How American Pharoah's owner went from top of the world to brink of bankruptcy
Peter Scargill on the Egyptian-born brewing entrepreneur's financial dealings
In the week leading up to his historic attempt to land the Belmont Stakes and become the 12th winner of the US Triple Crown, American Pharoah had already earned the best part of $20 million for his owner-breeder Ahmed Zayat.
On June 6, 2015, in front of a crowd of more than 100,000 people and with a television audience of 22 million watching, American Pharoah powered to glory at Belmont Park, spectacularly ending the 37-year wait for a Triple Crown winner and banking his owner yet more cash.
He would go on to become the only horse to complete the so-called ‘Grand Slam’ when adding the $5m Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland to his Triple Crown victories, meaning he stood out as one of the most outstanding horses to have ever raced in America.
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