No Fast Track to Hall for American Pharoah

American Pharoah fans looking to make a future trip to Saratoga Springs, N.Y., for his anticipated Racing Hall of Fame induction will have some time to make those plans.

While two of the three Triple Crown winners of the 1970s entered the Hall of Fame one year after their retirement, American Pharoah will not be eligible until five years after he stops racing.

Brien Bouyea of the Racing Hall of Fame noted those 1970s inductions of Affirmed and Secretariat one year after each was retired came during a less formal time for the Hall. Today, there are specific rules in place that require horses to be retired for five years before they become eligible for consideration.

"We didn't have an official nominating committee or voting committee; it was kind of a group of eight to 10 Turf experts led by (late Daily Racing Form executive columnist) Joe Hirsch that kind of made those decisions," Bouyea said. "He's going to have wait five years to go in."

All three Triple Crown winners of the 1970s were enshrined less than five years after they were retired. Secretariat and Affirmed entered one year after they stopped racing, while Seattle Slew entered the Hall three years after his final racing season.

Secretariat was retired after his 3-year-old season, while Affirmed and Seattle Slew were retired after their 4-year-old campaigns.

The connections of American Pharoah said they aim to race him through at least the end of this season. Every single previous Triple Crown winner has been enshrined in Racing's Hall of Fame.

Watch American Pharoah's Triple Crown Highlights: