Title/Author:
“American Pharoah: The Untold Story of the
Triple Crown Winner’s Legendary Rise” by Joe Drape, narrated by Aaron Abano
Tags:
Horse Racing,
championship, audio book
Publish date:
April 26, 2016
Length:
Listening time: 8
hours 36 minutes
Rating:
5 of 5 stars (outstanding)
Review:
When American Pharoah
became the 12th winner of horse racing’s Triple Crown – winning the
Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in the same year – he became
a favorite of seasoned and casual racing fans alike. By becoming the first
Triple Crown horse in 37 years, he was also a media darling. His story, along with that of his owner,
trainer and jockey, is the story of this excellent book by sportswriter Joe
Drape, who covers horse racing for the New York Times.
Like most books on a
horse, the story centers not only around the animal, but also on important
humans in the horse’s life. In the case
of American Pharoah, this included owner Ahmed Zayat, trainer Bob Baffert and
jockey Victor Espinoza. All three, as
well as many others, sing the praises of the horse for not only his racing
ability but for his strength and beauty as well. There are even some stories
about others who had an important role in the upkeep and training of American
Pharoah. One such person is Frances Relihan, who was the farm manager where the
horse spent the first year of his life. It was a touching moment when Zayat
invited Frances and her husband to attend the 2015 Kentucky Derby.
The reader will even
learn about American Pharoah’s personality.
He loves it when the cameras are rolling on him, he has pride in his
gallop and he will even mingle with fans. Often in the book, Drape will talk
about him eating carrots out of the hands of fans, especially children. This
was a nice touch for the book as it made the reader feel like he or she is part
of the horse’s story.
The book talks at
length about the horse racing industry. No matter how much the reader knows
about the sport, it is a good bet that reader will learn something new.
Starting with the breeding ritual that created American Pharoah and continuing
through his career, the reader learns much about the breeding and training
aspects of the industry. This isn’t all rosy, however, as Drape also talks about
the doping that occurs as well and some of the more tragic consequences. Instead of criticizing the sport for this,
Drape presents it in a manner that states it is simply a part of the industry
and that not all horses, including American Pharoah, are part of this culture.
The narration by Arron
Abono was very good as well, even sounding as excited as the race track
announcers when reciting their stretch calls during each of the Triple Crown
races. The book is recommended for anyone with an interest in the sport or
learning more about this legendary horse.
Book Format Read:
Audiobook
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