American Pharoah: world’s best racehorse
Triple Crown-winning racehorse American Pharoah has been crowned the world’s best racehorse in the 2015 Longines awards.
Trained by Bob Baffert, American Pharoah was the first horse in 37 years to win the prestigious US Triple Crown when he claimed the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
The last horse to win all three was Affirmed in 1978.
The award was presented by Longines and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) yesterday (Tuesday, 19 January) in London.
The US colt, who has a rating of 134, also won the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Classic.
American Pharoah was described by Mexican jockey Victor Espinoza as “unforgettable”, adding that riding him was more like “flying in the air”.
Owner Ahmed Zayat praised the horse’s talent on the track, as well as his personality saying American Pharoah was “loveable” and was a “horse in a lifetime”.
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British-bred Golden Horn finished second, rated 130.
Trained by John Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori, Golden Horn won the Derby, the Eclipse Stakes and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last year.
French mare Treve and American runner Shared Belief shared third place, equally rated at 126.
American Pharoah is to stand at Ashford Stud in Kentucky this season.
Golden Horn, owned and bred by Anthony Oppenheimer, is preparing for the start of the covering season on 15 February in his new home at Darley’s Dalham Hall Stud.
The new award for the world’s best horse race went to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The award was received by Edouard de Rothschild, president of France Galop.
For more on Golden Horn’s future career, don’t miss H&H’s bloodstock special, out 28 January.
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.