Horses

Readers pick American Pharoah for their Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year

Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, with jockey Victor Espinoza, won the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 31 at Keeneland Race Course.
Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, with jockey Victor Espinoza, won the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 31 at Keeneland Race Course. Jonathan Palmer

The first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, American Pharoah won the online reader vote for Sports Illustrated’s 2015 Sportsman of the Year.

The honor is reserved for the “one who embodied the spirit of sportsmanship and achievement,” according to the magazine's article on Pharoah's latest win.

The son of Pioneerof the Nile now resides at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Versailles where he’s set to begin stallion duties in 2016.

Pharoah won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont and the October Breeders’ Cup Classic, earning $8.3 million this year and $8.7 million total.

This story was originally published December 14, 2015 at 10:41 AM with the headline "Readers pick American Pharoah for their Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year."

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