Ahmed Zayat, is an Egyptian-American businessman and owner of Thoroughbred race horses. He is the CEO of Zayat Stables, LLC, a Thoroughbred horse racing business which bred and owns the 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Joe Drape of The New York Times described Zayat as "controversial" and "one of the most successful and flamboyant owners in thoroughbred racing."
Zayat (center) at the 2015 Preakness Stakes
Ahmed Zayat (in beige suit) and family, including son and manager of Zayat Stables racing operations, Justin Zayat (center), at the 2015 Preakness Stakes
American Pharoah with Victor Espinoza up
Zayat's Paynter at the 2012 Belmont Stakes
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United States)
In the United States, the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, commonly known as the Triple Crown, is a series of horse races for three-year-old Thoroughbreds, consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. The three races were inaugurated in different years, the last being the Kentucky Derby in 1875. The Triple Crown Trophy, commissioned in 1950 but awarded to all previous winners as well as those after 1950, is awarded to a horse who wins all three races and is thereafter designated as a Triple Crown winner. The races are traditionally run in May and early June of each year, although global events have resulted in schedule adjustments, such as in 1945 and 2020.
Sir Barton, the first Triple Crown winner, at the 1919 Preakness Stakes
The Triple Crown Trophy
The sixth winner, Count Fleet, in the 1943 Kentucky Derby
The seventh winner, Assault in 1946 at Westchester Handicap