Pharoah Owner Gambling Lawsuit: Ahmed Zayat In Trouble As American Pharoah Prepares For Triple Crown Win


American Pharoah’s owner has been named in a gambling lawsuit, and news has gone public just ahead of the 2015 Belmont Stakes. According to the Denver Post, Ahmed Zayat has asked a judge to dismiss the lawsuit, which alleges he owes a man $1.65 million. Howard Rubinsky of Florida claims that he fronted Zayat money to place bets at offshore casinos, and that Zayat never paid him back. The lawsuit was filed back in March of 2014, but news has just hit the internet this week.

“It’s a fraud. It’s a scam from A to Z. It’s total fiction. It’s a total lie,” Zayat said, maintaining his innocence.

American Pharoah’s owner calls this gambling lawsuit rubbish and says that he is being blackmailed by Rubinsky. Despite these comments, it sounds as though Mr. Rubinsky has every intention of seeing this through.

“While I respect Mr. Zayat’s right to dispute the allegations of the complaint. I am deeply offended by his defamatory charge that I am a party to ‘a scam and blackmail,'” said Rubinsky’s lawyer, J. Joseph Bainton.

According to Yahoo! Finance, the 2015 Kentucky Derby win was Zayat’s first. In 2005, he opened Zayat Stables and has owned champion quality horses for many years. American Pharoah is his pride and joy this year, and has won both the Derby and the Preakness. If the horse wins the Belmont, he will win the coveted Triple Crown.

Zayat feels as though the timing of this gambling lawsuit news going public is quite peculiar. He is doing his best not to let it taint his high, however.

“Every time something good happens, someone brings you down,” he said.

American Pharoah’s owner will be forced to put this gambling lawsuit on the back burner as his horse goes for the ultimate glory on June 6. As previously reported by the Inquisitr, many people will be betting on this horse to go all the way.

The last time a horse won the Triple Crown was by a horse name Affirmed in 1978. There have only been 11 horses to win the title in the history of horse racing (Sir Barton in 1919, Gallant Fox in 1930, Omaha in 1935, War Admiral in 1937, Whirlaway in 1941, Count Fleet in 1943, Assault in 1946, Citation in 1948, Secretariat in 1973, Seattle Slew in 1977, and Affirmed in 1978).

Many hope to see American Pharoah achieve the win in a couple of weeks and are ready for history to be made. Will you be rooting for American Pharoah? Do you think the thoroughbred will pull it off?

[Photo by Elsa/Getty Images]

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