American Pharoah (Sic): Jewish Horse Wins Triple Crown
Happily, I can report that the long wait is over. American Pharoah (they misspelled it, not me) won thoroughbred racing’s most desired and elusive prize when he overcame seven other colts in New York’s Belmont Stakes to become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years.
To my relatives in Israel who know nothing about racing, take my word for it, this is a very big deal. America was on shpilkis. History happened in a flash.
More than 90,000 watched it happen in person and 300 million watched it on TV. You can bet on that, and most did.
Accompanied by Chabad spiritual leaders, the jockey Victor Espinoza visited the Rebbe’s gravesite beforehand for moral and divine support.
American Pharoah zoomed to the lead and triumphed gloriously wire-to-wire in a feat that was, for many, the thrill of a lifetime.
“Oh my G-d!” tweeted Jewish actress Debra Messing…”unbelievable!…so exciting!…crying…no idea why.” She spoke for the nation.
To my religious relatives in Israel, nu, what can I say? Yes, the race took place on Shabbat (the Sabbath). Yet the occasion was not entirely treyf.
Accompanied by Chabad spiritual leaders, the jockey Victor Espinoza visited the Rebbe’s gravesite beforehand for moral and divine support and the owners of the horse are Jewish, the Zayat family. Ahmed Zayat came to the United States from Egypt. He was born in Cairo and once here
Ahmed raised his family frum – religious. So he says and that’s good enough for me.
His son Justin runs the stable, which includes other champions, but nothing like American Pharoah.
The Zayats brought along this champion of champions up against worldly breeders that include Saudi kings, United Arab Emirate princes, plus the Queen of England. They weren’t here to test this horse, but the Zayats were, and they prevailed.
So were they in shul when all eyes were on their horse, or were they at the track? That’s none of our business.
But here’s the point -- this was a good day to be an American.
Things haven’t been going too well for us here in the United States. We’re beset by crooks and crookedness.
So here came a glorious animal, a thoroughbred, to illustrate that honesty, innocence, courage and virtue can lead to triumph.
The horse was asked to win first the Kentucky Derby, next the Preakness, and finally the Belmont, and yes he did, he swept all three.
Only 11 other thoroughbreds did it in matches that date back over 100 years.
Finally, something came to make us cheer, all of us in a single voice.
We cheered grace and beautify as there are few creatures great or small as magnificent as these thoroughbreds and when a true champion comes along, everything stops. We rise up and gasp to admire greatness as it flashes before our eyes.
Plus, it was a good day to be Jewish. Things haven’t been going too well on that side, either.
But for yesterday’s crowning there were no boycotts. People yelled their lungs out, but only to root the horse home.
He heard us. Throughout America it was one big mazel tov.
Nobody got arrested. This wasn’t like FIFI. There were no scandals.
In racing, everything happens in two heart throbbing minutes. There is nothing to rival it for purity or thrills.
When American Pharoah crossed the finish line, millions were stricken with emotion. A sight to behold. Perfection -- so beautiful, so rare.
Jack Engelhard writes a regular column for Arutz Sheva. The new thriller from the New York-based novelist, The Bathsheba Deadline, a heroic editor’s singlehanded war on terror and against media bias. Engelhard wrote the int’l bestseller Indecent Proposal that was translated into more than 22 languages and turned into a Paramount motion picture starring Robert Redford and Demi Moore. Website: www.jackengelhard.com
No comments:
Post a Comment