This book is a “biography” of American Pharoah, the horse with the misspelled name that won the horse racing’s Triple Crown in 2015, after a thirty-seven-year drought. The author starts at the beginning, all the way back to the breeding barn. He traces the horse’s pedigree. He covers minibiographies of the key players in American Pharoah’s life: owner Ahmed Zayat, trainer Bob Baffert, and jockey Victor Espinoza.

Drape is a journalist who obviously possesses a deep knowledge of horse racing. He is skilled at describing the races. Although the reader knows who wins, he generates a sense of drama and anticipation. He captures the personalities of the participants by portraying how the horse interacts with the people close to him. While the author does not ignore some of the issues in the sport, the focus of this book is on the horse and its triumphant achievement. It is a heart-warming tribute to a remarkable horse that captured the imagination of the public and secured a place in racing history. ( )

I don't read many biographies, and I have never read the biography of a horse! The author did a good job of painting a picture of the personalities involved with raising and racing American Pharoah. Drape showed both the good and bad traits of the characters without moralizing. Also Drape did a good job of describing American in a way to get the reader excited about him winning, and explaining why it was such a big deal. Horse racing hadn't seen a champion in a long time, and needed something to revitalize the sport.
I would have liked some more statistics, maybe from after he retired? Like how many of his progeny have been winners? But I think this book might have been published too early and hastily for that.
I liked the narrator of the audiobook, ( )

I took advantage of Audible's offer during the Kentucky Derby and downloaded a free copy of the audiobook. I was able to watch on TV all three races American Pharoah won in the Triple Crown. Thus, I was fascinated by this behind the scenes look at a talented, competitive horse. It follows American Pharoah through his birth on to his successes. An honest look is taken at his losses and what was learned from them. I came away knowing more about the horse, his trainer, and all the people around him.

The narrator for this audiobook did an excellent job and was easily understandable. I thoroughly enjoyed his narration.

If you enjoy horse racing, you would probably enjoy this book. ( )

In 2015, American Pharoah became the twelfth horse to win American thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown, the first to do so since Affirmed in 1978. This is the story of his racing career, his breeding and training, and the owner/breeder, trainers, jockeys, and competitors that were apart of his journey to that accomplishment.

Horse racing can be a questionable sport with a lot of questionable people. Joe Drape doesn't focus on that more than he needs to, but also doesn't ignore it. A horse can't ask for a second opinion on whether the stuff his trainer wants him to take to help him perform better is either safe or legal.

But the horses are beautiful, and as long as there are no accidents on the track, it's a joy to watch them run.

There are a lot of colorful characters in racing, too, and the people around American Pharoah (I should mention that yes, that is the correct spelling of his name) are no exception. Breeder/owner Ahmed Zayat is Egyptian, an Orthodox Jew, and made his money selling beer in mostly Muslim countries. Trainer Bob Baffert is a Hall of Fame trainer, with a long history in the sport, loud, often arrogant, and intense. Jockeys Martin Garcia and Victor Espinoza rode him and played roles in his training, and have their own interesting life stories.

This is an enjoyable and interesting book, though it helps to have an interest in the geeky details of horse racing.

I bought this audiobook. ( )

I knew nothing about horse racing, breeding, weaning, or training before beginning this book. I’ve been to a couple horse races and a few dog races, but not for probably 40 years.

This book, however, made me fall in love with the entire sport. I never thought of these horses as athletes before, that has changed. Am I going to subscribe to a racing sheet or visit off-track betting venues? I seriously doubt it. But neither will I be morally outraged (as I think I subconsciously was) when I think of the sport. ( )