Entertainment Sports American Pharoah Wins the Triple Crown! The race took place in New York on Saturday By Kathy Ehrich Dowd Kathy Ehrich Dowd Kathy Ehrich Dowd is a former digital editor at PEOPLE. She left PEOPLE in 2018. People Editorial Guidelines Published on June 6, 2015 06:55PM EDT Photo: Brad Penner/Getty The curse is broken! American Pharoah secured his place in history Saturday after a win at the Belmont Stakes Saturday earned him the coveted Triple Crown. It’s the first time since 1978 that a horse has earned the elite honor, although several have come close after winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (as Pharaoh did in May) before losing at the final race in Elmont, New York. American Pharaoh was dominant in the race before his win, surging ahead of the other horses right from the start. Jockey Victor Espinoza rode the 3-year-old thoroughbred to victory Saturday, and crowd erupted in cheers as they crossed the finish line to break a curse that has haunted the racing world for decades. American Pharoah is only the twelfth Triple Crown winner in history, his predecessor being a horse named Affirmed 37 years ago. Close