The final crowning achievement on American Pharoah’s historic racing career came on Saturday evening when the recently-retired son of Pioneerof the Nile was honored with Eclipse Awards for 2015 Horse of the Year and 3-year-old Male.
The ceremony at Gulfstream Park was filled with joy, even if the results were hardly surprising following American Pharoah’s legendary run through the Triple Crown and culminated with his record-setting performance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, his final race before being retired to stud.
“For me, he is a horse of the lifetime; thank you so much American Pharoah,” said Ahmed Zayat, who also won Awards for Outstanding Breeder and Outstanding Owner.
American Pharoah, who was Pioneerof the Nile’s first Eclipse winner when he was named the 2014 the 2-year-old male cahmpion, retired with a total of eight Grade 1 wins and earnings of $8,650,300, helping push Pioneerof the Nile to the top of the 2015 Third-Crop Sire list and to fifth on last year’s General Sire list.
