Horse racing is a very popular sport amongst celebrities and athletes due to its high profile nature and prestigious background. Many well-respected celebrities have been included in the action at different racing meets, ranging from the Royal Family, TV personalities, to current and former Premier League footballers.
Whilst Cheltenham free bets may not appeal to them like other racegoers, they do tend to enjoy taking in everything events have to offer. So, let’s take a look at some Premier League players who are, or have been involved in horse racing.
Michael Owen
Michael Owen is a very popular footballer who played for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle, Manchester United, Stoke City, and internationally for England during his career. His prolific goal-scoring ability was recognised by many top clubs around the world and even resulted in him winning a Ballon d’Or. In 2007, Owen and his wife took the leap and decided to purchase a cattle barn, which he converted into a stable with around 30 horses in training.
Owen’s passion for horse racing was no secret as it was a scene away from football which he enjoyed being a part of, so it always seemed to be on the cards as a different venture after retirement. Owen founded his own self-titled club, the Michael Owen Racing Club, where he has brought together a team of trainers and carers to compete in races across the country. It also enables racing fans to experience ownership for a fraction of the price.
In 2017, Michael Owen took his passion for horses to the next level. Owen made his debut as a jockey at Ascot as part of a charity race. To people’s surprise, at one point, Owen looked as though he could’ve won the race; however, he fell short, finishing second. Michael Owen’s love for the sport is clear, and whilst he hasn’t got back on the saddle, he does still continue to be heavily involved in the sport.
Joey Barton
Joey Barton is known more for his reckless behaviour on and off the pitch than he is for his footballing ability. The Liverpool-born midfielder made the majority of his club appearances for Manchester City, Newcastle United and Queens Park Rangers, and made a singular appearance for the England national team in 2007.
Barton’s career was full of ups and downs, and he is a very controversial player, even serving a 74-day prison sentence in 2008. Barton’s controversies never stopped there, with an assault on a teammate being the reason his Manchester City career was brought to an end. When he had free time, Barton was a big fan of horse racing, even owning his own racehorse. He saw his horse, Crying Lightning, who he co-owned with Claudio Pizzaro, enter into 13 races and finish first on three occasions. It was a relatively successful ownership for the former footballer and is still a hobby he enjoys outside of his newfound podcasting career.
Glen Johnson
Glen Johnson is mainly known for his time at Liverpool, Stoke City, and appearances in the England national team. Johnson was a well-liked player at Liverpool, and during his career, he was known for his love of horse racing. He was spotted many times at various racecourses across the country such as Aintree and Ascot during his playing days and didn’t hide his love for the sport.
To further show his passion for horse racing, he decided to invest in the sport, becoming a co-owner of popular racehorse Encore D’Or, a sprinter that brought the England international great success, winning 11 different races before retiring. Johnson’s love for horses is beyond just watching the sport, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see more investment from the former full-back in the sport.
Six Liverpool Stars
There isn’t just one player we can pick out for this one, as a total of six current and former Liverpool players are all part of a syndicate that owns a racehorse. The 6 players include former captain Jordan Henderson, midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, Scottish captain Andrew Robertson and current Premier League players James Milner and Adam Lallana.
All players were involved in Jurgen Klopp’s extremely successful Liverpool era, picking up almost every trophy there is to win in football, including a Premier League and a Champions League title. The teammates at the time decided to take their teamwork off the pitch and become part of the syndicate that purchased the Irish racehorse Mr McCann, who was named after Liverpool’s press officer. The horse was a relatively successful investment from the teammates as it managed to grasp a third place finish at Leicester in 2021 and, since then, finishing first in numerous races with very strong and notable performances in 2021 and 2022.
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of current and ex Premier League footballers who have invested in horse racing or have even just shown interest in the sport. It isn’t an uncommon crossover, and in the future, there is every possibility that we will see more and more players taking an interest and beginning their own ventures in the world of horse racing.
