Celebrities That Like Betting On Horses

If you have watched the Kentucky Derby or the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on television then you know that many celebrities like horse racing. These events are filled with famous faces. At the Kentucky Derby there is even an area called Millionaire’s Row where the rich and famous gather together to celebrate with a few drinks and wager. Here are a few celebrities that have been known to bet on horses.

Gene Simmons

The famous bassist for KISS was profiled here during KISS’s End of the Road era. That is historical context rather than a current age or tour announcement. Simmons also starred in Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels, a reality show based on his family life. In one episode Gene and his wife Shannon attend the Kentucky Derby where Shannon and her sister make a large bet and lose.

Simmons enters the scene to save the day and reveals that he has bet on ALL the horses in the race. Any reader of EZ Horse Betting will know that this is a failed strategy for betting, but the episode made for good entertainment. It was especially funny when the son of horse trainer Dale Romans tricked Simmons into handling a horse’s poop.

Wes Welker

The former Denver Broncos and New England Patriots receiver attended the 2014 Kentucky Derby and became part of a widely reported payout story. Reports about his conduct should not be used to infer intoxication, drug use or the cause of his behavior at that event.

WDRB’s contemporary report attributed an overpayment to someone in Welker’s group, rather than establishing that Welker personally received an incorrect payout. Keep the person redeeming a ticket, the account of the payment error and a celebrity’s presence separate. A public celebration does not reveal the group’s complete betting ledger.

The useful wagering lesson is to reconcile the ticket cost, official dividend and amount received. A large payout does not by itself establish a profitable day, especially when several tickets or group members are involved. Nor does handing out cash establish a repeatable strategy. Treat an entertainment story as an account of that occasion, not a verified long-term return.

Bo Derek

The famous beauty from the movie 10 has a love for horses that goes way back. She is a frequent face at big horse racing events, and Bo Derek has even been known to share her own betting strategies. Derek says that she favors betting for horses who are owned, trained, or ridden by people she knows. This may not be a betting strategy that EZ Horse Betting would recommend, but at least she is loyal to her friends.

Derek was a big supporter of Arrogate, a horse that garnered much attention in 2016. The horse was named the World’s Best Racehorse in 2016, but supporting a champion does not establish the profitability of a betting method. An individual wager still needs a price and stake record.

Bobby Flay

The celebrity chef is more than just a horse racing fan and bettor. He also owns race horses. Flay likes to show up at big events like the Kentucky Derby even if none of his own horses are competing in the race.  Flay is a big advocate of betting a combination Win/Place/Show ticket. He says that this gives him the best chance to win.

A single $2 wager can express a racing opinion where that base is offered, but it differs from $2 across the board: $2 each to win, place and show costs $6. The amount and available wager depend on the host track and account. Covering three finish conditions creates three stakes; it does not guarantee a profit when only one or two components pay.

Carson Kressley

This breakout star of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy might not be someone that you would expect to bet on horses. Kressley loves it, in fact, but his betting methods are suspect. He admits that in the beginning he was prone to bet on a horse because he liked its name of the color of the jockey’s silks. When this failed he started betting on horses based on their appearance.

Kressley says that today he is more likely to use the Daily Racing Form when he is making a bet. He has learned that studying the past performances is the way to pick winners, although he admits that sometimes he simply takes the suggestions of the handicappers in the racing program.

Vince McMahon

The wrestling executive’s historical appearances at racing events form the context for this profile; they should not be treated as a current company-ownership statement. He has been spotted with wife Linda at the Kentucky Derby, and has also been friends with the owners of horses that have competed in the race. The jury is out on whether McMahon is a successful horse bettor, but one thing is certain. attendance does not establish his stake size, selections or returns. Those would require a direct dated account rather than inference from his wealth or public persona.

We think it would be funny if McMahon brought some professional wrestling tactics to horse racing. Perhaps the jockeys could trash talk one another before the races. It isn’t out of the question. Jerry “The King” Lawler once wrestled a TVG announcer in Texas as part of the pre-race entertainment.

Why Horse Racing Attracts Celebrity Bettors

The appeal of horse racing to celebrities and high-profile public figures goes beyond simple entertainment — it reflects the sport’s unique combination of glamour, social prestige, intellectual challenge, and genuine competitive excitement that few other betting activities can match. Unlike casino gambling, which is primarily solitary and luck-based, horse racing provides a social context — the shared experience of the paddock, the parade ring, the excitement of the race — that makes it a natural fit for people who enjoy public settings and the theatre of spectacle.

The handicapping dimension also appeals to analytically minded celebrities who enjoy applying their intellectual skills to a complex problem. Successful people in business, entertainment, and sport may enjoy the analytical challenge, but success in another profession does not establish racing expertise or a betting edge. The satisfaction of making a well-reasoned selection and watching it confirmed on the track is appealing regardless of fame or wealth. For many celebrity bettors, the financial stakes are genuinely secondary to the intellectual and social pleasure of engagement with the sport. This is reflected in how many celebrity racing enthusiasts transition from casual attendees to serious owners — a progression that reflects deepening engagement with the sport’s competitive and intellectual dimensions rather than simply larger financial exposure. For more on the ownership experience, our article on owning a racehorse with a horseracing partnership covers how to get involved. And our guide to investing tips from horse racing bettors explores the financial mindset successful bettors develop.

Other Celebrities That Have Bet On Horses

The word around horse racing is that there are many other celebrities who like to bet horse racing. These include:

• Madonna
• Lady Gaga
• Brad Pitt
• Nicole Kidman

Private wagering habits cannot be inferred from a lack of publicity. An online account is not anonymous: operators retain account and transaction information. Avoid turning a public appearance or rumor into a statement about someone’s private betting. You can do the same thing when you sign up with one of our recommended online racebooks today. Check our Bovada racebook review, Twinspires review or even our Betamerica review. The racebook comparison covers different products; confirm local authorization and eligibility rather than assuming access everywhere.