Musicians Who Love Horse Racing and Equine Events
Horse racing is a sport that typically attracts the rich and famous, with entertainment and racing typically overlapping when some of the most famous events on the schedule are staged.
Sports stars and actors are typically seen at the track, but the excitement has also spread to musicians enjoying a day out at the track throughout history.
Stars of the music world have stepped foot into the world of racing in many capacities, with some even trying their hand at racehorse ownership. But, who are some of the most famous stars that have a passion for horse racing and are often seen in twinspires.com events?
Benny Andersson
Benny Andersson rose to fame as one-fourth of the legendary band ABBA, joining the group in 1972 before the big breakthrough arrived at the Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden.
Andersson would write some of the most revered pop songs during the 70s, helping ABBA become one of the best-selling artists in the world and selling over 380 million records worldwide.

His passion for horse racing has also made international headlines, including in July 2023 when his runner Ayani won the Swedish Derby. Andersson has also achieved success in Britain and Ireland, most notably with Lavender’s Blue, which was a winner of the G2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood in August 2021.
MC Hammer
MC Hammer was one of the pioneering musical artists in the 1980s. The American rose to prominence following the release of ‘U Can’t Touch This’ before achieving further success with later releases. The height of his career would see him become the first hip-hop artist to achieve diamond status with his album ‘Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em’.

However, his popularity would fade throughout the 1990s. But, his influence on the genre would be evident throughout future years, as he collaborated with artists such as Tupac Shakur, PSY, and Teddy Riley. Aside from music, MC Hammer was a massive horse racing fan, and he was typically found on track in his home state of California throughout the year.
During his popularity, the artist owned over 19 thoroughbred races, and even invested in a stable at his home called Oaktown Stable.
One of his most notable horses in training was Dance Floor, who won:
- The Breeders’ Futurity Stakes
- The Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in 1991
- A key Kentucky Derby prep race win in the Fountain of Youth Stakes
Jay-Z
Jay-Z is one of the most famous musicians in the world, with many regarding the 54-year-old American as the greatest rapper of all time. His big breakthrough came in 1994 following the release of ‘Reasonable Doubt’.
All eleven of his studio albums have debuted at the top of the Billboard 200, and he holds the record for most number-one albums in the United States. Jay-Z became the first hip-hop billionaire in 2019 and has achieved huge success away from music with business ventures such as Rocawear and the 40/40 Club.

Therefore, it is little surprise that the rapper has tested his luck in the world of racing, and he is regularly in attendance for some of the biggest horse racing events in the United States. Jay-Z’s 2009 collaboration with Alicia Keys titled ‘Empire State of Mind’ is a typical song played during the Belmont Stakes, which is held in Jay-Z’s home state of New York.
Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby is one of the most celebrated American stars in history, as he became one of the most influential artists of the 20th century across the world. He was a world leader in terms of record sales and motion picture grosses between 1926 and 1977 and is widely regarded as one of the world’s first cultural icons.
Overall, he released over 1,600 songs and was featured in 70 films. Such was his influence that future stars such as Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra would base their style on the American. As well as a legendary musical career, Crosby was also renowned in the sport of horse racing and was regularly in attendance for race days at Santa Anita.

He owned horses throughout his life and even had runners at Santa Anita. However, his impression of the sport was a lasting one, as he was one of the founding partners of Del Mar. In honor of his life, the Bing Crosby Stakes is run annually at Del Mar, with a field of horses aged three and older competing over six furlongs on the dirt.
It is a hugely competitive Grade One affair, with legendary winners of the race including; Street Zensational, Boss and Kona Gold
Crosby certainly would have loved to see the prestige that his founding track is now held, as Del Mar hosted the world-renowned Breeders’ Cup in 2024, welcoming stars from across the globe to the track where the ‘Surf meets the Turf’.