So, what do baseball and horse racing have in common? Not much to be honest, maybe just the surface of both sports. However, we are seeing many baseball players, jump into horse racing, and in most cases, after their retirement. But that cannot happen quickly. It's not like they are retired, want something new to do, and go towards horse racing. Instead, we are talking about a passion that has been there for years. Baseball is a demanding sport and in order to stay in top condition you need dedication. This means that not many active baseball players have enough time to invest in horse racing.
However, there is nothing stopping them from enjoying some action and watching some of the biggest horse races in the world. To be honest, I was quite surprised by the number of baseball players that transitioned to horse racing. Why? Well, these two sports might feel like two distant worlds apart, but somehow, they connect. Even some professional baseball players went on to build their own private stables, and even breed horses to win major events. Yes, it sounds quite exciting.
The first spot is reserved for Victor Martinez, a pro baseball player, and a former Detroit Tigers All-Star, who successfully managed into horse racing after retiring in 2018. Why him first? Well, this is without a doubt one of the most successful retired baseball players in the horse racing industry.
For those that don't know, horse racing is a really tough sport. The competition is fierce and the chances of getting early success are very slim. But that wasn't the case with Victor Martinez, who became a champion racehorse owner just a few years after he got into horse racing.
His most successful horse is King Guillermo, who stunned the world by winning the Tampa Bay Derby at massive 49-to-1 odds. This got him the sport in the prestigious Kentucky Derby, although he didn't get much success there.
This is one of the biggest shifts in sports we've ever seen, and Victor Martinez is here to prove that with passion and dedication, you can conquer anything you want in life. Now he owns a quite successful ranch called Victoria's Ranch, with $350,000 in earnings last year and lifetime earnings of $1.5 million.
Next up is a Hall of Famer who had incredible success with the New York Yankees, but even in his prime baseball years, he had horse racing close to his heart. We are talking about Joe Torre, the legend who turned from MLB to horse racing casually and got some success.
He entered the world of horse racing quite a while ago, and at the moment he co-owns several horses.
But how did it all start? What encouraged him to transition to horse racing?
Well, it all started when he was managing the Yankees against the Orioles in Baltimore in 1996 (the first year they won the World Series). He was approached by Zim (the bench coach) and he was asked whether he would want to go over to Pimlico. He said no, but gave Zim some money which he later doubled.
Torre always joked that he would never be able to retire just because Zim got him into horse racing. A single horse racing bet changed his entire life. If you also love horse racing betting, you should check out the horse racing handicapper tournaments on the link below: twinspires.com/tournaments/
Since then, he got deep into the sport and won some major races. He co-owns most of his horses with his friend Bernie Schiappa, and their biggest win was Game On Dude claiming a $1.5 million prize purse by winning the Charles Town Classic.
Another MLB star deeply involved in horse racing is Paul Lo Duca. As a catcher, Lo Duca spent 11 seasons in the league, but his second love was always the racetrack.
Lo Duca even pursued a career in horse racing broadcasting after retiring from baseball, working for networks like TVG, where he could combine his knowledge of the sport with his love for it. Lo Duca's life revolves around both baseball and horse racing, proving you can indeed juggle two loves-one in front of thousands of fans and the other at the race track.
Johnny Damon is another former baseball player who has embraced horse racing. Known for his time with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, Damon's post-baseball career has also seen him invest in the equine world. Damon has been spotted at major horse racing events, often seen placing bets or participating in horse ownership syndicates.
While his investment is more for fun compared to others, his passion for the sport is evident every time he's around the track.
What is it about horse racing that attracts these top athletes? For one, baseball players are naturally competitive, and horse racing offers another avenue to channel that competitive spirit. Whether it's the thrill of owning a horse or simply betting on races, there's something exciting about the fast-paced, high-stakes world of the racetrack.