The sports of horse racing and football are tightly woven, with many stars from the Premier League typically being in attendance for major events on the equine calendar.

British racing is incredibly popular across the world, with TwinSpires.com offering competitive odds for major events such as Royal Ascot and the Cheltenham Festival.

But, which Premier League legends have a well-known love affair with all things horse racing?

Sir Alex Ferguson

It would be hard to start anywhere else other than the Premier League’s most successful manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. The Manchester United legend won 38 trophies during his tenure at Old Trafford, which included a record-13 Premier League honours.

However, since retiring in 2013, Ferguson has continued to dominate, this time on track. The managing legend would achieve a first Graded Cheltenham Festival winner in 2024, as Protekrorat won the Ryanair Chase. Further success would come in 2025 as the improving Caldwell Potter landed the spoils in the Jack Richards’ Novices Handicap Chase.

Ferguson has also achieved success on the flat, as home-bred Spirit Dancer won back-to-back editions of the Bahrain International Trophy.

Harry Redknapp

There are few more popular Premier League figures than coaching legend Harry Redknapp. He achieved success across a number of different clubs between 1983 and 2017, notably landing the FA Cup with Portsmouth in 2008, becoming the most recent English manager to win the nation’s oldest domestic cup competition.

Redknapp would also achieve success at Tottenham during his career in the dugout, leading the North London club into the Champions League for the first time in 2009-10. Rumours have linked Redknapp back into management with Spurs, with the 78-year-old has constantly remarked that he would rather be at the racecourse than in the dugout nowadays.

This year could be a memorable one for the legendary manager, as he goes into the Cheltenham Festival with a realistic chance of a winner. The Jukebox Man was an excellent winner of the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, and is among the favourites for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

Micky Quinn

Micky Quinn was one of the standout strikers in English football throughout his professional career, achieving success across stints with Portsmouth and Newcastle United.

His scoring record would continue in the Premier League after signing for Coventry City, scoring 17 goals in his first six months at Highfield Road. In fact, he is one of just seven players to have netted in the opening four games of a new season. However, after retiring from the sport in 1996, Quinn embarked on a new career in training racehorses. He achieved notable success, recording 37 winners between 1998 and 2001.

However, his career in the sport has been controversial. In 2001, he was banned for three years by the Jockey Club. Despite that, the former Premier League star still has a respected stable, and he is a regular guest on TalkSPORT to talk about the latest racing news.

Michael Owen

There were few more exciting strikers in the early years of the Premier League than Michael Owen. The forward burst onto the scene at the 1998 World Cup, scoring a dazzling solo goal against Argentina.

Domestically, the star would achieve stunning scoring feats with Liverpool, netting at least 15 goals in seven seasons between 1997-98 and 2003-04. After a failing stay at Real Madrid, Owen returned to the Premier League with Newcastle, before a shock move to Manchester United in 2009-10 saw him win a first top-flight crown in England. Owen’s passion for horse racing has been evident throughout his career, establishing Manor House Stables in Cheshire.

His most notable runner came in the form of Brown Panther. The equine landed the prestigious King George V Stakes at Ascot in 2011, before winning the lucrative Dubai Gold Cup in 2015. Overall, the runner trainer by Tom Dascombe would win over £1 million in prize money during his career.

Ian Wright

There are few more beloved footballing stars in the world than Ian Wright, with the Arsenal legend being a big advocate for equal rights opportunities. The 62-year-old was a legend on the field throughout his career, setting the all-time record for goals during his time with the Gunners.

Wright would achieve further success later in his career during spells with West Ham, Celtic, and Burnley. Wright is an avid racing fan, and has worked closely with the BHA on campaigns, including one alongside Arsenal fan and legendary jockey AP McCoy. He would also try his hand at racehorse ownership, owning the suitably named Born To Finish.

However, Wright would achieve limited success with the runner, as he would win just ten times across a 71-race career. But, Wright’s passion for racing remains, and he is a regular visitor to big events on the calendar such as Royal Ascot and the Grand National.