The Cheltenham Festival is upon us and while the racing is the main event, you may spot a few other famous sporting faces in the crowd this week.
From UFC’s Conor McGregor to boxing’s Dave Allen, sports stars can’t get enough of racing, and there are plenty of professional footballers who’ve tried their hands in this sport.
We’re going to take a look at 18 footballing figures who have been involved in horse racing.
Michael Owen
Perhaps the most famous modern footballer to be involved in racing is Michael Owen.
The former Liverpool and England striker is the founder of the Manor House Stables which accommodates over 90 horses, many of which are owned by Owen himself.
Owen has had plenty of success in the world of racing, perhaps most notably with Brown Panther winning the Irish St Ledger in 2014.
Sir Alex Ferguson
It’s no secret that Sir Alex Ferguson loves his horses, and he’s been a successful owner himself over the years.
The Scot has owned many winning horses, but two of his most successful were Clan Des Obeaux a two-time King George winner and the infamous Rock of Gibraltar the 2000 Guineas winner.
Ferguson has a chance of winning a Gold Cup this year with Protektorat who will be looking to triumph in the biggest race of the week.
Charlie Austin
Charlie Austin is one of the most knowledgeable footballers around when it comes to horse racing.
The QPR striker actually hosted the Studs Up Podcast with Oli Bell where he would have a number of informed discussions about racing with numerous guests.
Austin himself is the co-founder of Excel Racing and owns a number of horses himself.
Mick Channon
Mick Channon is undoubtedly the most successful cross-sport figure when it comes to football and racing.
Over 700 league appearances and 46 England caps makes him an incredibly decorated and accomplished footballer, but his achievements on the racecourse are equally as impressive.
Channon has trained numerous classic winners, while he’s trained over 100 winners in a season on eight separate occasions.
Micky Quinn
Former Newcastle United striker Micky Quinn also had a career as a rather successful horse racing trainer.
Sadly, the ex-Coventry forward had to end his 25-year training career earlier this year due to financial problems.
Joey Barton and Claudio Pizarro
Now this is a strange pairing.
Former Bayern Munich striker Claudio Pizarro actually co-owned a horse named Crying Lightning with former QPR midfielder Joey Barton despite the fact the pair have never played together.
We’re not sure where they met, but they seemingly got on well enough to go into this venture together.
Alvaro Odriozola and Thomas Muller
Another pair linked with Pizarro, Thomas Muller and Alvaro Odriozola got involved with Pizarro’s venture after meeting at Bayern Munich.
“We’ve got a filly with Tom Clover called Thebeautifulgame,” Pizarro said. “That’s with Alvaro, Thomas Muller and another friend from Bayern.
“She’s raced four times, won once and been second, it’s been all right, she’s a good filly. Mrs Muller likes dressage and Thomas is more into horseracing – not really ‘into’, but it’s coming. Maybe he’ll be here next year at Ascot, we’ll see. I’ll bring him!”
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney may have won almost all there is to win in football, but he’s not the most successful person on this list when it comes to horse racing.
Rooney, along with his wife, invested £200,000 in two horses named Pippy and Switcherooney, but they only won one race between them.
Rooney may have more England goals to his name than Michael Owen, but the ex-Liverpool ace is certainly the more successful of the pair in the equine world.
Chris Wood, Jack Cork, Matt Lowton, Ben Mee, Charlie Taylor, Ashley Westwood and James Tarkowski
Chris Wood and Jack Cork, alongside Cork’s wife are partners in the More Turf Racing syndicate, a syndicate that lists none other than Michael Owen amongst its trainers.
Other Burnley players are also involved in this venture such as Matt Lowton, Ben Mee, Charlie Taylor, Ashley Westwood and James Tarkowski, but it’s headed up by Cork and Wood.
We have to wonder whether the More Turf name will be changed in light of Wood’s recent move to Newcastle.
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