The Gang of Five

Beyond the Mysterious Beyond => Hobbies and Recreation => Sports => Topic started by: Nahla on June 06, 2015, 09:14:16 PM

Title: 37 Years of History Broken
Post by: Nahla on June 06, 2015, 09:14:16 PM
Now I am not a horse racing fan at all (mainly what happens to the horses when they retire) but I did watch the Belmont Stakes today and witnessed what is the first American Triple Crown winner in 37 years. the first of this generation.

I do not know much about American horse racing, but I'm aware that winning this is a huge deal, only 12 horses in history have won.

'American Pharoah led all the way to win the Belmont Stakes by 5 1/2 lengths on Saturday, becoming the first horse in 37 years to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes ó one of the sporting world’s rarest feats.

The bay colt with the unusually short tail defeated seven rivals in the grueling 1 1/2-mile race, covering the distance in 2:26.65 to end the longest stretch without a Triple Crown champion in history.

American Pharoah is the 12th horse and first since Affirmed in 1978 to win three races on different tracks at varying distances over a five-week span. He won the Derby by one length on May 2 and then romped to a seven-length victory in the rainy Preakness two weeks later.

Trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Victor Espinoza ended their own frustrating histories in the Triple Crown. Baffert finally won on his record fourth Triple try, having lost in 1997, 1998 (by a nose) and in 2002. Espinoza got it done with his record third shot after failing to win in 2002 and last year on California Chrome.

Frosted finished second and Keen Ice was third.

American Pharoah delivered a victory for Egyptian-born owner Ahmed Zayat, who bred the colt and put him up for sale before buying him back for $300,000. His name came courtesy of the family’s online contest, in which a woman from Missouri submitted the winning moniker, but the misspelling wasn’t noticed until the name was already official

American Pharoah joined the ranks of Triple Crown winners Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977) and Affirmed.

The crowd of 90,000 ó capped to avoid overcrowding and long lines from last year’s total of 102,199 ó roared as American Pharoah turned for home in front.

As he neared the finish line, drinks were tossed in the air and fans jumped up and down in celebration, many holding their camera phones aloft to capture history on a sunny, 75-degree day at Belmont Park. It’s unlikely the champion heard them since American Pharoah wears ear plugs to block noise that might get him worked up.

American Pharoah extended his winning streak to seven races. He matched the accomplishment of his grand-sire, Empire Maker, who won the 2003 Belmont, spoiling Funny Cide’s Triple Crown bid.

Since 1978, the rigors of the Triple Crown had done in 13 other horses who won the Derby and the Preakness ó with 12 losing the third leg and I’ll Have Another scratched with a leg injury in 2012. Their failures left the sport and its fans craving a worthy successor to the 11 previous champions.

American Pharoah ó his tail shortened after being bitten off on the farm as a youngster ó turned out to be that horse. He awed observers with his speed and a fluid, springloaded stride in which he appeared to float over the ground.

He was 2-year-old champion last year, and virtually cinched similiar honors for his achievements as a 3-year-old this year.

Unlike Affirmed, who dueled Alydar in all three races, American Pharoah didn’t have a specific rival since he was only horse to run in all three Triple Crown races. Going into the Belmont, American Pharoah had beaten all of his seven challengers before.

Five of his rivals lost to him in the Derby, then skipped the Preakness to await the Belmont, a competitive advantage to horses that didn’t endure the three-race grind. Tale of Verve finished second in the Preakness to American Pharoah, who had beaten Madefromlucky in the Rebel Stakes in March.

American Pharoah became the first horse since Afleet Alex in 2005 to run in all three races and win the Belmont, known as “The Test of the Champion.”'

I just hope they let the horse rest now, poor thing must be exhausted.

No idea why I am posting this but I guess it's pretty cool that is has broken history, and horse racing is a 'sport'..I guess...
Title: 37 Years of History Broken
Post by: Nick22 on June 07, 2015, 01:41:59 AM
it is a sport, and was once one of the most popular sports in the country. the 5.5 length margin was the fourth largest in the races history, but no horse is ever going to beat the 31 lengths Secretariat won by in 1973. Secretariat is considered the greatest horse of all time. now he and the other triple crown winners- like Man of War, and sir Barton- the first horse to win all 3 back in 1919- have company. there have been 32 horses to win the first 2 legs of the triple crown, but only 12 have win that third leg. American pharaoh will be retired to stud- ie breed with mares- and live out the 20 or so years he has left, in luxury. hes earned millions for his owners- and tens of millions for joining this very select group.
Title: 37 Years of History Broken
Post by: Zimba on June 07, 2015, 02:44:54 AM
Man O' War won the Triple Crown? Wasn't it War Admiral?

Anyway moving on.

I just watched the replay, that's some horse.  Leading from start to finish without any challenge.

I don't know much about American racing either, but I do know a little bit about Australian racing mostly because it's hard to avoid here due to it being so big, our biggest racing being the Melbourne Cup in November run over 2 miles. It's the richest handicap in the world. That's my extent on horse racing knowledge. Besides the British racing I've watched at Ascot anyway.

Why is the Triple Crown so important? Well the prize money, sure but otherwise what makes it so special?

If someone will explain that to me, I'll be happy. Because I do not understand it, isn't it just a horse race?

Never been interested in racing so never bothered to learn much about it, my peeve with horse racing is they start the horses way too young. A two year old horse is still growing and it's bones are not even developed.

I do eventing and we are not allowed to seriously compete our horses until they are at least six when their bones are much stronger. At least here, may be different else where.

Also is his name really American Pharoah? That looks misspelled.
Title: 37 Years of History Broken
Post by: Nahla on June 07, 2015, 06:00:50 AM
Quote from: Zimba,Jun 7 2015 on  05:44 PM
Man O' War won the Triple Crown? Wasn't it War Admiral?
It was War Admiral . Man O' War won the Preakness and Belmont but didn't run in the Derby. War Admiral is also famous for the match race with Seabiscuit  in 1938 which Seabiscuit won. War Admiral was the son of Man O' War and Man O' War  was also the sire of Hard Tack who was Seabiscuit's sire.

Yes..I research these things, quiet.


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Why is the Triple Crown so important? Well the prize money, sure but otherwise what makes it so special?


Well, most countries have a Triple Crown series consisting of three races, it is normally where the best three years of that country compete, very hard for one horse to win all three not only in America. Last English Triple Crown was won by Nijinsky way way back in 1970. The Australian Triple Crown had it's last winner recently in 2013, it was won by It's a Dundeel making him the first since 1996 making him the 5th overall since  the very first Australian Triple Crown in 1943.

Win all three of a countries Triple Crown and you're set for life. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_Crown_...#United_Kingdom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_Crown_of_Thoroughbred_Racing#United_Kingdom)  that lists each countries Triple Crown races, records and all past winners.


I read this Amercian Pharoah horse will most likely  be retired at the end of this year after the Breeders Cup, the horse right now is worth well over 50  million. But if he was to suddenly do poorly in races or even get injured his value will drop. Most likely his owner's won't risk it and retire him.

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Also is his name really American Pharoah? That looks misspelled.


It is his name and it is misspelled the wrong spelling came from a mistake in the horse's registration paperwork and when no one noticed until the name was accepted and it was too late then. Poor horse, stuck with a misspelled name.