Sire of American Pharoah Dead at 13

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday March 19

WinStar Farm's leading sire Pioneerof The Nile, best known for giving us Triple Crown hero American Pharoah, died suddenly on Monday.

Pioneerof the Nile - image WinStar Farm

Pioneerof the Nile - image WinStar Farm

The 13-year-old son of Empire Maker covereda mare in the morning and started acting uncomfortable once he was back in his stall. He was en route to the vet clinic when he died.

"We are all extremely saddened by the loss of Pioneerof The Nile," said WinStar Farm president and CEO Elliott Walden. "He was a superior physical specimen, a Triple Crown sire and a unique personality. All of us at WinStar are heartbroken."

A multipleGroup I winner, Pioneerof The Nile is the sire of a pair of champions in Horse of the Year and Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and Champion 2YO Colt Classic Empire.

American Pharoah will have his first Northern Hemisphere runners this year.

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