Gambling

American Pharoah bettors leave $315K at the track

American Pharoah's influence
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American Pharoah's influence

It might sound like a bad excuse for gambling, but sometimes a bet really is about more than just the money.

Just ask the race fans who put money down on American Pharoah, the first horse to win the Triple Crown since 1978.

The majority of bettors at the Belmont Stakes this weekend who had $2 riding on American Pharoah opted to hold on to their piece of history, leaving $315,829 behind at the track, according to ESPN. (Tweet This)

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American Pharoah #5, ridden by Victor Espinoza, comes down the final stretch ahead of the field on his way to winning the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6, 2015 in Elmont, New York.
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Belmont Stakes spokesman John Durso Jr. told ESPN.com that more than 94,000 $2 American Pharoah to win tickets were purchased at the track—but less than 4,000 of the winning tickets, each worth $3.50, were actually cashed.

The state of New York stands to collect the winnings left behind by the gamblers, according to the ESPN report. Listings on eBay for the winning tickets are already asking for much more than they are worth, some seeking as much as $100 per ticket.

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Bettors have until March 31 of next year to decide whether to claim their winnings or hold on to a piece of history, according to ESPN.

Read the full story from ESPN.com here.