Recently retired NFL quarterback and Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson is set to make his official entry in Thoroughbred racing ownership Aug. 29 when 2-year-old colt Club Reign debuts in the first race at Saratoga Race Course.
Wilson spent 14 years in the NFL, winning Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014 with the Seattle Seahawks before also playing for the Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New York Giants. The 37-year-old retired following the 2025 season and is set to make his debut as a sportscaster with CBS Sports this upcoming season.
Moving from the field to the booth is not the only new thing Wilson will experience as his retirement begins as he is now finding a new passion in horses. For several years, Wilson and his Grammy Award-winning wife Ciara have attended the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., the hometown of his brother, Harry.
Harry Wilson is close friends with Thoroughbred trainer Whit Beckman's brother-in-law, Neil Patil. A former assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher and five-time Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown, Beckman went off on his own in 2021 and has started a horse in three consecutive editions of the Kentucky Derby (G1). He had his best finish yet this year when Ocelli finished third after taking the lead in deep stretch. That came a year after finishing second in the Derby's sister race, the Kentucky Oaks (G1), with Drexel Hill.
One of Beckman's main clients is Legion Bloodstock, comprised of Travis Durr, Kristian Villante, and Kyle Zorn. The bloodstock agents have picked out all three of Beckman's Derby starters and Drexel Hill for their clients—purchasing Ocelli for just $12,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearlings Sale.
The Legion team were introduced to Harry Wilson at the 2025 Derby, who mentioned Russell had been increasingly interested in getting involved in racing. When the two brothers saw Ocelli nearly win the Run for the Roses, Harry set up a call between Russell and Legion.
After the conversation, Wilson, under the name Three Brand Racing, bought the majority share in a 2-year-old Omaha Beach filly that Legion picked out for $200,000 out of the Scenic Sales consignment at the Ocala Breeders' Sales June 2-Year-Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age Sale. Wilson named the filly, who is co-owned by Nolan Stables, Rugged and Wise.
"We said we just bought this filly we love, and he wanted a lot of information on her," Zorn said. "Nolan Stables had a small percentage, and he bought out the rest of her."
Still, Derby dreams were to be had and Wilson said he still wanted a nice colt. Legion identified a promising 2-year-old in the Beckman stables named Club Reign, a son of Core Beliefs they purchased for $475,000 out of the OBS Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale this April. Zorn said the colt was highly regarded by consignor Julie Davies at the sale, and he has continued that reputation in his training.
Wilson bought a majority interest in the colt, who is co-owned by his breeder Walmac Farm and Ribble Farms, who co-owned Beckman's first Derby starter, Honor Marie.
Club Reign has been breezing in company for the last month with Pops Novo, a 2-year-old son of champion Corniche who Legion purchased for $1.35 million at the OBS March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.
"He's been one all summer at Saratoga that had been breezing with a lot of big horses," Zorn said of Club Reign. "(Club Reign and Pops Novo) have been probably the two leading colts, as of right now, in Whit's barn on dirt. We've got very high expectations for him."
Club Reign is one of six horses in the eight-horse field making his first career start in Saturday's opener and is listed as the longest shot at 12-1.
"It's Travers Day maidens, that's always the toughest day of maidens," Zorn said about competing on the undercard of the Travers Stakes (G1), the feature race of Saratoga's summer meet. "But we're expecting him to run pretty good."
A novice to Thoroughbred racing, Wilson has been actively participating in a group text chain and calls involving his horses.
"He is extremely excited," Zorn said. "Russell asks for updates about every day on both horses. This isn't something he's just throwing some money into, this is something he seems very passionate about and really wants to get involved."
Ciara has also been actively involved in these messaging chains. Many big-name athletes have been entering the sport in recent years, and Zorn sees Ciara's involvement as a music star as being able to bring additional draw to the sport.
"I think having female interest at that level—because we've seen the baseball and hockey players—this is the first time that I can remember a big pop star that's also intimately involved," Zorn said. "She's on these group texts and loving these updates and giving input. I think she's really going to get into it."
Legion has teamed up with several of the big sports names in recent years, like MLB All-Star Jayson Werth, Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski, and Olympic gold medalist Quincy Hall.
"It's a phenomenal opportunity for us," Zorn said. "I think people have seen over the last three years that we're getting into these big races—this weekend is a prime example with Ocelli (in Saturday's Travers Stakes). We know we're going in as a longshot, but we're still there to have fun. I think people see that, no matter what, just getting into these races is a huge opportunity and we're going to make the best of it."
Werth, who co-owned 2024 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Dornoch , has been outspoken about Thoroughbred ownership filling the need for competition for retired athletes. As Beckman has worked alongside Werth and these other athletes, he's recognized they tend to have a unique perspective on ownership given they know the ups and downs of being an athlete.
"He's a guy that knows what competition is and the finer points of what it is to be an athlete, to compete, and want to improve," Beckman said of Wilson. "We're happy to have another top-level sports star like him. It sounds like he's geared up to get involved, and we're thrilled we can be a part of it."
