American Pharoah Triple Crown Champion

As American Pharoah thundered to the finish of the Belmont Stakes on June 6, clear of the field, some 90,000 fans let out a cathartic roar. Men and women tossed their hats, as if they had just graduated from the school of Triple Crown sadness. Indeed, the silence of past Belmont crowds, realizing that a Triple Crown hopeful would not win, often carried traces of despair. But no bummed-out fans filed out of Belmont Park this day. American Pharoah accomplished what 13 prior horses who’d won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes couldn’t: he won the Triple Crown, becoming the first horse in 37 years to do so.

For years, horse racing had lost luster. The sport still faces uncertainty, despite the Triple Crown win. But for now, fans can just celebrate a singular athlete. After the race, American Pharoah’s team sipped champagne. The horse was the toast of New York. The toast of sports.

–SEAN GREGORY