.