American Pharoah is the first horse to win the Triple Crown since the legendary Secretariat accomplished the feat 37 years ago. After winning the first two legs of the Crown, American Pharoah had great odds to win the Belmont Stakes and complete the Crown. Many only put down a small bet to own an uncashed ticket to horse racing history. Even with the winning of the Triple Crown, doubt has arisen over the legacy of American Pharoah compared to the likes of Secretariat.
More than 95 percent of small bet American Pharoah gamblers at Belmont Stakes walked away with their winning tickets instead of cashing in for the small return. Some have seemed to have kept their ticket for sentimental value while others have gone to outlets such as eBay to get a better return than the horse track could have given them. ESPN explains the mathematics behind the betting of the Triple Crown winner:
"There were 94,128 $2 American Pharoah to win tickets purchased at the track at Belmont Park and Aqueduct Racetrack, both of which are controlled by the New York Racing Association. But after the horse won the Triple Crown, 90,237 of the $2 tickets, which are worth $3.50, went uncashed."
There has been some backlash to all the hype this new Triple Crown winning horse has received. Even though he was able to beat every horse he took on this season, race fans have still compared him to the last Crown winner: Secretariat. The Chicago Tribune tells of the hypocrisy between comparing horses from different era's:
"Almost before the call that "the 37-year wait is over!" echoed into our ears, someone was piecing together digital evidence of how badly American Pharoah would have lost to the legendary Secretariat. Something like 12 or 13 lengths, if it matters. And it does not."
Would you have kept your ticket for a Triple Crown winning horse? Does American Pharoah deserve the same respect given to Secretariat? Tell us your thoughts below.
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