Fans celebrate as American Pharoah claims place in history
At Belmont, around country cheering greats first Triple Crowne winner in 37 years
The Columbian
Published: June 8, 2015, 12:00am
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American Pharoah, with jockey Victor Espinoza, at right in blue and yellow, rounds the fourth turn ahead of the field at the Belmont Stakes on Saturday in Elmont, N.Y.
NEW YORK — From Belmont Park to Fenway Park and far beyond, it was a party that horse racing had been waiting 37 years to throw.
All over, there were cheers as American Pharoah galloped away Saturday with the Triple Crown fans had waited almost four decades to witness again.
“I feel like I was honestly a part of history today,” said New York City resident Zach Witkoff, 22, who last year left the Belmont Stakes dejected after California Chrome’s failed bid at one of sport’s most elusive feats. “I think all the fans felt that way.”
In Boston, the Red Sox played a highlight of the race on the center-field scoreboard during a pitching change in the eighth inning, accompanied by the Lone Ranger’s theme song — “The William Tell Overture.” The crowd at Fenway roared when the finish was shown.
In Los Angeles, the race was shown on the video board at Dodger Stadium while the St. Louis Cardinals warmed up.
At Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, a short ride from Belmont over the Throgs Neck Bridge, Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration” blared over the sound system when American Pharoah’s romp was shown.
At the track, many of the 90,000 in attendance hugged one another and slapped hands after the bay colt won. Some held up phones in the air, trying to capture the moment.
Josie Cliffe, of Ellsworth, Iowa, bought a $2 winning ticket — but said she wasn’t going to cash it in.
“I’m planning on putting it by Belmont glass up on my wall,” the long-time racing fan said after her first visit to Belmont Park. “We are not cashing it in because it’s a great souvenir for $2.”
James Maceiko, of Deer Park, N.Y., has been attending Belmont to witness a Triple Crown since Funny Cide made the attempt in 2003 — but now has proof in the form of an admissions ticket that he saw history live, at the race track.
“I’ll probably put it in a frame and hang it someplace,” he said.
Patrons at the sports book inside the New York-New York casino in Las Vegas hugged as American Pharoah crossed the finish line.
At Los Alamitos Race Course in Southern California, horseplayers danced and punched the air in celebration. Fans also gathered to watch the race outside Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., as they were arriving to watch Chicago and Tampa Bay play Game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals.
At Belmont, as American Pharoah rounded the curve into the final stretch, the crowd’s roar grew and drinks spilled and splashed as he approached the finish line and finally won by 5½ lengths.
A beaming Penny Chenery, the owner of the 1973 Triple Crown champion horse Secretariat, said simply: “I’m thrilled.”
