More than thirty years ago, Ireland’s Coolmore Stud added to its holdings a 500 acre slice of Kentucky bluegrass called Ashford Stud. Included with the farm was a stallion, Storm Bird, the sire of Storm Cat and dam sire of Thunder Gulch. Since then, Coolmore America’s Ashford Stud has grown to 2,500 hundred acres and currently stands 13 stallions.

Last year alone, Ashford Stud’s stallions covered 1,900 mares (not including those mares that paid more than one visit to its breeding barn). Its practice of shuttling its top sires to Coolmore facilities in Ireland, Chile, Australia and elsewhere has helped to make it the largest breeder of thoroughbreds in the world.

Among its Kentucky-based sire roster are: Giant’s Causeway (by Storm Cat), the leading active sire in North America by career earnings; 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus (by Mr. Prospector); and promising newcomer Uncle Mo (by Indian Charlie), winner of the 2010 Breeder’s Cup Juvenile and sire of one of this year’s top Kentucky Derby contenders, Nyquist.

But it is the most recent acquisition, American Pharoah, that brought my wife and me, along with several others, to the bluegrass a couple weeks ago for a tour of Ashford Stud. His breeding rights were purchased for a reported $13.8 million, with the Zayat family retaining an unknown number of free covers each year.

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The King’s Castle, at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud.

 

Our guide, Nathanial, was just back from Chile where he worked the southern hemisphere’s breeding season. Born in Galway, Ireland, he was genial, humorous and willing to field any question, because as he said, “We’ve heard them all.” He spoke in a soft Irish accent that made me pine for a pint of dark brew and a smoke-filled pub. Coolmore, by the way, encourages visitors and gives all of the proceeds from its tours to local charities.

Coolmore knows why you’ve come to visit, so our tour began with American Pharoah. One couple on the tour had been to see him each month since his arrival in last fall.

Led by his groom on a loose lead, Pharoah strolled into the late day sunlight like a gangly, loose-jointed teenager. Still wearing what may be his last pair of shoes (stallions are normally barefoot for reasons of safety), he clip-clopped across a fitted paver pathway and came to a stop no more than 20 feet away from our group.

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Ironically, his first visit to the breeding shed is scheduled for February 14th, Valentine’s Day.

american-pharoah-coolmore

All of the sires are turned out at 6:30 in the morning and returned to their stalls by about 10 am. They are exercised but (generally) never ridden, so he can be forgiven for having added a few pounds, most notably across his ribs, where he demonstrated so much definition during his racing career. And true to everything written about him, he is completely at ease in the limelight. He often looked into the distance as if distracted by something unseen. Perhaps the great horse is just a little bored by all the hoopla that follows him. His only tribute to unruliness was by absently mouthing his lead chain.

In his appearance he is relatively unremarkable; a tall brown horse with a smudge of a star on his forehead. Yet, he is statuesque and compelling. Still, if you didn’t know what he had accomplished, you might assume that he is just another thoroughbred.

©Horse Collaborative

©Horse Collaborative

 

But it is his eyes that hold you. They are soft, kind and intelligent, but they deceive as well, because hidden by his placid, nearly benign presence hides the knife-edged desire and resolve of a winner.

On the heels of winter storm Jonas, Pharoah, whose coat is still quite short, was led back to his stall to be blanketed and to receive his guests. It was here, standing in his stall, that I saw the true nature of this champion. He was alert and animated, welcoming, examining everyone with curiosity, gently stretching toward each person who approached him as if he wanted and needed to be just a little closer. He playfully nudged my wife’s back as we were having our picture taken with him.

 

American Pharoah has run his last race, but perhaps his toughest test, his most difficult stretch drive is still in the future. Ironically, his first visit to the breeding shed is scheduled for February 14th, Valentine’s Day. Can he pass his perfect stride, his heart and his greatness to his progeny?

If all goes well American Pharoah’s success as a sire will add luster to his already legendary racing career. But for now all we can do is wait and see, because American Pharoah’s story is still being written.

 

About the Author

Loren Schumacher is a small business/horse owner in Southwestern Ohio. He competes in competitive trail events and publishes the blog Nip & Duck, where he talks about almost anything horse.

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