It pays to win. For American Pharoah, the 2015 American Triple Crown winner, this is quite a literal statement.
According to Darren Rovell of ESPN, the now-retired race horse is set to make a fortune as a stud:
American Pharoah will make $35M in the breeding shed this year. His stallion career began this morning https://t.co/jiVlijN4dO
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 12, 2016
American Pharoah’s exploits on the track begat exploits in the breeding shed. Per Rovell, he’s set to “breed with 175 mares this season at a list price of $200,000.”
That is a ton of money, and to many it might seem excessive. However, in the horse-racing game, what American Pharoah did in 2015 makes him worth it.
Not only did he win the triple crown (only the 12th horse in history to do so and first since 1978), but he also added a victory at the Breeders’ Cup Classic. This makes him the only horse to finish a season winning the “Grand Slam” of American racing.
Interestingly, of the 175 total mares slated to breed with American Pharoah, at least 52 are owned by just two stables, Coolmore and Zayat Stables, per Rovell.
Note to self: Start breeding horses immediately.