Nobody in the modern era has had quite the impact on football that Sir Alex Ferguson has had. Countless club titles with Manchester United and personal accolades for his contribution to the game have cemented his legacy in British sport.
But did you know how involved the great Scotsman is with horse racing? Sir Alex owns more than 30 horses, many frequently competing at the very highest level. talkSPORT BET introduces you to the Sir Alex Ferguson horses that compete regularly and to see for yourself if you recognise any names.
Sir Alex Ferguson Horses: The Biggest Names
The Sir Alex Ferguson horses portfolio is extensive, at least for somebody who has been mostly involved with another sport their entire adult life. Read about some of Sir Alex’s horses to whet the appetite for any upcoming race meetings.
Rock of Gibraltar
Undoubtedly, the crown jewel in the Sir Alex Ferguson horses list is Rock of Gibraltar, a true champion in every sense. Sadly, the stallion passed away in 2022 but left a legacy of seven major wins behind, including the 2,000 Guineas and Irish 2,000 Guineas. The Irish-bred horse was dominant for years, accumulating over £1,100,000 in earnings.
However, Sir Alex’s ownership of Rock of Gibraltar wasn’t entirely without controversy. At the end of the horse’s career, there was a dispute about the ownership details between Ferguson and John Magnier, which took a financial settlement out of court to resolve. According to sources close to the club, this tumultuous event supposedly caused lasting reverberations at Manchester United.
However, Aidan O’Brien trained the horse as well as he’s done with so many others over the years to reap success for Ferguson, even with the legal issues boiling over eventually. While it’s a shame that problems away from the racecourse were the main focus of discussions so frequently, it shouldn’t detract from what a fantastic performer Rock of Gibraltar was.
Protektorat
A name that hasn’t received as many column inches as Rock of Gibraltar but has undoubtedly been a worthy runner for several years. Collecting five wins in jump races, Protektorat has performed steadily when riding with Harry Skelton, picking up that first significant win in 2020.
Since stepping out of management around a decade ago, Ferguson understandably has a lot more time to focus on other aspects of his life, and his horse racing passion continues to the current day, with Protektorat competing in 2024.
The Bay Gelding finished second at Lingfield Park in January, so the French-bred horse could be one to watch if you’re looking to place a wager this race season.
In 2021, Ferguson’s horses triumphed in three Grade 1 races at Aintree in one day, a remarkable achievement for any owner. Protektorat was one of these horses that made history for Sir Alex. Watch out for Protektorat at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Clan Des Obeaux
Another horse bred in France that Sir Alex Ferguson acquired, Clan Des Obeaux, has surpassed the £1 million mark in winnings, thanks to five major wins on the racing circuit. The horse has been retired and has not raced since April 2022 due to injury, but had been performing well up until the very end.
Ten wins in 30 different lifetime jump races is the proof in the pudding, exemplifying an excellent career and making Ferguson’s interest in the horse from the beginning worthwhile. Harry Cobden was the jockey for a large portion of Clan Des Obeaux’s career, as well as Sam Twisten-Davies, who won a fair share of events as well. With Paul Nicholls as trainer,
Such a prestigious event as the King George VI Chase holds such resonance among race fans, and Sir Alex will no doubt be grateful his trusted Clan Des Obeaux managed to win the event twice at Kempton.
Queensland Star
This is where it all began in horse racing for Sir Alex Ferguson. It was love at first sight for the Scotsman as he witnessed his new acquisition stomp home to a victory at Newmarket in 1998 before winning at Chester, a racecourse close to where he operated in football. Since then, Sir Alex has had a true passion for horse racing that has endured.
Who could have known what was in store for Sir Alex when he bought Queensland Star for £17,000 for trainer Jack Berry? Had his new runner not won so well during the early days, would Ferguson have become so attached to horse racing as he is now? Possibly, but such a positive start no doubt built solid foundations.
What Does the Future Hold for Sir Alex Ferguson and Horse Racing?
The former Aberdeen and Manchester United manager is showing no signs of slowing up when it comes to his contribution to the horse racing world. His horse Spirit Dancer scooped the $1 million prize by winning the Bahrain International Trophy in November.
What’s more, Sir Alex and some of his associates have purchased Caldwell Potter, as he and his team have a keen eye on the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. This has been recorded as the most amount of money ever paid for a National Hunt horse. Alongside Caldwell Potter, you could see Hitman, Protektorat, and Hermes Allen feature in the Gold Cup.
To show the world that he will continue to invest his time and money into horse racing, Sir Alex has set up a stud in Hemel Hempstead. It’s a savvy move from Sir Alex, who’ll be acutely aware that there is an even greater sum of money to be made from breeding than race winnings alone.
It looks like Sir Alex Ferguson horses have a few more chapters of this racing story to write yet.
You can explore the latest horse racing odds to see if any of his horses are running. Make sure that your gambling experience is a safe and enjoyable one by reading through our Safer Gambling Portal.
