2015 Eclipse Awards: Zayat Stables

Ahmed Zayat’s Zayat Stables had what could only be classified as a dream season in 2015, driven by the heroics of American Pharoah, the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years and the first in history to win both the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

American Pharoah’s historic feat helped place Zayat Stables at the top of the North American owners list by earnings, with 215 starters winning 21 races for a combined $10,000,226.

Zayat Stables started the year strong, with three horses drawing into the Kentucky Derby field: eventual winner American Pharoah, Mr. Z, and El Kabeir, who was scratched the day before the race. It was the first Derby win for Zayat Stables, following second-place finishes on three occasions.

Other notable runners to compete under the Zayat colors in 2015 included the Grade 2-placed Jojo Warrior (owned in partnership with WinStar Farm), the Grade 3-placed Prayer for Relief, and the stakes-placed Zee Bros.

A native of Egypt, Zayat attended college in the U.S. and later returned to his home country to co-own and operate Al-Ahram Beverages Co., later selling the business to Heineken Brewing. He entered the Thoroughbred industry in 2005 and moved back to the U.S. in 2007 to make it his full-time business. Zayat is also the majority shareholder in Egypt-based Misr Glass Manufacturing.

This is the first time Zayat Stables has been nominated for an Eclipse Award as outstanding owner. Zayat earned his first Eclipse Award in 2014 when American Pharoah was named champion 2-year-old male.