Triple Crown Winner American Pharoah Retires

Photo by Emma Miller

As most of the equestrian community at Wilson College knows, American Pharoah was the first to win the Triple Crown horse race this summer, the first to win in 37 years.

Earlier this month after his final win, Pharoah arrived at a stud farm where he will live out his life comfortably and enjoy the fruits of his labors.

American Pharoah arrived at Ashford Stud just two days after his last career win of the $5 million Breeder’s Cup. After his breeding rights were sold to Coolmore Ashford Stud before the Belmont Stakes in June, it was expected that he would likely retire after this 2015 season.

Owner Ahmed Zayat expressed that he wanted to race Pharoah for another year, but both he and trainer Bob Baffert knew it was time to retire him.

American Pharoah comes from an exceptional bloodline of other winners. Foaled in 2012, Pharoah’s sire was Pioneer of the Nile, the runner up at the 2009 Kentucky Derby.

His dam, Littleprincessemma, was the daughter of Yankee Gentleman and Exclusive Rosette, both winning sprinters. Pharoah’s grandsire was Empire Maker, winner of the 2003 Belmont Stakes and runner up at the Kentucky Derby.

Pharoah is expected to start breeding in Spring 2016, with a stud fee of $200,000 per mare. He is likely to cover 100-150 mares per year.

Now that he is living the life of leisure at Ashford Stud, Pharoah’s stud earnings will bring in far more than his racing. Standing at stud, he is likely to make anywhere from $20 million to $40 million. The first of Pharoah’s offspring will begin racing in 2019. Depending on how well they perform, his stud fees may rise above the starting $200,000.

Retiring at just 3 years old, American Pharoah has had quite a profitable career. According to Equibase data source, his total earnings in 2015 were $3.37 million.

After winning the Breeder’s Cup and ending his career this fall, his total earnings added up to $8,288,800. Of his ten career starts, Pharoah won eight of them, seven of those won back-to-back.

Now that Pharoah has worked his share and earned his spot in racing history, he will live happily at pasture and enjoy his favorite treats, carrots. Lots of carrots.

For the first time in decades, a horse has made the racing and equestrian community hopeful for more champions.