Footballers Who Own Racehorses: Top Stars With a Penchant for Racing
It would be fair to say that footballers are known to have an interest in placing a flutter on the horses, and some have gone on to become keen racehorse fans, going as far as to own one or two of their own.
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Clearly, footballers of the Premier League era are not short of funds and are often trying to find ways to wisely invest their millions, some of which have gone on the purchasing of a racehorse or two.
So let’s take a look at which footballers have decided to get more involved in the field of horse racing.
Michael Owen
The former striker has turned his hand to punditry in recent years, albeit with mixed results, but when it comes to his interest in horse racing, he’s something of a natural. Having enjoyed success at Liverpool, Man United, Real Madrid, and Newcastle United, the former England international has gone on to own his own stables in Cheshire.
He has had a number of Group 1 horses, including Brown Panther and Owen is a member of the Jockey Club, such are the in-roads he’s made in the sport.
Wayne Rooney
The former Man United man and current Derby County manager also has a keen interest in horse racing. He co-owns a number of horses, including one aptly named Switcharooney indeed; he trains that horse at Michael Owen’s Manor House Stables.
Rooney owns a number of other horses though it’s no secret that they haven’t been all that successful. Indeed he has, at times, had to hire a horse whisperer in a bid to aid their progress, with little success.
Sir Alex Ferguson
Fergie retired as Man United manager back in 2013, and the Old Trafford side have been a shell of a club ever since. Now almost a decade since he called it a day, and after a string of replacements, Man United are no nearer to reclaiming a Premier League crown.
The hugely successful manager is known for his love of horse racing and has experienced real success. He co-owns horses with Michael Owen, with Red Power proving a success.
Antoine Griezmann
The connection between professional footballers and horses extends beyond the UK, and Antoine Griezmann (who recently returned to Atletico Madrid after a distinctly average spell at Barcelona) owns a number of horses.
One of his horses, Enable, even went on to win the prestigious Arc de Triomphe in 2017, and others, including Tornibush, have also excelled. The French international took on the love of horses from his father, who is also a big fan.
Charlie Austin
The QPR forward has had a long interest in horse racing and has owned racehorses for a decade now, with his first horse Miss Sophierose winning on her debut at the Worcester races.
Austin even owned a syndicate named Excel Racing and has seen a number of his horses compete at the very highest level. Horse racing is something the prolific striker has a long association with.
Thomas Muller
The German international is considered by many to be the most underrated player of his generation, and it’s true that the 32-year-old doesn’t get as much attention as he deserves.
We are, after all, talking about a player who has made over 600 appearances for Bayern Munich, helping the German giants to 10 Bundesliga titles and two Champions League crowns, and that’s not to mention his 42 national team goals and World Cup winner’s medal.
The wily forward runs a stable with his wife Lisa and is said to be looking to move more into the horse racing world when he hangs up his boots.
Sergio Ramos
The PSG man has an interest in horses, albeit not in relation to horse racing, but instead, he has a love for equestrian action. The experienced defender runs a stud farm in Sevilla and his horse, Alamo, is a big deal in the sport.
His horses compete in the Nations Cup, which is the equestrian equivalent of the Champions League, clearly an event that Ramos knows well from his football career where he’s picked up no less than four winner’s medals.
