Recently retired NFL quarterback and Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson is set to make his official entry into 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 the 2014 Super Bowl 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 studio analyst with CBS Sports in the upcoming NFL season.

Click to subscribe!

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 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 Derby. He had his best result 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 2025 Longines Kentucky Oaks, 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 October yearlings sale.

The Legion team was introduced at the 2025 Derby to Harry Wilson, 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 this year's 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.

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 Ocala Breeders' Sales 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.

Club Reign (Courtesy OBS Sales)

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 this year for $1.35 million at the Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-year-olds in training sale.

“Club Reign has presented himself as a quality animal,” Beckman said. “We’re excited to get him started and we hope he’s up to the challenge against a pretty strong field of maidens Saturday.”

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 DraftKings Travers Stakes - 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."

Whit Beckman, trainer of Club Reign (Coady Media)

Legion has teamed up with several of the big sports names in recent years, such as former Major League Baseball All-Star Jayson Werth 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 presented by NYRA Bets winner Dornoch, has been outspoken about Thoroughbred ownership filling the need for competition for retired athletes. As Beckman has worked alongside Werth and 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."