October 9 – There are few sports that are as closely intertwined as football and horse racing. Stars from the pitch are typically in attendance for the biggest equine meetings on the calendar, with players following their passion for racing after calling time on their careers into racehorse ownership.

The links typically mean that familiar names can frequently be found on race cards when hunting the latest betting options at sites like TwinSpires.com. But, who are some of the eye-catching football stars that are obsessed with horse racing?

Michael Owen

It is fair to say that Michael Owen is likely more passionate about horse racing nowadays than he ever was about his football, especially after showing his commitment to equines in the Amazon Prime series ‘Meet The Owens’. Owen has evolved into a modern racing mogul since retiring from football, founding Manor House Stables.

This facility is home to more than 100 horses, and has churned out winners at major tracks such as Chester and Haydock. However, Owen’s most successful thoroughbred remains home-bred 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-time Group One winner Rock Of Gibraltar made headlines in the early 2000s, and it almost ended his Manchester United tenure early.

Since then, the legendary manager has continued to achieve success on track, notably during the National Hunt season. Ferguson’s most famous horses are multiple-time Grade One winner Clan Des Obeaux and Cheltenham Festival winner Protektorat.

Antoine Griezmann

There are few more famous current stars that have a burning passion for horse racing than Antoine Griezmann. The Frenchman was part of the 2018 World Cup winning team for France, and is one of the most celebrated players in the history of Atletico 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 invested more rapidly in a stable of stars, with many even achieving place finishes in European stakes races. His 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 part of success throughout his club and international careers, 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 SR4 Stud Farm in Andalusia. This indicates his passion for breeding elite horses of the Andalusian/Purse Raza Espanola breeds, and his passion for progeny of equines matches those 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 he 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 a number of racehorses. Among those is the aptly named ‘Thebeautifulgame’, who he co-owns alongside former teammates Alvaro Odriozola and Claudio Pizarro.

Phil Foden

It has been a turbulent time in the career of Phil Foden, with the attacking midfielder missing out on a place in England’s 2026 World Cup squad and failing to nail down a starting position in Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City side this season. However, the 26-year-old remains one of the brightest English talents, having won the Premier League Player of the Season Award in 2024.

Away from the pitch, Foden has also achieved success as a racehorse owner. His most notable winner to date came 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 the strategic approach of Tony Bloom ensuring that the club have been able to stay competitive despite losing major first-team stars. A togetherness within the camp also ensures that they are able to compete against the best teams in England, highlighted by achieving a European finish in 2025-26.

That team morale has also stemmed into racehorse ownership, with players such as 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. Their most notable runner has come in the form of Seagulls Eleven, who is a three-time winner in stakes company, which includes a standout victory in the G3 Diomed Stakes earlier this season.

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