'Pharoah' Wins Online Poll for 'Sportsman'
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
American Pharoah won this year's Triple Crown
American Pharoah, who earlier this year became the first Triple Crown winner since 1978, won the online readers' poll for the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year Award for 2015. Now it's up to the magazine's editors to decide.
The award recognizes an individual—and in this case, a horse—who "embodied the spirit of sportsmanship and achievement." Owned by Zayat Stables, trained by Bob Baffert, and ridden by Victor Espinoza, American Pharoah not only won the Triple Crown but ended his racing career with a powerful win in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
The Pioneerof the Nile colt will stand at Ashford Stud in Kentucky in 2016.
Sports Illustrated said American Pharoah won 47% of the vote when the poll closed the evening of Dec. 12. The Kansas City Royals, winners of the 2015 World Series, came in second with 29% of the vote, while Lionel Messi finished third with 6% of the vote. American Pharoah also beat out Stephen Curry (4%), Jordan Spieth (3%), Simone Biles (2%), and Carli Lloyd (2%).
Sports Illustrated editors will choose the Sportsman of the Year. The winner will be announced Dec. 14 at SI.com and on the Today Show.