OFF THE RECORD #79

The glitter and the gallop
Celebrities and racehorses make the perfect partnership

There’s something magical about the world of horseracing that has always drawn a certain kind of person, especially those who love speed, style, and a bit of drama. Now and then, celebrities get hooked too — buying horses, placing bets, soaking up the thrill of the track, and sharing their experiences on social media.

The presence of celebrities in racing can attract new fans and opens doors to broader audiences, especially younger ones. Just as importantly, their investment and passion can inspire others to follow suit, injecting much-needed new blood.

Let’s take a look at some of the famous names across the globe who have found a special place in their hearts for horse racing, and why greater celebrity involvement should be encouraged in South Africa.

The British Royal Family and Arabian sheikhs have long had deep-rooted ties to horse racing, but it’s the movie stars, television personalities, and sporting greats who wield real influence in capturing the public’s imagination.

Above: Bobbie and Sophie Flay at the races (pic: Sophie Flay on Instagram)

Perhaps the most prominent celebrity racehorse owner of recent times is US TV chef Bobbie Flay, who grew up attending Saratoga and Belmont race meetings and started buying racehorses in the early 2000s. His first horse was Sophie’s Salad, named after his daughter. She was a good looker and while she never won a race, earned black-type status finishing third in a stakes contest.

Flay’s first big winner was More Than Real, who took the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, followed by 2016 Belmont Stakes champion, Creator, in which he was a minority partner. A keen pedigree student, he bred Pizza Bianca, another Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner in 2021.Flay also last year bought a share in the Aga Khan’s Dubawi stallion, Zarak.

An industry leader, Flay serves on the board of the New York Racing Association and earned an award for Thoroughbred retirement advocacy. He hosts fundraising events and supports non-profit organisations including the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.

Steven Spielberg, the Oscar-winning movie director of blockbusters such as E.T, Indiana Jones and Schindler’s List, co-owned Atswhatimtalkingabout, who ran fourth in the 2003 Kentucky Derby. He is also a shareholder in Biscuit Stables, Delaware.

Another film-maker, South African-born Gary Barber, former chairman and CEO of the MGM Group and co-founder of Spyglass Media, was responsible for dozens of top box office titles including Seabiscuit, Ace Ventura and Robocop. He owned 2014 Canadian Horse Of The Year Lexie Lou and 2019 Preakness Stakes winner, War Of Will. He has also raced many runners in South Africa and Australia with Larry Nestadt, including Grade 1 stars Carnadore, Irish Flame and Russian Sage. Their partnership still races locally and in Australia. Barber and Team Valor had a runner at Royal Ascot earlier this week.

Above: Elizabeth Banks at the Breeders' Cup (pic: Elizabeth Banks on Instagram)

Actress Elizabeth Banks, who starred in Seabiscuit, is a former Breeders Cup Ambassador. She has been a racetrack regular since the age of 10 and she said about big racing events: “I love the pageantry, the traditions, the clothes. It’s a magical place.”

Other prominent US celebrities who enjoy the sport and have raced in their own and partnership capacities include actors Jack Nicholson and Kevin Costner, musician MC Hammer and Olympic Gold Medalist, Bode Miller. Madonna, the Material Girl herself, has owned several racehorses and is known to make appearances at racing events to support them​.

In the UK, Manchester United’s celebrated manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, is a lifelong racing fan. He started buying thoroughbreds at the height of his career and struck gold early as a member of the partnership who owned seven-time Group 1 winner, Rock Of Gibraltar. More recently, he enjoyed big wins with Clan Des Obeaux, a dual winner of the King George VI Chase, and Protektorat, who placed in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Sir Alex’s involvement in both flat and jumps racing has made him one of the most visible celebrity owners in the UK. Another regular racegoer is former Tottenham Hotspur manager, Harry Redknapp.

Above: Michael Owen at Manor House Stables (pic: www.manorhousestables.com) 

Not far behind the Manchester United legend in popularity is former England striker Michael Owen, who made a transition from scoring goals to breeding and racing thoroughbreds. In 2006, he founded Manor House Stables, a state-of-the-art training facility that has been home to several top-class horses, initially under trainer Tom Dascombe, and more recently with Hugo Palmer. With between 50-70 horses currently in training, Owen has also launched the Michael Owen Racing Club, offering fractional ownership to members at under £100 a month.

Owen likes to give his horses names that mean something to him personally. He also wants them to be catchy—like Brown Panther, named after his childhood teddy bear. Brown Panther won the 2015 Dubai Gold Cup. In a 2024 interview, Owen said that public interest in his racing club has never been higher. “It’s really positive. I am ballsy,” he noted.

Among the ladies, actress Elizabeth Hurley is often spotted at Royal Ascot, not just for the races but for the fashion. She is a racing regular and was invited and flown to the Melbourne Cup last year by the Victoria Racing Club. The Oscars regular, Dame Judi Dench, is a long-time racehorse owner, and once won the prestigious Lincoln Stakes with Smokey Oakey. She told the Racing Post, “I absolutely love to have a bet – I love the element of risk!”

Here in South Africa, racing has incredible stories to tell and a passionate community, but it could do with a few more familiar faces in the grandstands and private suites.

South Africa has had its share of media personalities and sporting greats involved in racing and ownership — Gary Player, to start, but also names like SuperSport’s long-time anchorman Neil Andrews, former England cricketer Craig Kieswetter, now of Ridgemont Stud and Chad le Clos. While celebrities with racing interests do make appearances at major race days, we’ve yet to attract true A-list stars into the sales rings—and more importantly, to ignite in them a lasting passion for the thoroughbred.

Martin Bailie, the former top radio and TV personality who called himself, ‘The Little Irish Devil’, bought several horses and named his best filly, ‘Little Irish Luck’. Trained by Spike Lerena, she became quite the crowd-puller and won five races, including a stakes feature in 1990. Bailie, incidentally, returned to England in the early 2000s and still has a radio show in his home base of Cornwall.

Around the same era, Springbok rugby captain Francois Pienaar and coach Kitch Christie ventured into ownership with a filly named Amabokoboko. She started her career with Tony Millard but turned out to be one of the then-champion trainer’s lesser lights. Still, as the saying goes, once you hook one big fish, others are likely to follow.

Millard recalled: “Amabokoboko was owned in partnership with Mick Goss, Barry Walters, and Bruce Gardner. Francois was keen. He phoned often to check on her progress, but I couldn’t give him good news. She was really slow. Jockey Jeff Lloyd and I did what we could. We had her fit and well for her debut at Turffontein in November 1995.

“Francois and Kitch were excited. Francois called to say he wanted to bring some guests, and that Nelson Mandela was keen to attend the meeting! I said, ‘Hokaai, Francois. Don’t bring Madiba just yet. Let’s give her a few more runs first!’ Francois, Kitch, and a few others — I think Ruben Kruger was among them — came along anyway.

“When Kitch saw Jeff Lloyd, he joked, ‘As ek hierdie klein oukie in die skrum sit, sal hy breek!’ (If I put this little guy in the scrum, he’ll break!) I translated for Jeff, who wasn’t too fluent in Afrikaans. We all had a laugh, it was a jolly atmosphere. But Amabokoboko didn’t pick up on our good spirits. She ran 12th of 15.”

After a few more modest efforts, Millard recommended sending Amabokoboko to Alan Greeff at Fairview, where she placed five times and finally won a race in February 1997. “Francois and Kitch kept their shares throughout,” said Bruce Gardner, who still has a photo of that lone victory on his wall.

Above: Odwa Ndungane with Isivunguvungu. Peter Muscutt is on the left, Graham Motion, right. (pic: Hollywoodbets)

It has always appeared that celebrities are quite open and willing to visit the racetrack, at the very least. There are some who price themselves out of any negotiations or involvement, or align themselves with other brands. Hollywoodbets have done well recently, signing some of their brand ambassadors into Hollywood Racing Syndicates. They include TV host Carol Tshabalala, cricketer Vernon Philander, soccer aces Brian Baloyi, Teko Modise and Jerry Sikhosana, sports presenter Robert Morawa and Springbok rugby winger, Odwa Ndungane. Odwa got lucky early with a share in international sprinter, Isivunguvungu, and he loves the game. Most Hollywood Ambassadors will be attending the Durban July. They exclude another rugby legend Eben Etsebeth, who has commitments to the Springbok team that weekend, but was recently seen at the Race Coast launch and looks like someone who will enjoy having runners.

Above: DJ Jazzy D with jockey Sereno Moodley (pic: Candiese Lenferna) 

DJ Jazzy D, popularly known as 'The Groovemaster,' is a music celebrity most prominent in the Gauteng region. He had horse fanatics around him in his childhood and attended race meetings from an early age. DJ Jazzy D races in various partnerships and has had winners with a number of trainers. His current runners include Prime Example, Damostar and My Lady Soul. His colt Holy Star looks set to win soon, following a close second at HWB Scottsville last week.

Natalie Turner, CEO of the Racehorse Owners Association, said that the ROA was keen on getting more celebrities and high-profile individuals not only to the races, but into ownership. She said: “Celebrities create exposure to the racing from sectors that may not previously have had access. They also nurture great relationships across other sports. This is something we should tap into. It is a particularly important part of our new PR and marketing plan.” 

With the right visibility, racing might just become the next playground for South Africa’s most recognisable faces. And that can only be good for the sport.