Horse racing is a sport that knows no borders and is often considered a good investment which is why we often see athletes from different sports either sharing an interest in horse races or investing in the sport. From professional soccer players to NBA and even NFL stars, we can see a large list of celebrities who got involved with horse racing in one way or another.
And why wouldn’t they?
Horse racing is an exciting sport with betting as its main driving power, people love to gamble on horses, even NFL stars. But what makes horse racing so special?
Well, it is quite different than any other sport on the planet. First of all, it has a long history and tradition. On top of that, it is also considered a fashion event and a good networking place, which many sports stars can see the benefit from. Lastly, it is a thrilling sport especially combined with betting.
If you too love horse racing betting, make sure to claim a sign-up bonus from TwinSpires on the link below: twinspires.com/200-signup/
But, let’s focus on NFL athletes and their involvement in horse racing. Are they owners, casual fans, or just bettors?
Let’s find out.
Wes Welker
Wes Welker, the current wide receivers coach for the 49ers and a longtime buddy of Brady, began his horse racing career in 2010 with trainer Wesley Ward and bloodstock agent Gatewood Bell.
Undrafted, Welker’s most successful horse, placed third in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) and won the 2015 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.
Bell’s Hat Creek Racing first bought Undrafted in 2011 at Keeneland for $50,000. Jacob Tamme, a former tight end in the NFL, is another Hat Creek partner.
Wes Welker, a former Patriot and Bronco, won many graded races at Royal Ascot in 2015, including the Grade 1 Diamond Jubilee races. The Miami Dolphins wide receiver coach at the moment also has co-ownership with several people, most notably with Tamme Hat Creek Racing.
Wes Welker’s Kentucky Derby fever served as another source of inspiration for Tom Brady, who shared the excitement of racing with his teammates they even went crazy and placed $100,000 bets on throws.
Vince Wilfork
After seeing Big Brown pursue the Triple Crown in 2008, nose tackle Vince Wilfork, another retired Patriots player, decided to give ownership a go.
The Texas Mile (G3) at Lone Star Park was won by Wilfork’s Great Minds in 2016. When American Pharoah won the first leg of the Triple Crown in 2015, he was also seated next to the Zayat family.
Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick, the head coach of the Patriots, shares the same horse name as Gronk.
Inspired by Bill Belichick’s eight Super Bowl victories (of which he won two as the Giants defensive coordinator), Eight Rings finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and won the American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita in 2019.
Belichick is a big supporter of the Bob Baffert-trained runner, even though he doesn’t own any shares in him.
In addition, the coach utilized horse racing as a source of inspiration for the Patriots’ 2001 Super Bowl victory. He gave a video of Tiznow’s thrilling win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) early in the campaign as an example of tenacity.
Jacob Tamme
Hat Creek Racing is also associated with former Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons tight end Jacob Tamme. Con Te Partiro, the winner of the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot in England, is his greatest and favorite horse. He had a horse farm in Kentucky.
Drew Brees
Additionally, Drew Brees had horses in partnership with Donkey Island Racing Group. He claimed the horse name Siempre Mio from NBA players Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. At that moment, he brought his family to see triple crown champion American Pharoah.
Keeping with the Saints, we’ll mention Gayle Benson and Tom Benson. The Bensons are former New Orleans Saints owners. Tom’s Ready and Mo Tom are two of the New Orleans Saints runners in the Kentucky Derby, owned by Gayle and the late Tom Benson.
Bill Parcells
Former NFL head coach Bill Parcells has made racing his main priority since he resigned from sports.
Racing under the August Dawn Farm moniker, the two-time Super Bowl champion has named several horses after former players, such as Carthon (after fullback Maurice Carthon), Bavaro (after tight end Mark Bavaro), and Tuggle (after running back John Tuggle).
His greatest victory came from Saratoga Snacks, trained by Gary Sciacca, in the 2013 Empire Classic Handicap. Jeremiah Englehart is the trainer of many of Parcells’ racehorses now in training, including Three Technique, a 2020 Derby contender at one point. Bill Parcells is still among the NFL’s elite all-time coaches and is one of the NFL stars to turn to horse racing.
Ian Rapoport
Okay, before you jump into the comments screaming he shouldn’t be considered alongside NFL stars, we know. But bear with us.
Ian Rapoport is an NFL news reporter who contributed a lot to the league, therefore we decided to include him as an honorable mention.
You most likely instantly prepare yourself for breaking football news when you hear the name Ian Rapoport. However, things will change this coming weekend as the NFL Network insider will be connected to—wait—a racehorse?
Yes, it is correct. Along with Joy Taylor and Lindsay Czarniak of Fox Sports, Rapoport is a minority owner of Jace’s Road, a three-year-old colt scheduled to compete in this Saturday’s 149th Kentucky Derby.
The voyage began, as the seasoned football reporter said to America’s Best Racing when he and his wife went to the Derby in 2019 to celebrate their wedding anniversary. That resulted in the Rapoports becoming the owners of three horses, one of which being Jace’s Road.
