The Cheltenham Festival is not only a highlight of the horse racing calendar but also a magnet for celebrity horse owners. Every year, famous faces from sports, entertainment, and royalty flock to Prestbury Park, not just as spectators but as proud owners and backers of competing horses.
Among the most notable is former football star Michael Owen, who founded the Michael Owen Racing Club in 2007. Based in Cheshire, the club manages a stable of racehorses, reflecting Owen’s deep passion for the sport beyond his stellar football career.
This March 10-13, several high-profile owners will have their horses competing on the grand stage. Harry Redknapp, renowned football manager of clubs like Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United, is optimistic about his horse The Jukebox Man’s chances in the prestigious Gold Cup on March 13. The Jukebox Man, an eight-year-old Bay Gelding, recently clinched a thrilling victory at the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day 2025. Redknapp describes running in the Gold Cup as a dream and believes his horse has a genuine shot at success.
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Another football legend turned racehorse owner, Sir Alex Ferguson, former Manchester United manager, commands a stable with over 30 horses. Although his main contender, Live Conti, had to withdraw due to injury, his other horses Caldwell Potter and Protektorat remain strong competitors in the Novices’ Handicap Chase and Ryanair Chase.
In the world of entertainment and motorsport, former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell and her husband Christian Horner, a notable figure in Formula 1, own Lift Me Up. This ten-year-old Bay Gelding will run in the St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase on March 13, marking its second consecutive year in this race.
For those hesitant to take on full ownership, horse syndicates offer a practical alternative. Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, Europe’s most successful syndicate founded in 1992, has produced seven champions. Celebrities such as actress Liz Hurley, who sold her horse Memory to Queen Elizabeth II, actor Hugh Bonneville, and chef Heston Blumenthal have all been involved with Highclere, enjoying the thrill of ownership without solo responsibility.
As the Cheltenham Festival unfolds, the presence of these celebrity owners adds an extra layer of excitement to the competition, showcasing their passion and commitment to the sport of horse racing.