Horse racing has the natural ability to translate into every mainstream aspect, and that is visible by the stars from soccer, music, and acting that are typically seen at the track for some of the biggest meetings across the globe.
Meanwhile, there is also a close correlation between the NBA and horse racing, with many stars that are typically seen dunking and scoring three-flows visible on the racetrack.
A number of NBA stars have reinvested their wealth in the equine sport, some of them by investing in today’s best horse race bets by TwinSpires, while others just have a passion for horses and own them. But, which NBA stars have spoken about their love of horse racing?
Nikola Jokic
There are few better places to start other than the NBA star that has been dominating the competition for years. Nikola Jokic has made no secret about his love for horse racing, and often spends free time in between practise to catch up on the latest action on track.
His love for the sport has also seen him go into racehorse ownership, with Jokic’s runners competing in harness racing in his home country of Serbia. The NBA star spends his time away from the court at the stables, as he sees equines as a calming presence that helps him unwind after stressful days on the court.
The tactic seems to be working, as Jokic is one of the best NBA stars in the league. He is a six-time All-Star, and has picked up the MVP Award on three occasions. Jokic also led the Denver Nuggets to their first NBA Championship in 2022-23, winning the NBA Finals MVP in the process.
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all-time, but after retiring from the sport, MJ began investing his wealth into a number of sectors.
Among those included a successful venture into racehorse ownership. He is also a passionate fan of the sport aside from ownership, as he was pictured in attendance for both the 132nd and 133rd editions of the Kentucky Derby. Jordan’s successful ventures in business have also seen him become a part-owner of the Charlotte Hornets and the co-owner of 23XI Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series schedule.
Jordan was also the inspiration behind the trail-blazing Knicks Go, who would win ten from 25 career starts, including a dominant win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2021.
Tony Parker
There have been few more successful international recruits throughout NBA history than Tony Parker. The point guard made his breakthrough in the NBA after being drafted in the first round by the San Antonio Spurs.
Parker would spend 17 seasons with the Spurs, winning four NBA Championships. He retired from the sport as the ninth leading scorer in NBA history, and also the fifth-leading passer in playoff history. It was during his retirement that he would actively get involved in life within horse racing, founding the group Infinity Nine Horses.
His will to win has continued in his post-retirement career in horse racing, and he has enjoyed some memorable days at the track. One of his most exciting horses in training is Christopher Head-trained Ramatuelle. The four-year-old filly has won four from nine career starts, and has recorded three wins in seven attempts in stakes company.
After finishing third in the G1 Coronation Stakes in June, she finally landed a big purse when scoring in the G1 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp over seven furlongs in October. Expectations will be high ahead of her five-year-old campaign in 2025.
Rex Chapman
There is little surprise that Rex Chapman was a massive horse racing fan growing up, as he was born and raised in Kentucky; the home of the opening leg of the Triple Crown. Chapman made his breakthrough in the NBA after being selected in the first round by the Charlotte Hornets.
He would later enjoy spells with the Washington Bullets, Miami Heat, and Phoenix Suns before returning from the sport in 2000. Chapman scored 9,731 points during his NBA career, and was named in the All-Rookie Second Team in 1989. The star was no stranger to racing throughout his career, and he invested in a number of high-quality horses during his time within the game. This ultimately led to Santa Anita naming a race in his honor in 2012.
However, Chapman’s love of the sport has changed throughout his life after attending Gamblers Anonymous after betting on racing daily from a young age to overcome his drug addiction issues. Still, Chapman respects horse racing and everything it stands for, and is regularly seen at the Kentucky Derby due to it being his home town track. However, his days of betting on the sport are a thing of the past after recurring issues in his personal life.