That was the case on Saturday night when Triple Crown hero American Pharoah made a guest appearance at the track where his historic treble began in May.

On a night that American Pharoah’s Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert called “magical,” the champion colt paraded before more than 30,000 adoring fans in a special Churchill Downs celebration.

Baffert, American Pharoah’s owner Ahmed Zayat and jockey Victor Espinoza received solid gold Kentucky Derby trophies in a winner’s circle presentation.

“The horse of America,” Zayat proclaimed after accepting his trophy.

“I’m so happy for horse racing fans. This is really all about the horse and he’s a special, special animal.”

American Pharoah returned to his Churchill Downs stable after completing a Triple Crown sweep on June 6 with his dominant victory in the Belmont Stakes in New York.

The Triple Crown winner was the centre of attention from the tim,ke he left his backstretch barn for a walk to the paddock where he paraded before entering the same stall he occupied before the Kentucky Derby.

When Baffert and Zayat arrived American Pharoah was walked around the parade ring three more times to constant applause from the 10-deep crowd.

“This is a once in a lifetime horse,” Baffert said when accepting his trophy.

“I have loved all my Derby winners but this is the one I’ll never forget.”

The Stephen Foster was by Noble Bird, who claimed his first stakes victory when he beat the favoured Lea on the wire to punch his ticket to the Breeders' Cup Classic in October.

The 4YO is trained by Mark Casse and was ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan.

“This horse is a very nice horse," Bridgmohan said. "He's won three out of four and got beat in a heartbreaker on Kentucky Oaks day.”

The Stephen Foster is a "Win and You're In" event for the Breeders' Cup Classic on October 31 at Keeneland, the colt now has a guaranteed spot in the gate if his connections choose to enter him in the $5 million race.