American Pharoah and the Triple Crown

In one article, the estimate for his lifetime value in stud fees will be from $100 to $150 million. It was the first triple crown winner in 37 years. I'll bet even Vito Corleone wouldn't be able to get close to this winner. Security by the truck load he'll have, for sure.

Such a horse could be stolen and held for ransom, which is not unheard of. The IRA kidnapped one of the most valuable horse, Shergar, in the 1980s, in Ireland. He was taken and held for ransom, and after the owner's refusal to pay, was horribly slaughtered).

Hollywood eventually made an unsuccessful movie about the kidnapping with a high calibre cast.

Shergar produced 35 foals from his single season at stud, the best turning out to be the 1986 Irish St. Leger winner Authaal, but only one had been born by the time of the theft. The syndicate was able to charge a stud fee of £50,000 - £80,000 for Shergar and if his offspring did well on the track that fee would have doubled. But, despite the thoroughbred’s value, the Ballymany Stud was poorly protected and the criminal gang had little difficulty in gaining access. The theft was the first of its kind in Ireland.