October 9 – Few sports are as closely intertwined as football and horse racing. The stars of the pitch often attend the biggest equine meetings in the calendar, with players following their passion for racing after calling time on their careers to own racehorses.
Links usually mean familiar names can often be found on race cards when looking for the latest betting options on sites such as TwinSpires.com. But who are some of the most eye-catching football stars who are obsessed with horse racing?
Michael Owen
It’s fair to say that Michael Owen is probably more passionate about horse racing these days than he ever was about his football, especially after proving his commitment to horses in the Amazon Prime series ‘Meet The Owens’. Owen has become a modern-day racing tycoon since retiring from football and founding Manor House Stables.
This facility is home to over 100 horses and has produced winners at major tracks such as Chester and Haydock. However, Owen’s most successful thoroughbred remains homebred star Brown Panther, who won the 2014 Irish St Leger and the Dubai Gold Cup.
Sir Alex Ferguson
Sir Alex Ferguson is regarded as the greatest manager in Premier League history, but he has always made no secret of his passion for horse racing, having grown up watching the action every weekend with his father. Ferguson’s involvement with multiple Group 1 winner Rock Of Gibraltar hit the headlines in the early 2000s and he almost ended his tenure at Manchester United early.
Since then, the legendary trainer has continued to achieve success on the track, especially during the National Hunt season. Ferguson’s most famous horses are Clan Des Obeaux, winner of several grades, and Protektorat, winner of the Cheltenham Festival.
Antoine Griezmann
There are few more famous stars today who have a burning passion for horse racing than Antoine Griezmann. The Frenchman was part of the French team that won the 2018 World Cup and is one of the most celebrated players in the history of Atlético de Madrid.
However, away from the pitch, Griezmann shared a passion for horses through a shared love with his father. As his career progressed, the football star quickly invested in a stable of stars, with many even achieving final places in European betting races. Their most successful runner to date is Tornibrush, who won the G3 Prix Du Pin and Prix Jacques de Bremond in 2018.
Sergio Ramos
Another World Cup winner with a passion for thoroughbred horses is Spanish superstar Sergio Ramos (pictured). The defender was a key piece of success throughout his club and international career, winning a World Cup and two EUROS with Spain, and the Champions League on four occasions with Real Madrid.
Away from football, Ramos established the exclusive Stud Farm SR4 in Andalusia. This indicates his passion for breeding elite Andalusian/Purse Raza Espanola horses, and his passion for equine progeny matches that of any elite thoroughbred owner.
Thomas Muller
The trend of World Cup winners investing in horses extends to Thomas Muller’s involvement in dressage and breeding. The 2014 World Cup winner enjoyed an outstanding playing career during his time at Bayern Munich, and continues to be a prominent part of the expansion of the game in North America, with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Muller owns a breeding yard with his wife and also co-owns several racehorses. Among these is the aptly named ‘Thebeautifulgame’, which he co-owns alongside former teammates Alvaro Odriozola and Claudio Pizarro.
Phil Foot
It has been a turbulent time in Phil Foden’s career, with the attacking midfielder missing out on a place in England’s 2026 World Cup squad and failing to secure a starting position at Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City this season. However, the 26-year-old remains one of England’s brightest talents, having won the 2024 Premier League Player of the Season award.
Off the field, Foden has also found success as a racehorse owner. His most notable winner to date was with Wreck It Ronnie, who caused a major upset at Goodwood in September 2026 to win a Novice Stakes.
Brighton & Hove Albion
It has been an excellent period in the club’s history for Brighton & Hove Albion, with Tony Bloom’s strategic approach ensuring the club has been able to remain competitive despite losing big stars from the first team. The camaraderie on the pitch also ensures they are able to compete against the best teams in England, tipped to reach a European final in 2025-26.
Team morale has also come through in racehorse ownership, with the likes of James Milner, Danny Welbeck, Lewis Dunk, Jason Steele and Jan Paul van Hecke joining forces to create the Two Plus Three Two Plus Four syndicate. His most notable runner has come in the form of Seagulls Eleven, who has won three times in stakes company, including a standout win in the G3 Diomed Stakes earlier this season.
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