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American Pharoah: The Untold Story of the Triple Crown Winner's Legendary Rise
History was made at the 2015 Belmont Stakes when American Pharoah won the Triple Crown, the first since Affirmed in 1978. As magnificent as the champion is, the team behind him has been all too human while on the road to immortality.
Written by an award-winning New York Times sportswriter, American Pharoah is the definitive account not only of how the ethereal colt won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes, but how he changed lives. Through extensive interviews, Drape explores the making of an exceptional racehorse, chronicling key events en route to history. Covering everything from the flamboyant owner's successful track record, the jockey's earlier heartbreaking losses, and the Hall of Fame trainer's intensity, Drape paints a stirring portrait of a horse for the ages and the people around him.
Written by an award-winning New York Times sportswriter, American Pharoah is the definitive account not only of how the ethereal colt won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes, but how he changed lives. Through extensive interviews, Drape explores the making of an exceptional racehorse, chronicling key events en route to history. Covering everything from the flamboyant owner's successful track record, the jockey's earlier heartbreaking losses, and the Hall of Fame trainer's intensity, Drape paints a stirring portrait of a horse for the ages and the people around him.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published April 26, 2016
102 people are currently reading
1273 people want to read
About the author
Joe Drape
11 books79 followersJoe Drape is a reporter for The New York Times and the author of the New York Times Best Seller Our Boys: A Perfect Season on the Plains with the Smith Center Redmen. He also is the author of The Race for the Triple Crown and Black Maestro. A graduate of Southern Methodist University, he previously worked for The Dallas Morning News and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. When he doesn’t live in Kansas, he lives in New York City with his wife and son
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 327 reviews
June 9, 2018
This is an interesting two page essay stretched out into a tedious and weird book. There was way too much detail about horse sex, horse birth, and pedigrees.
August 31, 2020
This book is a “biography” of American Pharoah, the horse with the misspelled name that won the horse racing’s Triple Crown in 2015, after a thirty-seven-year drought. The author starts at the beginning, all the way back to the breeding barn. He traces the horse’s pedigree. He covers minibiographies of the key players in American Pharoah’s life: owner Ahmed Zayat, trainer Bob Baffert, and jockey Victor Espinoza.
Drape is a journalist who obviously possesses a deep knowledge of horse racing. He is skilled at describing the races. Although the reader knows who wins, he generates a sense of drama and anticipation. He captures the personalities of the participants by portraying how the horse interacts with the people close to him. While the author does not ignore some of the issues in the sport, the focus of this book is on the horse and its triumphant achievement. It is a heart-warming tribute to a remarkable horse that captured the imagination of the public and secured a place in racing history.
Drape is a journalist who obviously possesses a deep knowledge of horse racing. He is skilled at describing the races. Although the reader knows who wins, he generates a sense of drama and anticipation. He captures the personalities of the participants by portraying how the horse interacts with the people close to him. While the author does not ignore some of the issues in the sport, the focus of this book is on the horse and its triumphant achievement. It is a heart-warming tribute to a remarkable horse that captured the imagination of the public and secured a place in racing history.
May 17, 2018
“The three hardest things to predict the outcome of are a bowl game, a love affair, and a horse race.”
As a native Kentuckian and sometime racing fan, I enjoyed this glimpse into the breeding and training process, and the life of one of the greatest horses to ever run. Having been to both Churchill (not the derby, but other races; once being the Breeder’s Cup) and Keeneland many times, I can appreciate the pomp and circumstance involved.
As a native Kentuckian and sometime racing fan, I enjoyed this glimpse into the breeding and training process, and the life of one of the greatest horses to ever run. Having been to both Churchill (not the derby, but other races; once being the Breeder’s Cup) and Keeneland many times, I can appreciate the pomp and circumstance involved.
May 27, 2016
I loved this book. It wasn't all sticky-sweet but addressed the good and the bad while still making the main focus of the book the horse. American Pharoah was my first Triple Crown and I still can't watch videos of him without tears.
June 8, 2018
I'm not much into horseracing, but for whatever reason, the Triple Crown fascinates me and I rarely miss any Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, or Belmont Stakes. I watched California Chrome fail in his bid in 2014 to win this hardest of championships. I also saw American Pharoah win it all the very next year in 2015, the first time a Triple Crown winner was christened since Affirmed did it in 1978.
This audiobook was given away by Audible in celebration of their horse, named Audible, running in the 2018 Kentucky Derby. I really didn't plan on listening to it, but I had a few days of unplanned audiobook time, and with the Belmont coming up this weekend and a chance for another horse, Justify, to win it all, I figured now was a great time to listen.
I wasn't prepared for a book that was narrated so well that I got goosebumps when the horse one each race in the Triple Crown, as well as the Breeder's Cup in late October. It was actually quite an emotional book, and I quite enjoyed it. Who knows, I may be listening to another audiobook about Justify in a few years.
This audiobook was given away by Audible in celebration of their horse, named Audible, running in the 2018 Kentucky Derby. I really didn't plan on listening to it, but I had a few days of unplanned audiobook time, and with the Belmont coming up this weekend and a chance for another horse, Justify, to win it all, I figured now was a great time to listen.
I wasn't prepared for a book that was narrated so well that I got goosebumps when the horse one each race in the Triple Crown, as well as the Breeder's Cup in late October. It was actually quite an emotional book, and I quite enjoyed it. Who knows, I may be listening to another audiobook about Justify in a few years.
January 10, 2019
When a reading challenge had the category "book involving a sport", I admit that I was not looking forward to that one. But then this book came across my radar as a free download from Audible. I am glad that I listened to this book.
It was entertaining, informative and not at all boring... which was not a combination I expected about a book about a sport. Despite knowing that American Pharoah won the Triple Crown (I watched the final race on TV to see history being made), I still found myself holding my breath during the descriptions of some of the races.
All in all, a good book and one I would recommend to others.
It was entertaining, informative and not at all boring... which was not a combination I expected about a book about a sport. Despite knowing that American Pharoah won the Triple Crown (I watched the final race on TV to see history being made), I still found myself holding my breath during the descriptions of some of the races.
All in all, a good book and one I would recommend to others.
May 8, 2019
As I said in my updates when I first started listening to this, last year, Audible gave a free audio copy of this book away to all members when a horse named Audible ran in the Kentucky Derby. Because I have the Audible subscription that gives me two credits a month and two books is typically all I am able to listen to in that span of time, it took me a year to get around to listening to American Pharoah: The Untold Story, but since it is now May, and was almost time for the Derby again, which puts me in the mood for horse stories, I figured it was about time to go on and listen.
*suddenly notices that the horse's name, "Pharoah" is spelled differently from the Egyptian ruler "Pharaoh". No wonder my spell check had been unhappy while I write this. Anyway...
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I've loved horses in general for many years, but only casually follow the horse racing scene, so I didn't know anything about American Pharoah other than that he was trained by Bob Baffert--the white-haired, sunglasses-wearing dude who seems to *always* have a horse in the Kentucky Derby--and that when he won the triple crown in 2015, he was the first horse to do so in 37 years. (I witnessed this moment in history live on TV.) This book takes us through the horse's entire life, introducing us to his parents and then showing us how he became the exceptional animal he is. It also introduces us to the humans who helped make American Pharoah's success possible, allowing us to get to know their stories leading up to the big victory, as well as showing how he touched their lives in a positive and inspiring way.
The book is written with a flare for drama, but never looses touch with reality either. It doesn't gloss over the struggles of both horse and human, yet shows how they make the victories that much more of an incredible accomplishment. You truly feel the joy of the triple crown win and walk away from the book with a warm, contented feeling.
There are a couple reasons I did not give this book a higher rating. The first is that the very first chapter, "A Brief Encounter" includes a tad more detail about horses mating than the average reader who doesn't own or breed horses or breed other animals probably wanted to know. I will wait until the content advisory section to discuss this in more detail, but suffice it to say for the time being, it felt kind of odd to make the reader feel like we were in the breeding shed with American Pharaoh's parents as they conceived the horse that would eventually win the triple crown. I think the purpose of this scene was to display the personalities of American Pharoah's sire and dam, and maybe appeal to those readers who do own/breed horses and find such interactions fascinating. However. While not graphic, it was still detailed enough as to be a reason this book is not suitable for the youngest horse lovers, and as stated earlier, is probably more detail than even the average adult non-horse-owning-or-breeding readers wanted to read about, too. As an adult horse-loving reader myself, even though I know full well what happens during the horse breeding process, I have no particular desire to go somewhere and watch it happen, nor do I want to read about it being described in such a way that it feels like I'm actually there. I just felt it was unnecessary and it resulted in me subtracting .5 stars from my rating.
Also a problem for me (and another thing that makes this book inappropriate for younger readers) was the brief but strong language that popped up during the book, including, but not limited to the F-bomb. It all came up whilst quoting things that were actually said, but while this reader will (unhappily) tolerate reading some mild, profanity, and am glad it did not occur more often than it did, I'd just as much prefer not to hear or read about it at all, especially the stronger words, and the F-word in particular is very offensive to me. So, that would be the reason I took off the other 1.5 stars from my rating.
In conclusion, American Pharaoh's story is a special one. The author vividly illustrates how this extraordinary horse accomplished the rare and spectacular feat of winning the triple crown, and I especially appreciated that the relationships between American Pharaoh and his owner, trainer, and the other humans in his life were not overlooked. It made me happy to learn that he was and is truly loved and respected, both as a living creature and a unique individual, and was so well cared for. He was and is truly a spectacular horse, fully deserving of his place in horse racing's triple crown hall of fame. I simply would have preferred the things I had problems with not be there, or would have preferred if they'd been handled differently so that this special story would be accessible to all ages of horse lovers, not just older teens and adults.
Content Advisory:
Due to some of the following content, specifically the instances of strong language, I can only recommend this book for ages 16 and older depending on individual reader or parental preference.
Sexual(ish?):
As stated in the review, Chapter 1: "A Brief Encounter" includes some detail about horses mating. Stallion/mare genetalia are not named or described but the "foreplay" and "semen" are mentioned. A "teaser pony" is mentioned, as is a mare urinating because she's "ready." The stallion mounting the mare *is* described, and so are the noises the horse make during mating.
Not sexual, but some of the physical changes a mare experiences just before giving birth are described. It's little more than what you'd see if you watch an animal program and see a foal being born, yet some of the similes the author chose to use come off as a tad odd, (Example, the narrator says the foal came sliding out like a person on a water slide.) and I know not everyone enjoys seeing or reading about bodily functions or bodily fluids, so thought I'd mention it just as a heads up.
"Chapter 8: Two Turns" briefly talks about a horse whose main flaw was a testicle that didn't drop as he grew.
Language:
As stated in the review, all language occurs while quoting things real people actually said.
"Holy" is combined with the s-word four times (at one point it's used three times in a row), and the s-word is used by itself at another point.
Two forms of the f-word are used several chapters apart.
"Hell" also pops up in a quote.
The Lord's name is used in vain once.
Two forms of d**n are used in quotes.
There is mention that someone on American Pharaoh's team once had a profanity-laden argument with someone else in the horse racing industry, but what profanity was used is not stated in this case.
Other:
It is noted that, back in the day when the Irish were seen as the lowest of the low, even lower sometimes than black slaves, they were referred to by some people as "white n*ggers"
Mentions of gambling and drinking as occurs around the race track.
Mention of how a trainer would talk to the media about having done psychoselic drugs in his youth. (No details.)
Mention of a sexist comment a male trainer made about a female trainer during a press conference. (It is noted that the female trainer then beat the male trainer's horse in a race with a horse she'd trained.)
Mention of a superstition about black cats (portrayed as irrational.)
Some discussion of the problematic aspects of horse racing, such as how some people give horses drugs to boost their performance, and what the industry has been trying to do about that. It is mentioned that Bob Baffert was once found to be giving literally every horse in his stables a thyroid medication without veterinarian approval (for reasons unknown, he thought it would help them with performance and weight gain even thought the medication is known for causing weight loss) and a few of them died because of side-effects from it.
Some brief, undescribed, mentions of injuries horses have received during races, such as broken legs that resulted in euthanasia, etc.
*suddenly notices that the horse's name, "Pharoah" is spelled differently from the Egyptian ruler "Pharaoh". No wonder my spell check had been unhappy while I write this. Anyway...
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I've loved horses in general for many years, but only casually follow the horse racing scene, so I didn't know anything about American Pharoah other than that he was trained by Bob Baffert--the white-haired, sunglasses-wearing dude who seems to *always* have a horse in the Kentucky Derby--and that when he won the triple crown in 2015, he was the first horse to do so in 37 years. (I witnessed this moment in history live on TV.) This book takes us through the horse's entire life, introducing us to his parents and then showing us how he became the exceptional animal he is. It also introduces us to the humans who helped make American Pharoah's success possible, allowing us to get to know their stories leading up to the big victory, as well as showing how he touched their lives in a positive and inspiring way.
The book is written with a flare for drama, but never looses touch with reality either. It doesn't gloss over the struggles of both horse and human, yet shows how they make the victories that much more of an incredible accomplishment. You truly feel the joy of the triple crown win and walk away from the book with a warm, contented feeling.
There are a couple reasons I did not give this book a higher rating. The first is that the very first chapter, "A Brief Encounter" includes a tad more detail about horses mating than the average reader who doesn't own or breed horses or breed other animals probably wanted to know. I will wait until the content advisory section to discuss this in more detail, but suffice it to say for the time being, it felt kind of odd to make the reader feel like we were in the breeding shed with American Pharaoh's parents as they conceived the horse that would eventually win the triple crown. I think the purpose of this scene was to display the personalities of American Pharoah's sire and dam, and maybe appeal to those readers who do own/breed horses and find such interactions fascinating. However. While not graphic, it was still detailed enough as to be a reason this book is not suitable for the youngest horse lovers, and as stated earlier, is probably more detail than even the average adult non-horse-owning-or-breeding readers wanted to read about, too. As an adult horse-loving reader myself, even though I know full well what happens during the horse breeding process, I have no particular desire to go somewhere and watch it happen, nor do I want to read about it being described in such a way that it feels like I'm actually there. I just felt it was unnecessary and it resulted in me subtracting .5 stars from my rating.
Also a problem for me (and another thing that makes this book inappropriate for younger readers) was the brief but strong language that popped up during the book, including, but not limited to the F-bomb. It all came up whilst quoting things that were actually said, but while this reader will (unhappily) tolerate reading some mild, profanity, and am glad it did not occur more often than it did, I'd just as much prefer not to hear or read about it at all, especially the stronger words, and the F-word in particular is very offensive to me. So, that would be the reason I took off the other 1.5 stars from my rating.
In conclusion, American Pharaoh's story is a special one. The author vividly illustrates how this extraordinary horse accomplished the rare and spectacular feat of winning the triple crown, and I especially appreciated that the relationships between American Pharaoh and his owner, trainer, and the other humans in his life were not overlooked. It made me happy to learn that he was and is truly loved and respected, both as a living creature and a unique individual, and was so well cared for. He was and is truly a spectacular horse, fully deserving of his place in horse racing's triple crown hall of fame. I simply would have preferred the things I had problems with not be there, or would have preferred if they'd been handled differently so that this special story would be accessible to all ages of horse lovers, not just older teens and adults.
Content Advisory:
Due to some of the following content, specifically the instances of strong language, I can only recommend this book for ages 16 and older depending on individual reader or parental preference.
Sexual(ish?):
As stated in the review, Chapter 1: "A Brief Encounter" includes some detail about horses mating. Stallion/mare genetalia are not named or described but the "foreplay" and "semen" are mentioned. A "teaser pony" is mentioned, as is a mare urinating because she's "ready." The stallion mounting the mare *is* described, and so are the noises the horse make during mating.
Not sexual, but some of the physical changes a mare experiences just before giving birth are described. It's little more than what you'd see if you watch an animal program and see a foal being born, yet some of the similes the author chose to use come off as a tad odd, (Example, the narrator says the foal came sliding out like a person on a water slide.) and I know not everyone enjoys seeing or reading about bodily functions or bodily fluids, so thought I'd mention it just as a heads up.
"Chapter 8: Two Turns" briefly talks about a horse whose main flaw was a testicle that didn't drop as he grew.
Language:
As stated in the review, all language occurs while quoting things real people actually said.
"Holy" is combined with the s-word four times (at one point it's used three times in a row), and the s-word is used by itself at another point.
Two forms of the f-word are used several chapters apart.
"Hell" also pops up in a quote.
The Lord's name is used in vain once.
Two forms of d**n are used in quotes.
There is mention that someone on American Pharaoh's team once had a profanity-laden argument with someone else in the horse racing industry, but what profanity was used is not stated in this case.
Other:
It is noted that, back in the day when the Irish were seen as the lowest of the low, even lower sometimes than black slaves, they were referred to by some people as "white n*ggers"
Mentions of gambling and drinking as occurs around the race track.
Mention of how a trainer would talk to the media about having done psychoselic drugs in his youth. (No details.)
Mention of a sexist comment a male trainer made about a female trainer during a press conference. (It is noted that the female trainer then beat the male trainer's horse in a race with a horse she'd trained.)
Mention of a superstition about black cats (portrayed as irrational.)
Some discussion of the problematic aspects of horse racing, such as how some people give horses drugs to boost their performance, and what the industry has been trying to do about that. It is mentioned that Bob Baffert was once found to be giving literally every horse in his stables a thyroid medication without veterinarian approval (for reasons unknown, he thought it would help them with performance and weight gain even thought the medication is known for causing weight loss) and a few of them died because of side-effects from it.
Some brief, undescribed, mentions of injuries horses have received during races, such as broken legs that resulted in euthanasia, etc.
December 18, 2020
While I do love horses I must admit I never heard of American Pharaoh before. And his name is actually spelled PHAROAH. The A and the O are switched. This was apparently a spelling mistake that was put on a form when the horse was named. I didn't even notice that until much later when it was pointed out in the book..this is just one of the interesting facts in here.
Did you ever hear of the famous fictional race horse the Black Stallion?? Well I've come to realize that American Pharaoh is like a REAL Black Stallion! Ok, he's not black but he has that same special something, that love of running. And like how the Black was originally owned by an Arab, American Pharaoh is owned by man from Egypt. To me that's pretty close! And just like the Black, American Pharaoh magically wins the races!
He's the first horse to win the Triple Crown in decades! Apparently it's very hard to do. And it has to be done when the horse is three years old.
One thing the book makes clear is it's not just the speed of the horse. It's the personality. American Pharaoh has a very sharp mind and a very calm demeanor. This is the kind of horse that will pose for photos, like he knows and understands that photos are being taken. And apparently it's these things that make a champion race horse. That and the perfect body that flows smoothly while running.
Racing horses is never a sure thing. Another thing the book points out is how some little thing can pop up out of nowhere and suddenly your horse is scratched from a race because of some medical problem. The horse can be fine one moment and the next have foundering with a swollen hoof!
The book contains lots of stories about the owners, how they try to breed race horses (which is a risky, very expensive hobby), the wonderful lady who cared for him when he was a young colt, the jockey and everything else you could want to know. I also learned some new horse terms too. Because I like to learn new things about horses.
This book also has color photos in the center.
I also found a wonderful series of videos on YouTube about American Pharaoh, which I had really enjoyed watching. The first one shows him winning the Triple Crown and I was crying while watching that. Apparently lots of people were crying too on that day after he won. I think watching the series is a great thing to do after reading this book as then you can see him in action and learn how things go afterwards.
Did you ever hear of the famous fictional race horse the Black Stallion?? Well I've come to realize that American Pharaoh is like a REAL Black Stallion! Ok, he's not black but he has that same special something, that love of running. And like how the Black was originally owned by an Arab, American Pharaoh is owned by man from Egypt. To me that's pretty close! And just like the Black, American Pharaoh magically wins the races!
He's the first horse to win the Triple Crown in decades! Apparently it's very hard to do. And it has to be done when the horse is three years old.
One thing the book makes clear is it's not just the speed of the horse. It's the personality. American Pharaoh has a very sharp mind and a very calm demeanor. This is the kind of horse that will pose for photos, like he knows and understands that photos are being taken. And apparently it's these things that make a champion race horse. That and the perfect body that flows smoothly while running.
Racing horses is never a sure thing. Another thing the book points out is how some little thing can pop up out of nowhere and suddenly your horse is scratched from a race because of some medical problem. The horse can be fine one moment and the next have foundering with a swollen hoof!
The book contains lots of stories about the owners, how they try to breed race horses (which is a risky, very expensive hobby), the wonderful lady who cared for him when he was a young colt, the jockey and everything else you could want to know. I also learned some new horse terms too. Because I like to learn new things about horses.
This book also has color photos in the center.
I also found a wonderful series of videos on YouTube about American Pharaoh, which I had really enjoyed watching. The first one shows him winning the Triple Crown and I was crying while watching that. Apparently lots of people were crying too on that day after he won. I think watching the series is a great thing to do after reading this book as then you can see him in action and learn how things go afterwards.
November 8, 2018
It’s been awhile since I took on a non fiction story. It seemed like a good time to venture into the unknown.
There are times when that kind of experimentation works and its great. There are times when it does not.
This is one of the times that it did not work and it was not great.
Characters: 3
Arguably the horse is the main character in the story, although we do get quite a bit of the detail on the owner and trainer as well as the jockey. Humans felt like a supporting cast.
That was different, and characters were my favorite part of this story. What made me go on reading, even though, I knew the ending. It’s kinda in the description of the book.
American Pharoah felt real. Like a horse I would not mind actually seeing trot around for 5 minutes before I get bored and move on with my day.
The human cast explored a whole new social sphere of horse racing that I vague knew existed, but never really knew about at all. I don’t know anyone who ever talks about horse racing, so it’s something that might as well not exist in “my universe”.
If Kentucky Derby stopped tomorrow, I would most likely not even know.
That made character’s impact a lot less than if I actually enjoyed the theme of the book.
Story: 2
Now, to be fair, I had my suspicions that this was not the tale for me right from the start. So in a way, me and my desire to try different genres every now and then just to see if there might be a gem that I am missing out on are at fault here.
I can’t blame the writer or anyone else. He wrote the story he was passionate about. It just was not a good one for me.
Narrative was boring, story progression was boring and even the races which were described in vivid details and should have had my adrenaline racing, felt boring.
I would imagine this being a good tale if you actually do enjoy horse racing. There is enough drama and tension here to keep the right reader on the edge of their seat.
As for me: boring is what comes to mind.
Setting: 1
“I’m going to finish this!” Was all I could think to myself. Every new chapter was a struggle to start and a struggle to finish. I was not interested in the slightest.
I’m going to stop now. As I am writing my thoughts on this book, it is very clear that it simply did not speak to me.
Now, you see, I cant rate it 1 star, because I did not hate the book. Some descriptions were good, some dialogue captivating and I did enjoy learning about a whole new hobby or an art form that was foreign to me, so that has its pluses.
In conclusion, I felt 2 stars were a fair rating for a book I did not like.
If you enjoy non-fiction and horse racing, I can see how you would possibly like this book.
If you do not...just keep on moving on. Nothing to see here.
Roman “Ragnar”
There are times when that kind of experimentation works and its great. There are times when it does not.
This is one of the times that it did not work and it was not great.
Characters: 3
Arguably the horse is the main character in the story, although we do get quite a bit of the detail on the owner and trainer as well as the jockey. Humans felt like a supporting cast.
That was different, and characters were my favorite part of this story. What made me go on reading, even though, I knew the ending. It’s kinda in the description of the book.
American Pharoah felt real. Like a horse I would not mind actually seeing trot around for 5 minutes before I get bored and move on with my day.
The human cast explored a whole new social sphere of horse racing that I vague knew existed, but never really knew about at all. I don’t know anyone who ever talks about horse racing, so it’s something that might as well not exist in “my universe”.
If Kentucky Derby stopped tomorrow, I would most likely not even know.
That made character’s impact a lot less than if I actually enjoyed the theme of the book.
Story: 2
Now, to be fair, I had my suspicions that this was not the tale for me right from the start. So in a way, me and my desire to try different genres every now and then just to see if there might be a gem that I am missing out on are at fault here.
I can’t blame the writer or anyone else. He wrote the story he was passionate about. It just was not a good one for me.
Narrative was boring, story progression was boring and even the races which were described in vivid details and should have had my adrenaline racing, felt boring.
I would imagine this being a good tale if you actually do enjoy horse racing. There is enough drama and tension here to keep the right reader on the edge of their seat.
As for me: boring is what comes to mind.
Setting: 1
“I’m going to finish this!” Was all I could think to myself. Every new chapter was a struggle to start and a struggle to finish. I was not interested in the slightest.
I’m going to stop now. As I am writing my thoughts on this book, it is very clear that it simply did not speak to me.
Now, you see, I cant rate it 1 star, because I did not hate the book. Some descriptions were good, some dialogue captivating and I did enjoy learning about a whole new hobby or an art form that was foreign to me, so that has its pluses.
In conclusion, I felt 2 stars were a fair rating for a book I did not like.
If you enjoy non-fiction and horse racing, I can see how you would possibly like this book.
If you do not...just keep on moving on. Nothing to see here.
Roman “Ragnar”
May 2, 2016
Closer to 3.5 because there's typos and weird jumping around BUT I cried at the description of him winning the Belmont so I'll bump it up.
May 25, 2018
American Pharoah was free on audible for Derby Day so I picked it up. As a Louisvillian, there was so much about the book, the horse, the owners, the trainers, and the race tracks that I just loved. Lots of nostalgia! I found the side story about the misspelling of his name fascinating. And I loved finding out about his uber sweet temperament. The story did a great job of honestly portraying the good, bad, beautiful, and tragic of horse racing, which I am glad it did, since that is one of the dilemmas that I have with the sport. Great free listen!
September 14, 2020
This wasn't terrible, it just was not for me. I thought it would have more of a pull for me, but I found it kind of dry and didn't really care about the story. If you like horse racing maybe this is for you.
May 8, 2021
Great book about a great horse! And a great time of year to listen with the Kentucky Derby last weekend and the Preakness next week. Horses are magnificent creatures.
January 7, 2017
After listening to this book and getting a better understanding of the huge amount of luck it takes to win the Kentucky Derby--let alone the other two races that make a horse a Triple Crown winner, like American Pharoah did a few years ago, I'm pretty amazed that people still try to do. The amount of money lost on horse racing every year is staggering. In the book, Drape says there's a saying in horse racing: "The best way to become a millionaire as a horse racer (read: owner) is to start out a billionaire." Horses can go lame after a morning workout, they can look promising as a colt but then turn out to be a dud on the track, they might need to get scratched the morning of a big race for a small problem...and there are a host of other possibilities.
And yet, the race to show up at the Derby continues. After walking Churchill Downs this past summer with my kids and being a competitive athlete myself, I understand why humans try to compete with their equine athletes in this way. There is something incredibly alluring about achieving the impossible.
I liked the book a lot, but it gets three stars because Drape left me wanting a whole lot more facts and background about thoroughbreds and horse racing. And I think there was less drama in this book because from the get-go American Pharoah was phenomenal. Unlike Seabiscuit, who was a come-from-behind, every-man's horse (in an era where people were totally out of luck). Still, a fun read for any horsey person.
And yet, the race to show up at the Derby continues. After walking Churchill Downs this past summer with my kids and being a competitive athlete myself, I understand why humans try to compete with their equine athletes in this way. There is something incredibly alluring about achieving the impossible.
I liked the book a lot, but it gets three stars because Drape left me wanting a whole lot more facts and background about thoroughbreds and horse racing. And I think there was less drama in this book because from the get-go American Pharoah was phenomenal. Unlike Seabiscuit, who was a come-from-behind, every-man's horse (in an era where people were totally out of luck). Still, a fun read for any horsey person.
May 15, 2018
Okay, first of all, the narrator for the audio book was horrible. I know he's narrated something else I've listened to, and he was just as bad there, but it made it worse here. His personality and idiosyncrasies make it sound like he's reading for a 3-year-old; he injects so much animation and bounce into his voice that I checked the maturity ratings and reviews multiple times. The material itself wasn't condescending, but boy did it feel like it was dumbed down as read Aaron Abano.
Secondly, while I was excited to really dig in to the history, ancestry, and pedigree of not only the horse, but the sport, after all of that groundwork... I actually missed hearing them speak about the Preakness. There was about 2 sentences devoted to the Kentucky Derby, and maybe 3 or 4 devoted to the Belmont. Then a whole chapter or 2 devoted to the first loss after the Triple Crown.
WHO. GIVES. A. FUCK. WE ALL HERE FOR THE TRIPLE CROWN. TALK ABOUT THE MOTHERFUCKING, MOTHERLOVING, GODDAMN TRIPLE CROWN RACE.
More was devoted to the Belmont Stakes than just about the entirety of the Triple Crown. And yeah, that's cool. BUT THEN THEY DIDN'T EVEN DISCUSS LET ALONE BUILD UP HOW FABULOUS IT IS THAT AMERICAN PHARAOH WAS THE FIRST TO WIN THE GRAND SLAM. EVER.
What a missed opportunity.
Secondly, while I was excited to really dig in to the history, ancestry, and pedigree of not only the horse, but the sport, after all of that groundwork... I actually missed hearing them speak about the Preakness. There was about 2 sentences devoted to the Kentucky Derby, and maybe 3 or 4 devoted to the Belmont. Then a whole chapter or 2 devoted to the first loss after the Triple Crown.
WHO. GIVES. A. FUCK. WE ALL HERE FOR THE TRIPLE CROWN. TALK ABOUT THE MOTHERFUCKING, MOTHERLOVING, GODDAMN TRIPLE CROWN RACE.
More was devoted to the Belmont Stakes than just about the entirety of the Triple Crown. And yeah, that's cool. BUT THEN THEY DIDN'T EVEN DISCUSS LET ALONE BUILD UP HOW FABULOUS IT IS THAT AMERICAN PHARAOH WAS THE FIRST TO WIN THE GRAND SLAM. EVER.
What a missed opportunity.
May 3, 2018
American Pharoah has the Triple Crown under his saddle, which puts him in the hyper elite among racehorses. He's no Exterminator, but wonky spelling and all, he's a legendary horse. However! Joe Drape is not a very great biographer of horses, he's no Laura Hillenbrand, that's for sure. The writing is clunky and misses the mark in many different capacities. Looking back, it occurs to me that Drape never once mentions American Pharoah racing with added weights to even the field, perhaps that is due to his one-season career? I don't know, Imma have to go research Pharoah more. (Case in point of my issue with this book, something as basic as horses carrying extra weight is not mentioned once in this book about horse racing. Seem weird? It seems weird to me.)
ETA: Pharoah raced for 2 seasons (as a 2-year old and a 3-year old); for reference, Exterminator raced for seven seasons and is my favorite racehorse of all time.)
ETA: Pharoah raced for 2 seasons (as a 2-year old and a 3-year old); for reference, Exterminator raced for seven seasons and is my favorite racehorse of all time.)
May 21, 2018
I received this free from Audible after the horse Audible was in this year's Kentucky Derby. I enjoyed this story, as it doesn't sugar the horse racing industry. Not only do you learn about this great athlete, but you also learn about the sport, dirty secrets included. The book also covered stories about the trainer, owner and jockey, which were also quite interesting. Even though I knew the outcome, I found myself enthralled and rooting for American Pharoah (the book also talks about the origins of the unique spelling of the horse's name) during the last leg of the Triple Crown.
October 1, 2016
Excellent book about the horse; way too much about the owner! Reading this made be go back and rewatch all his races even though I had watched them all when they happened (the Triple Crown anyway). I had forgotten by how many lengths he won the last two. An amazing horse. He has earned his retirement!
October 2, 2016
I really enjoyed learning about all of the players that were part of American Pharoah's success in 2015. I did not want to put the book down.
Drape's knowledge of the American horse racing industry makes this an enjoyable read and I learned to love the sport of horse racing again. Thanks for this book, I will be recommending this to my fellow readers.
Drape's knowledge of the American horse racing industry makes this an enjoyable read and I learned to love the sport of horse racing again. Thanks for this book, I will be recommending this to my fellow readers.
June 4, 2021
Here's the thing about me, horse racing, and this book: I am not inherently interested in horse racing. I like horses as much as the next non-horse person – that is to say, I probably like them better than warthogs or cows – but the insular world of horse racing, a sport of super-wealthy egoists, is not something I'm “into.” As they're throwing around millions on top-flight racehorses, I can't help wondering what, if anything, these so-called “horse lovers” are doing to support charities that rescue and care for neglected and abused horses. “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
That said, I once vread a book about horse racing that was so outstandingly good I lapped it up to the last page and said to myself, “I never thought I could like a book about horse racing this much.” That book was Seabiscuit: An American Legend, by the marvelous Laura Hillenbrand. (She has only published two books, which both took her years to research and write because of her medical condition, and they are both fantastic – you should immediately go vread them.) As a book that can draw in even those who are aggressively “not into” horse racing, Seabiscuit necessarily sets the gold standard. So it's inevitable that as I vread this book, I would compare it to Seabiscuit. It does not stack up well. Seabiscuit was a highly personal story about a little horse with a big personality, his deep bond with his trainer, and how these two underdogs took the world of racing by storm.
American Pharoah may be a fine book if you're already a committed fan of horse racing, but it's not going to reach out and embrace you the way Seabiscuit did. Drape clearly knows and loves the sport and has written about the elusive Triple Crown before. And he wants to share his excitement with fellow aficionados, but he doesn't necessarily make it accessible. As we lay our scene in a Kentucky mating shed where American Pharoah's highly-pedigreed parents are gettin' it on, it's like Drape is throwing down a gauntlet – if you're not horse lover enough to read about the gory details of horse breeding, you're implicitly not invited to the club. From there, he drops the names of famous racehorse owners, famous champions of the past, top stables, trainers, and jockeys, dollars won in purses, and other things that felt like just a bunch of data to me. The one good thing was the insights into the history of horse racing. But they are tidbits sprinkled here and there and weren't enough to keep me going.
At the 33% mark, I still felt like I was primarily reading about the people who populate the sport and business of horse racing and horse breeding, and they're not a particularly lovable lot. We hear a lot about owner Ahmed Zayat and trainer Bob Baffert, who both seem like the kind of guys I might call “a real piece of work.” The horse runs really fast without even trying, and people are impressed. He's clearly a very impressive horse, but I would much rather read a highly personal story about a horse and his trainer... like Seabiscuit. And by this point, I was losing the will to keep waiting for that part of the story to come along.
It's also not a great piece of writing like Seabiscuit. Drape is a journalist who expands projects that interest him into books, and his writing is just that... journalistic. Which is fine, but it's not the kind of writing that is going to keep someone like me, who is not “into” horse racing or the supremely arrogant bunch of rich assholes who populate the sport, turning the pages.
So. My apologies to Mr. Drape that he had to compete with Seabiscuit for space in my brain, but I am not horse lover enough, or rather not horse racing lover enough, for this book.
That said, I once vread a book about horse racing that was so outstandingly good I lapped it up to the last page and said to myself, “I never thought I could like a book about horse racing this much.” That book was Seabiscuit: An American Legend, by the marvelous Laura Hillenbrand. (She has only published two books, which both took her years to research and write because of her medical condition, and they are both fantastic – you should immediately go vread them.) As a book that can draw in even those who are aggressively “not into” horse racing, Seabiscuit necessarily sets the gold standard. So it's inevitable that as I vread this book, I would compare it to Seabiscuit. It does not stack up well. Seabiscuit was a highly personal story about a little horse with a big personality, his deep bond with his trainer, and how these two underdogs took the world of racing by storm.
American Pharoah may be a fine book if you're already a committed fan of horse racing, but it's not going to reach out and embrace you the way Seabiscuit did. Drape clearly knows and loves the sport and has written about the elusive Triple Crown before. And he wants to share his excitement with fellow aficionados, but he doesn't necessarily make it accessible. As we lay our scene in a Kentucky mating shed where American Pharoah's highly-pedigreed parents are gettin' it on, it's like Drape is throwing down a gauntlet – if you're not horse lover enough to read about the gory details of horse breeding, you're implicitly not invited to the club. From there, he drops the names of famous racehorse owners, famous champions of the past, top stables, trainers, and jockeys, dollars won in purses, and other things that felt like just a bunch of data to me. The one good thing was the insights into the history of horse racing. But they are tidbits sprinkled here and there and weren't enough to keep me going.
At the 33% mark, I still felt like I was primarily reading about the people who populate the sport and business of horse racing and horse breeding, and they're not a particularly lovable lot. We hear a lot about owner Ahmed Zayat and trainer Bob Baffert, who both seem like the kind of guys I might call “a real piece of work.” The horse runs really fast without even trying, and people are impressed. He's clearly a very impressive horse, but I would much rather read a highly personal story about a horse and his trainer... like Seabiscuit. And by this point, I was losing the will to keep waiting for that part of the story to come along.
It's also not a great piece of writing like Seabiscuit. Drape is a journalist who expands projects that interest him into books, and his writing is just that... journalistic. Which is fine, but it's not the kind of writing that is going to keep someone like me, who is not “into” horse racing or the supremely arrogant bunch of rich assholes who populate the sport, turning the pages.
So. My apologies to Mr. Drape that he had to compete with Seabiscuit for space in my brain, but I am not horse lover enough, or rather not horse racing lover enough, for this book.
June 10, 2018
When American Pharoah became the 12th winner of horse racing’s Triple Crown – winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in the same year – he became a favorite of seasoned and casual racing fans alike. By becoming the first Triple Crown horse in 37 years, he was also a media darling. His story, along with that of his owner, trainer and jockey, is the story of this excellent book by sportswriter Joe Drape, who covers horse racing for the New York Times.
Like most books on a horse, the story centers not only around the animal, but also on important humans in the horse’s life. In the case of American Pharoah, this included owner Ahmed Zayat, trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Victor Espinoza. All three, as well as many others, sing the praises of the horse for not only his racing ability but for his strength and beauty as well. There are even some stories about others who had an important role in the upkeep and training of American Pharoah. One such person is Frances Relihan, who was the farm manager where the horse spent the first year of his life. It was a touching moment when Zayat invited Frances and her husband to attend the 2015 Kentucky Derby.
The reader will even learn about American Pharoah’s personality. He loves it when the cameras are rolling on him, he has pride in his gallop and he will even mingle with fans. Often in the book, Drape will talk about him eating carrots out of the hands of fans, especially children. This was a nice touch for the book as it made the reader feel like he or she is part of the horse’s story.
The book talks at length about the horse racing industry. No matter how much the reader knows about the sport, it is a good bet that reader will learn something new. Starting with the breeding ritual that created American Pharoah and continuing through his career, the reader learns much about the breeding and training aspects of the industry. This isn’t all rosy, however, as Drape also talks about the doping that occurs as well and some of the more tragic consequences. Instead of criticizing the sport for this, Drape presents it in a manner that states it is simply a part of the industry and that not all horses, including American Pharoah, are part of this culture.
The narration by Arron Abono was very good as well, even sounding as excited as the race track announcers when reciting their stretch calls during each of the Triple Crown races. The book is recommended for anyone with an interest in the sport or learning more about this legendary horse.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
Like most books on a horse, the story centers not only around the animal, but also on important humans in the horse’s life. In the case of American Pharoah, this included owner Ahmed Zayat, trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Victor Espinoza. All three, as well as many others, sing the praises of the horse for not only his racing ability but for his strength and beauty as well. There are even some stories about others who had an important role in the upkeep and training of American Pharoah. One such person is Frances Relihan, who was the farm manager where the horse spent the first year of his life. It was a touching moment when Zayat invited Frances and her husband to attend the 2015 Kentucky Derby.
The reader will even learn about American Pharoah’s personality. He loves it when the cameras are rolling on him, he has pride in his gallop and he will even mingle with fans. Often in the book, Drape will talk about him eating carrots out of the hands of fans, especially children. This was a nice touch for the book as it made the reader feel like he or she is part of the horse’s story.
The book talks at length about the horse racing industry. No matter how much the reader knows about the sport, it is a good bet that reader will learn something new. Starting with the breeding ritual that created American Pharoah and continuing through his career, the reader learns much about the breeding and training aspects of the industry. This isn’t all rosy, however, as Drape also talks about the doping that occurs as well and some of the more tragic consequences. Instead of criticizing the sport for this, Drape presents it in a manner that states it is simply a part of the industry and that not all horses, including American Pharoah, are part of this culture.
The narration by Arron Abono was very good as well, even sounding as excited as the race track announcers when reciting their stretch calls during each of the Triple Crown races. The book is recommended for anyone with an interest in the sport or learning more about this legendary horse.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
February 23, 2025
In 1978, a horse named Affirmed managed to win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, capturing the Triple Crown of horse racing. It would be a 37-years before the next horse was capable of accomplishing the same feat: American Pharoah in 2015.
This isn't a particularly long book, but it took me forever to read. It's not a particularly emotional book (I don't think, anyways) but it kept making me emotional. I've been a horse lover all of my life, even making the financially irresponsible decision to buy one of my own, and a longtime fan of horse racing. I wasn't even born in 1978 when Affirmed won the Triple Crown... and while I'd seen video of Secretariat moving 'like a tremendous machine' it wasn't the same as experiencing the event in my lifetime.
This book opens in the breeding shed with Littleprincessemma and Pioneerof the Nile, and while I admit the graphic mating of two horses at a commercial breeding farm was a bit off-putting, it segues nicely into a look at the economic impacts of the horse breeding industry.
It introduces the people in American Pharoah's life. Bob Baffert who coveted the Triple Crown and kept getting met with loss; the book details his run-ins with performance enhancing drugs and I appreciated the honesty with which the subject was handled. Few things compete with the beauty of the American Thoroughbred in motion, but with so much money on the line, it isn't without its fair share of cheats and abuses. It takes a look at Ahmed Zayat, American Pharoah's owner, fairly new to the sport and living his life on the edge of bankruptcy. And the rider, Victor Espinoza who was thrust into horse racing out of necessity before developing a love for it.
The book chronicles the life of American Pharoah from birth to his winning of the Breeder's Cup Classic. And while I loved the novel, I did wish there was more detail of the races that he won. I wanted to feel a little more in the moment than I did. On the upside, because Joe Drape isn't the most overly descriptive writer, the writing never felt 'heavy' or bogged down with unnecessary details. It wasn't a nonfiction book that droned on, like the teacher in Ferris Bueller. If you're a racing fan, or maybe just looking to learn a little more about the modern-day champion, this is a good book to have in your home library.
This isn't a particularly long book, but it took me forever to read. It's not a particularly emotional book (I don't think, anyways) but it kept making me emotional. I've been a horse lover all of my life, even making the financially irresponsible decision to buy one of my own, and a longtime fan of horse racing. I wasn't even born in 1978 when Affirmed won the Triple Crown... and while I'd seen video of Secretariat moving 'like a tremendous machine' it wasn't the same as experiencing the event in my lifetime.
This book opens in the breeding shed with Littleprincessemma and Pioneerof the Nile, and while I admit the graphic mating of two horses at a commercial breeding farm was a bit off-putting, it segues nicely into a look at the economic impacts of the horse breeding industry.
It introduces the people in American Pharoah's life. Bob Baffert who coveted the Triple Crown and kept getting met with loss; the book details his run-ins with performance enhancing drugs and I appreciated the honesty with which the subject was handled. Few things compete with the beauty of the American Thoroughbred in motion, but with so much money on the line, it isn't without its fair share of cheats and abuses. It takes a look at Ahmed Zayat, American Pharoah's owner, fairly new to the sport and living his life on the edge of bankruptcy. And the rider, Victor Espinoza who was thrust into horse racing out of necessity before developing a love for it.
The book chronicles the life of American Pharoah from birth to his winning of the Breeder's Cup Classic. And while I loved the novel, I did wish there was more detail of the races that he won. I wanted to feel a little more in the moment than I did. On the upside, because Joe Drape isn't the most overly descriptive writer, the writing never felt 'heavy' or bogged down with unnecessary details. It wasn't a nonfiction book that droned on, like the teacher in Ferris Bueller. If you're a racing fan, or maybe just looking to learn a little more about the modern-day champion, this is a good book to have in your home library.
February 19, 2022
“American Pharoah” (undeniably a champion thoroughbred racehorse) piqued interest for several reasons. My grandmother shared stories from her early childhood as family was working tenants on the estate producing two Triple Crown winners (Gallant Fox and Omaha, Bel Air stables). The longstanding interest in Triple Crown winners, horse racing, led to visiting Lexington, KY horse country, Keeneland (early morning and race time), and Churchill Downs. We visited the stud farm and popular Smarty Jones. The absolute highlight was an unsolicited tour of two major farms by head groundskeeper in his pickup truck. We were struck by his pride, humility, reverence & knowledge about the farms, grounds keeping, families, operations, horses, and industry, etc. He took us places we would not see on a tour, e.g., graveyards, a recently retired near Triple Crown winner enjoying his field/paddock, and heard interesting details about the horses, land. It was apparent he loved it all…a native son who’d followed in his father’s footsteps. He also spoke about the current state of industry, changes both then and now. An unforgettable, BEST experience. As such, the bar was set pretty high before reading.
All said, I enjoyed “American Pharoah” and learned more about the horse, his owner, trainer, and jockey. l read via Audible and admittedly got lost multiple times when the author went on about races or events involving a ton (seemed like) of historical racing details listing a host of horse names unfamiliar to me. In short, I had to rewind a lot & decipher how it pertained to American Pharoah. It felt like filler material or maybe I missed something. Bottomline: a solid read if you’re into American Pharoah or want to learn more about the intricacies of horse racing.
All said, I enjoyed “American Pharoah” and learned more about the horse, his owner, trainer, and jockey. l read via Audible and admittedly got lost multiple times when the author went on about races or events involving a ton (seemed like) of historical racing details listing a host of horse names unfamiliar to me. In short, I had to rewind a lot & decipher how it pertained to American Pharoah. It felt like filler material or maybe I missed something. Bottomline: a solid read if you’re into American Pharoah or want to learn more about the intricacies of horse racing.
May 22, 2018
Thanks to the performance of Audible in the Derby, I “won” the audiobook version of this book from Audible.com.
The author, Tom Drape, who covers horse racing for The NY Times does a great job bringing the colt, his owners, trainers and the other connections to life. While Baffert and Zayat are larger than life figures, befitting the sport of kings, I especially appreciated the profiles of more unsung connections like Frances Relihan, the farm manager who oversaw his first year of life.
Drape also didn’t gloss over the problems with the industry, but he didn’t let that spoil what is essentially a love story.
I have to admit that is was special to have Justify win the second jewel of the Triple Crown while reading about American Pharoah.
You’ve got a little less than three weeks until the Belmont so grab this book in the meantime. You’ll be glad you did.
The author, Tom Drape, who covers horse racing for The NY Times does a great job bringing the colt, his owners, trainers and the other connections to life. While Baffert and Zayat are larger than life figures, befitting the sport of kings, I especially appreciated the profiles of more unsung connections like Frances Relihan, the farm manager who oversaw his first year of life.
Drape also didn’t gloss over the problems with the industry, but he didn’t let that spoil what is essentially a love story.
I have to admit that is was special to have Justify win the second jewel of the Triple Crown while reading about American Pharoah.
You’ve got a little less than three weeks until the Belmont so grab this book in the meantime. You’ll be glad you did.
May 25, 2018
Although, true to form, there were a lot of racing facts, I really liked the story of American Pharoah. His breeding, how he looked and the superiority with which he won the Triple Crown. I am not a horse race fan, but I believe I could get hooked on the excitement and love of a beautiful horse. I thought the author told a great story and I am just waiting for the Belmont this year to see if Justify will add his name to the list of winners. I loved the story of Black Beauty when I was a young girl. My Mom made me a black taffeta dress with a rainbow colored ruffle around the bottom. I called it my Black Beauty dress and pretended I was a horse. I rode horses in my youth and loved to let them run with the wind with me clinging to their backs. I guess I could get hooked on horse racing......Off to buy me a hat!
June 27, 2018
This story about the 12th Triple Crown winner American Pharoah is not a challenge to Laura Hildebrand's Seabiscuit but if you love horses and horseracing, it is worth the read. The narrator f the audiobook was, I thought, a poor choice. In addition to details about American Pharoah and the races he ran, there is also a lot about his trainer Bob Baffert (who, by the way, really does need a haircut), his owner, and his jockey. The author also includes some history about the checkered history of horseracing. It was 37 years from Affirmed's triple crown wins until American Pharoah's but then only 3 years until Justify became the 13th triple crown winner. Both seemed to falter a bit in the Preakness but both finished strong in the Belmont. After finishing the book, I had to watch videos of their wins!
July 17, 2023
This was a very good and engaging read. As I have met American Pharoah before, I wanted to learn more about him. This was the perfect book to do so. I will say there was more about the owner and trainer than I would've liked. Many chapters were dedicated to them depicting their past, family, struggles, etc. It was interesting to learn, but occasionally got to the point where it was too much. I want to read more about the horse, and less about the owner's gambling problems. There also could've been more descriptions when it came to the races. Other race books I've read, I felt like I was right there watching, where as this one somewhat lacked. Overall, very good book. I enjoyed the pictures they had in the middle, learning about his life before he started racing and after.
July 24, 2018
This is entertaining reading even if the only horse racing you watch is on the first Saturday in May. Drape does a good job of defining terms and traditions for readers who may not know much about the racing biz or horses. He starts when the colt is conceived and continues until the young stallion is retired and put out to stud. Along the way, we meet the owner, trainer, jockey and others on the team who supported American Pharoah on his amazing journey. Drape even explains the spelling of the horse's name. Note-you can watch all 3 Triple Crown races on YouTube, which I did after finishing the book.
March 13, 2024
This book discusses the first horse to win the Triple Crown after decades of organizations trying. I actually did not watch the races this year, and I wish I would have. I enjoyed learning about the horse and all of the things behind the scenes that culminated in a history making race. I am pretty into pedigrees and such, as I have followed horse racing since I was about 10. I will say that it got a bit tedious reading about that, and if someone really wasn't that much of a fan, I can imagine it would be pretty boring in those parts. I also think the book could have been slightly shorter, but, overall, it was a decent book.
October 14, 2019
Living near Saratoga Springs, NY and spending many summer days at the track, I was so happy that they brought American Pharoah to the Travers. It was such a love fest for that horse! This book was great to relive the memories of that racing season, the triple crown and the Spa living up to its Graveyard of Champions moniker. While I enjoyed the behind the scenes glimpse of the owner and the trainer and the biography of the horse, I felt that it went off the rails in spots, like when it went into detail about some civil case against the owner for unpaid gambling debts in the midst of the description of the third leg of the triple crown.
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