American Pharoah is living the good life in retirement and earning big money in doing so. The four-year old thoroughbred and Triple Crown champion has traded racing for reproduction at Coolmore Farms in Versailles, Kentucky.



"He's grown up," said his Racing Manager Justin Zayat, who recently visited his prized racehorse for the first time since retirement. Justin's father Ahmed is the owner of American Pharoah. "He looks more like a relaxed horse." Pharoah, who made history as the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed did it in 1978, is living a life most horses could only dream about. "He could breed 2-3 times per day during breeding season," said Scott Calder, who works in sales & marketing at Coolmore Farms America. When Pharoah isn't breeding, he spends his time in the fields eating grass, getting groomed and visiting with tour groups that have stopped by the farm. The 1,340-pound horse has gained about 170 pounds since retiring.

He's proven to be very professional in the breeding shed. He's breeding very well and so far it's been smooth sailing. Scott Calder sales & marketing, Coolmore Farms America

Now considered a "stud," Pharoah has bred with more than 100 mares so far. By the time breeding season is over in late June, it's expected he will have bred with 175.

"He's proven to be very professional in the breeding shed," said Calder. "He's breeding very well and so far it's been smooth sailing."

Calder said demand for breeding services from the "horse of a lifetime" has been extremely high. But a date with the iconic horse isn't cheap. When Pharoah retired last November, his stud fee was set at an eye-popping $200,000, a record amount for an unproven stallion. Applicants pay the fee only if the applicant's mare has a foal that is able to stand.