I’m a little late to write about the celebration, but it’s
really a celebration that will never get old. For the first time in 37 years,
America has a Triple Crown champion. And I don’t think it could be a more
fitting horse than American Pharoah.
The first time I saw this horse in person was Kentucky Derby
Day. I have lived in Louisville my entire life, but never had anyone to go to
Oaks or Derby with. I attended my first Derby this year my boyfriend, Andrew,
who works in the Thoroughbred industry. The horses I wanted to see in the top
three were American Pharoah, Carpe Diem, and Materiality. I had the feeling
that American Pharoah would be the horse to do it but couldn’t be sure. Andrew
had been following Carpe Diem closely and got a button that said “MY DERBY
HORSE IS CARPE DIEM.” He got me the same one, but mine read “MY DERBY HORSE IS
AMERICAN PHAROAH” instead. I told him after the race that I was really glad he
got me the American Pharoah one and that I wasn’t trading him.
During the first stretch, I saw that Materiality didn’t
break well and lost sight of him after that. After the race turned for home, I
lost sight of Carpe Diem as he began to quickly fall back. That left my eyes on
American Pharoah. He was pulling away with Dortmund and Firing Line, and then
it became just Firing Line left to challenge him. I was rooting on American
Pharoah as they drew closer to the finish line and was excited to see him win.
Then I knew who I would be cheering for in the Preakness.
I had been watching other races on the TV prior to the
Preakness. I knew it was American Pharoah’s race when that downpour came. He had
already proven he loved the slop when he romped in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn
Park. And sure enough, American Pharoah won it easily. The next Triple Crown
winner was now on the line.
I saw American Pharoah four times when he came back to
Churchill Downs to prepare for the Belmont. The track was allowing the public
to come in the morning and watch the Belmont horses work. I missed American
Pharoah’s first breeze and was mad I didn’t get up early enough after watching
the video of it. I made sure to get back and see him after that. After all, I
could be looking at a future Triple Crown winner.
The first day I saw American Pharoah work he jogged
clockwise on the track with his faithful sidekick, Smokey. Pharoah was chomping
at the bit and getting sideways. He wanted to do more. I also got to see him gallop
twice. He would jog onto the track with Smokey and wouldn’t quit fussing with
the bit until he turned around and took off at a faster pace galloping.
American Pharoah’s final breeze was really something to see.
He wanted to go as soon as he got onto the track. It was incredible how much
rail he passed so quickly. While every other horse looks like they are digging
in, American Pharoah looks like he is skimming over the ground. He stride is
long and fluid.
After watching that final breeze, I had faith that it was
possible for American Pharoah to win the Triple Crown. It would be hard, as the
mile and a half and short time span of the Triple Crown races have stopped many
before, but I knew American Pharoah could do it if he brought his A game. The
horse chomped at the bit until he was at least in a gallop while working. He
was not showing any signs of fatigue. He still wore his happy ears too. That
was another indication to me that he felt good.
This was totally worth standing out in the rain for.
I was at the Rock Creek Horse Show during the time of the
Belmont. There was a small TV mounted outside the ring on the stands for the
cameras filming the show for live feed. Normally it showed the live feed, but
it had been turned to the Belmont on this particular night. Most of the show
was gathered around this small TV with a bad glare from the sun. It was just
clear enough to make out. My trainer had just showed my horse and of course I
was there to see and find out the results, so standing in front of the TV was
not going to be an option since the crowd had already gathered. I got the idea
to squeeze through the crowd with some of my barn family members and crouch
down so I wasn’t blocking anyone’s view. This also helped to take away some of
the glare. My friend, Kaeli, and I held hands during the race to try and calm the nerves. There were people
cheering for American Pharoah saying “C’mon” before the gates opened. The
cheers and yells got more and more hectic as the race went on. By the end everyone
was screaming for this horse and when he crossed the line first the screams
continued. My barn family and I were hugging. I couldn’t help but cry. I never
thought I would see a Triple Crown winner in my life time. And I had seen this
horse in person too. I’m convinced that if I couldn’t be at Belmont to watch in
person, then being at Rock Creek and watching with the crowd at the show was
the second best place to be.
I’m even happier now that Andrew got me that American Pharoah
button at Derby. And I’m still never trading him.
The Pharoah Reigns
