It should be no surprise that on January 16, 2016 at the Eclipse Awards Ceremony at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, American Pharoah was awarded the coveted Horse Of The Year award with a unanimous vote.
He is only the second horse to ever receive a unanimous vote – the last one was John Henry in 1981. The 261-member voting entities from the Daily Racing Form, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and National Turf Writers and Broadcasters, also awarded him the Two-Year-Old Male award, with 126 of the votes.
Zayat Stables also won the Outstanding Owner and Outstanding Breeder awards. Bob Baffert, American Pharoah’s trainer, won his fourth Outstanding Trainer award. Surprisingly, Victor Espinoza finished second in the Outstanding Jockey category; it was awarded to Javier Castellano for his third consecutive win.
Watch American Pharoah accept his Horse of the Year Award in this cute clip:
Horse Courses by Elaine Heney
- Listening to the Horse - The Documentary by Elaine Heney & Grey Pony Films
- Shoulder In & Out Training for better balance, bend & topline development with your horse
- Over 110+ Polework Exercises & Challenges to Download
- Dancing at Liberty & Creating Connection with Your Horse (11 lessons) - Grey Pony Films
American Pharoah unanimously wins Horse of the Year!
Posted by Kentucky Derby on Saturday, January 16, 2016
He has such a personality – what a ham! Did you know that some wanted him to be Sports Illustrated Sportsman Of The Year, but others said “neigh” because he is not human? What do you think? Should he be named Sportsman Of The Year as well? (or, at least his jockey?) Tell us in the comments.
Leave a Reply