The Champion That Taught Us to Misspell
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (86778)
United States
October 31, 2015 5:25pm CST
Growing up in Louisville, I've always heard a lot about horse racing. I've never been a big fan of it, however, although I can't ignore the Kentucky Derby.
Every January they start talking about the Kentucky Derby hopefuls, and it's always been the same song: "can we have a Triple Crown winner?" There hadn't been a Triple Crown winner (a horse that won the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont) since 1978, when Affirmed won it. Since then, lots of horses won the first two legs, then failed at the Belmont (most recently, 2014 when California Chrome finished 4th after winning the Derby and the Preakness).
That all changed in 2015, with a horse that taught us all how to misspell.
American Pharoah romped through the Triple Crown as if it were three leisurely strolls. Today (10/31), he also took the Breeder's Cup Classic, becoming the first horse in history to win horse racing's "Grand Slam."
The three-year-old colt ran in his final race at Lexington's Keeneland Race Track, again making it look easy.
Unquestionably American Pharoah is the horse of the year, and could easily end up on the cover of Sports Illustrated as Athlete of the Year in December.
He singlehandedly (or is it singled hoofedly? 
) rekindled an interest in horse racing.
When American Pharoah returned to Louisville after winning the Triple Crown he was welcomed like a rock star. (Not many rock stars want carrots for payment, though! ) The local news is reporting that he may return to Churchill Downs at the close of the 2015 fall meet for one last parade. If he does, it'll probably be a crowd as big as the Derby!
Congratulations to American Pharoah, the champion that taught us to misspell "pharaoh"!!
) rekindled an interest in horse racing.
When American Pharoah returned to Louisville after winning the Triple Crown he was welcomed like a rock star. (Not many rock stars want carrots for payment, though! ) The local news is reporting that he may return to Churchill Downs at the close of the 2015 fall meet for one last parade. If he does, it'll probably be a crowd as big as the Derby!
Congratulations to American Pharoah, the champion that taught us to misspell "pharaoh"!!7 people like this
5 responses
@FourWalls (86778)
• United States
1 Nov 15
No, he's retired now. The Breeders' Cup Classic was his final race. I'm glad he went out on top, and made it uninjured. I always think of Barbaro, the Kentucky Derby winner in 2006 who broke his leg in his next race (the Preakness) and eventually had to be euthanized despite valiant efforts to save him. American Pharoah is going to spend the rest of his life on a farm, eating Kentucky bluegrass and -- his owners hope -- siring future champions! 
1 person likes this
@poehere (15123)
• French Polynesia
1 Nov 15
@FourWalls That's the best way to retire a horse. Glad to hear he will be well taken care of in his retirement. Isn't he a little young. I thought you said he was only 3
1 person likes this
@poehere (15123)
• French Polynesia
1 Nov 15
@FourWalls Yap now they become breeders which is a good job for them now. They earned it and now can relax and enjoy their life.
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
1 Nov 15
It was unlikely that the majority could spell it before he came along. But we always remember the names of Triple Crown winners, even people who don't follow horse racing will always remember certain horses. He's truly famous, now.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86778)
• United States
1 Nov 15
As usually happens when there's a Triple Crown winner, they go into minute details about everything. One of those stories was how American Pharoah's name came to be misspelled: it was submitted to the Jockey Club for the naming (thoroughbred horses are like actors, no two can have the same name ) spelled "P-H-A-R-O-A-H" on the form. The spelling was a mistake, but the name was accepted as "Pharoah" instead of Pharaoh, so that's the story behind it.
As they said the day they talked about this on the local news: "He doesn't care. Horses can't spell."
) spelled "P-H-A-R-O-A-H" on the form. The spelling was a mistake, but the name was accepted as "Pharoah" instead of Pharaoh, so that's the story behind it.
As they said the day they talked about this on the local news: "He doesn't care. Horses can't spell." 
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
31 Oct 15
I just cried happy tears watching him win that race with elegance!! What a champion and now he'll get to live it up and have fun for the rest of his life.
1 person likes this
