American Pharoah
Shortly after American Pharoah crossed the finish line of the Belmont Stakes and raced into history, the merchandising of the newly-minted Triple Crown hero began in earnest.
As ESPN.com reports, prior to the big race, New York-based Steiner Sports signed an exclusive autograph deal with jockey Victor Espinoza. A couple of the items available for purchase from the company include an 8 x 10 photo of American Pharoah winning the Belmont, signed by Espinoza, which priced at $170. A signed 16 x 20 photograph with the inscription "2015 Triple Crown" will set you back $210.
The website Fanatics also has several items for sale. In addition to hats and t-shirts, the website offers a very unique item - dirt from Belmont Park, which can be purchased for $80.
On Monday, Churchill Downs issued the following release. The Paulick Report has learned that among the possible merchandise to be marketed will be dirt from the main track over which American Pharoah won the Triple Crown:
In celebration of the rare sweep of American racing’s Triple Crown by Zayat Stables LLC’s American Pharoah, Triple Crown Productions LLC has granted All Pro Championships, Fanatics Authentic and Steiner Sports rights to produce and distribute officially licensed apparel and other merchandise to commemorate the historic sweep.
American Pharoah’s victory in the June 6 Belmont Stakes made him just the 12th 3-year-old Thoroughbred – and the first since 1978 – to sweep the American Triple Crown’s classic races. The Triple Crown series includes the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.; the Xpressbet.com Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md.; and the Belmont Stakes Presented by DraftKings at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.
Each of the partners licensed by Triple Crown Productions LLC is a leader in sports merchandising. All are prepared to immediately produce and distribute clothing and other items commemorating the Triple Crown triumph by American Pharoah.
Licensed Triple Crown merchandise is available for purchase at retail outlets or online from the partners of Triple Crown Productions at:
All Pro Championships: www.allprochamps.com
Fanatics Authentic: www.fanatics.com
Steiner Sports: www.SteinerSports.com
American Pharoah – who is owned and was bred by Ahmed Zayat, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Victor Espinoza – scored his seventh consecutive victory and won for the seventh time in eight races when he won the 1 ½-mile Belmont Stakes by 5 1/2 lengths. Prior to American Pharoah’s sweep the most recent Triple Crown champion was Affirmed, who won all three races in 1978. The 37-year gap between Triple Crown winners that ended with American Pharoah’s victory in the Belmont Stakes was the longest in the history of the series. The just-ended Triple Crown drought easily surpassed the previous record 25-year span between the 1948 Triple Crown earned by Citation and the 1973 sweep by American racing legend Secretariat.
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Steiner Sports issued this press release on their representation of Victor Espinoza.
Jockey Victor Espinoza, who guided American Pharoah to the first Triple Crown in 37 years, has signed an exclusive athlete agreement with industry-leader Steiner Sports Marketing and Memorabilia, it was announced today by company founder Brandon Steiner.
The agreement will include a collectibles line, as well as a series of fan experiences with Espinoza and special guests, and marketing and sponsorship opportunities with leading companies.
The cutting-edge product of the "Victor Espinoza and American Pharoah Collection" will include: signed photographs from all three Triple Crown races, a variety of collages, racetrack dirt from historic Belmont Park, and shadow boxes featuring replica whips and horseshoes.
Steiner Sports will also be announcing a series of events with Victor Espinoza and the American Pharoah team with the goal of bringing its customers and clients as close as possible to history.
Racing fans can also have their own ticket and program from the historic Belmont hand-signed by Victor. Email sendins@steinersports.com for pricing and more information.
"We are delighted to welcome Victor to the Steiner athlete family, and to further extend our brand into thoroughbred racing," said Steiner. "The historic performance was one for the ages, and we are thrilled to be able to offer product for collectors to preserve this memory that will last a lifetime.
“The last time there was a Triple Crown champion, I was a student at Syracuse, Jimmy Carter was president, and the cell phone hadn’t been invented,” added Steiner. “To give some historical perspective, Kobe Bryant, Usher, Manny Pacquaio and Ashton Kutcher were all born that year. It was a long time ago.”
How long? The 1978 Yankees World Series roster included Reggie Jackson, Ron Guidry, Thurman Munson, Bucky Dent, Graig Nettles, Lou Piniella, Roy White, Willie Randolph, Catfish Hunter and Goose Gossage.
To view the entire collection visit SteinerSports.com.
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