American Pharoah wins triple crown

[Coast2CoastAM2006]

http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/story/_/page/BelmontPharoah/2015-belmont-stakes-american-pharoah-triple-crown-horse-not-humans

Not sure if there is any horse racing fans on here but this is pretty amazing that AP is the first horse to win the Triple Crown since '78 and only the 12th winner overall.

[Crabcake]

Not exactly a horse racing aficionado, but I watch the Triple Crown races every year. What a race that was. Until he crossed the finish line I was convinced he'd falter at the end.

They said on NBC it was the third highest margin of victory ever at the Belmont Stakes (5.5 lengths).

[CS85]

Pretty amazing moment, and I'm surprised any convo got hijacked by the hockey abortion that occurred last night. It's been what, 37 years? It's a monumental occasion that is great for horse racing while also potentially signaling the end of modern horse racing fascination since the interest could wane due to no potential history. And even if a horse nabs the triple crown again next year it's old hat now and the value will only be diminished due to proximity.

Either way congrats to all the people who properly injected this powerful animal with the copious quantities of chemicals to manufacture it into becoming a legendary killing machine that will spend its remaining years spewing its priceless goo into thousands of mares.

[HedleyLamarr]

Some are asking if American Pharoah winning the Triple Crown will save horse racing. I think it goes the other direction....that horse racing popularity will drop even more.

The reason why many folks were watching yesterday was because of "37 years". A lot of people, myself included, had never see a Triple Crown in their lifetime. Now, it's been done. No one can say "I've never seen that before." now. There's no long drought now. No matter if there's a horse that wins the first two races in the next 10 years or so, it's just not as compelling as it is to see a 37-year drought end. We won't be hearing about 1978 any longer...now it's 2015. Hell, I didn't even know there was a trophy for winning the Triple Crown before yesterday (they may have mentioned it in their 5-hour long pre-race show each year, but I don't watch that)

As sports fans, we're fascinated by the things we don't see often and compelled with things that break the trend. We're drawn to things that just rarely occur, whether it's the Red Sox ending their 86-year World Series drought or an 11-seed reaching the Final Four, Dale Earnhardt taking 20 years to win the Daytona 500 or the Patriots going for the perfect 19-0 season. Whenever the Cubs make the playoffs or a Canadian-based hockey team makes the conference finals, many are tuning in to see if these dry spells end or last another season. It's why we watch, it's why we go to games....we want to see something we've never seen before. The norm doesn't grab us.

Great to see. Glad I saw it. But now, horse racing can drift back towards the bottom of the sports pool. There's not even a guarantee horse racing will still exist in 37 years. The generations that care and invest in horse racing will be long gone by then.

[CubsFanBudMan]

I saw about 20 minutes of pre-race coverage but missed the two minutes that counted because I ordered food when I sat down to watch, thinking I'd see the history attempt live, only to give up right before the race started and heard the highlight on the radio.

Yes, that's a run-on.

And yes, the takeout was excellent.

[pmoehrin]

What more or less killed horse racing for me was Barbaro. I could deal with getting behind a horse rooting for him to be the one to break the Triple Crown winless streak only to be let down at the end.

Barbaro I was pulling for more then any other horse to do it and the '06 Preakness was really the last time I ever actually wanted to see a particular horse win a race. Losing is one thing, but what happened to Barbaro that day wasn't something I could be okay with. I know you can find a lot of people in their 50's and 60's who feel the same way with Ruffian. It's not enough for me to advocate the sport being outlawed, but I don't know if I will ever be able to shake the feeling that something like that can happen in any race I watch.

I still the watch Triple Crown, but at this point I'm just watching for the sake of watching.

As for American Pharoah, I'm glad he won and was very happy to have witnessed it. The specialness really didn't set in until the trophy presentation. It's going to be one of things that I think will gain meaning over time.

As for the health of horse racing, I think its as good now as its been at any point in the last 25 years. The fact that the sport is still capable of making front page headlines tells me its going to be around for a very long time. You'll never see it return to the level of popularity it was at in the 19th century and early part of the 20th century, but the sport isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Most of all I'm happiest for Victor Espinosa. It's one of the few sports I can think of where athleticism isn't the biggest determining factor of success. Desire and heart is. That's because you have to be racing full times for ten years and doing well, before you can even start to make money at it. Not to mention how baged up these guys and girls get. And for what? For Victor Espinoza the answer was what happened yesterday at Belmont.

[Needschat]

My sister was among the throng yesterday. She said NO ONE was rooting against American Pharoah.

Now, when he comes to Saratoga for the Travers, it will be a different story.

[2001mark]

Well, I watched, as I have most other years. Though I'm guilty of merely tuning in for the 3-4mins actual races. No way I'm ever watching 2-3hrs of NBC pre-race hoopla; I'd be scared to know anyone who actually does.

As for saving the sport, as ppl have mentioned here & elsewhere, American Pharoah merely saved the sport from becoming oblivious due to the lack of Triple Crown.

It had become newsworthy, by default, how a TC threat had lost in the Belmont. After several years of that, even the prospect was beginning to be a joke.

I suppose it'd be like waiting for someone to hit .400 or win 25 games again in baseball. Only horse racing seems to depend on their Triple Crown to make a superstar, who we'll only see again at the Breeders Cup(?), so even that appeal is fleeting.

I've also read, & agree, that if another horse wins the TC in the next 3-5yrs, its prestige again will take a hit the other way for looking too easy.

Unless horse racing is drawing fans apart the TC races, the sport isn't saved. Sure we'll go & bet, we bet on everything.

[2001mark]

Separate those thoughts has been the idea the TC races had been set up, (scheduling) unfairly for triumph.

Now horses had been breaking down just like MLB pitchers. Why does the 21st century dislike horses on the track & horses on the mound?

[NJTank]

My sister was among the throng yesterday. She said NO ONE was rooting against American Pharoah.

Now, when he comes to Saratoga for the Travers, it will be a different story.

I think where ever Pharoah goes he will be cheered.

I hear he may race at Monmouth some time after his rest period, with Zayad's Jersey connections.

[nuordr]

The Wall Street Journal released a video last night that shows American Pharoah & Secretariat racing at the Belmont, check it out here: http://deadspin.com/this-is-what-it-would-look-like-if-american-pharoah-rac-1709988755?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_facebook&utm_source=deadspin_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

[Sport]

I watch the Kentucky Derby every year, but I think I’ve only ever watched the Belmont when a horse was going for the triple crown, and I'm not a gambler, and the two times I've been to a horse track I had a bad experience so I'm not a horse racing fan. But as a person who appreciates history I was out of my chair in my living room by myself pulling for American Pharaoh. That was very cool to see. My parents were in high school the last time it happened and I love when sports droughts come to an end. That's always fun.

Will I continue watching every time a horse is up for the Triple Crown? Probably just because it's evidently a very difficult thing to accomplish. Will I watch more horse racing as a result? Probably not.

[bosrs1]

Pretty amazing moment, and I'm surprised any convo got hijacked by the hockey abortion that occurred last night. It's been what, 37 years? It's a monumental occasion that is great for horse racing while also potentially signaling the end of modern horse racing fascination since the interest could wane due to no potential history. And even if a horse nabs the triple crown again next year it's old hat now and the value will only be diminished due to proximity.

Either way congrats to all the people who properly injected this powerful animal with the copious quantities of chemicals to manufacture it into becoming a legendary killing machine that will spend its remaining years spewing its priceless goo into thousands of mares.

Yeah this was the first thing that popped into my mind when I thought of Pharoah after the win...

My sister was among the throng yesterday. She said NO ONE was rooting against American Pharoah.

Now, when he comes to Saratoga for the Travers, it will be a different story.

I think where ever Pharoah goes he will be cheered.

I hear he may race at Monmouth some time after his rest period, with Zayad's Jersey connections.

Been hearing they're considering coming to Del Mar this year too. My Grandmother-in-law is a big horse racing fan, might have to take her on one of her increasingly rare trips out of the house to see that if he's coming. She was planning on coming out to Del Mar if Chrome had made an appearance last year. She'll definitely consider it for a triple crown winner.

[2001mark]

I watch the Kentucky Derby every year, but I think I’ve only ever watched the Belmont when a horse was going for the triple crown, and I'm not a gambler, and the two times I've been to a horse track I had a bad experience so I'm not a horse racing fan. But as a person who appreciates history I was out of my chair in my living room by myself pulling for American Pharaoh. That was very cool to see. My parents were in high school the last time it happened and I love when sports droughts come to an end. That's always fun.

Will I continue watching every time a horse is up for the Triple Crown? Probably just because it's evidently a very difficult thing to accomplish. Will I watch more horse racing as a result? Probably not.

I actually prefer the Belmont over the other 2. There's an old school feel to that giant track. I just always wished its fields were larger like the Derby's.

[FiddySicks]

a legendary killing machine that will spend its remaining years spewing its priceless goo into thousands of mares.

This almost makes me wanna become a race horse.