Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs tight end and one-half of the high-profile celebrity couple dubbed “Swelce,” is taking his talents beyond the football field and into the world of horse racing.
Kelce has recently invested in a three-year-old racehorse named “Swift Delivery,” according to an announcement made by the Florida-based horse racing stable, Team Valor International.
The announcement, which broke on the team’s website on Tuesday, revealed that Kelce has joined Team Valor International and Gary Barber in the ownership of the promising young horse.
The stable is well-known in the horse racing world, having been part of the ownership team for 2011 Kentucky Derby winner, Animal Kingdom.
Kelce’s interest in horse racing is not entirely new; he was spotted earlier this year at the Kentucky Derby, where he attended with the Zoldan family, who have a long-standing history in the sport. The Zoldans, including Alex Zoldan, the son of Phantom Fireworks CEO Bruce Zoldan, are known for their involvement in racing, further strengthening Kelce’s ties to the industry.
With this latest venture, Kelce joins a growing list of professional athletes who have delved into horse racing ownership. Notably, retired MLB star Jayson Werth is a partial owner of Belmont Stakes winner Donegal Moon, and NHL player Erik Johnson has also owned shares in several racehorses, some named after his teammates and friends.
Swift Delivery, the horse in which Kelce has invested, has shown promising potential in recent races. After struggling in its initial outings, Swift Delivery has turned the corner, winning its last two starts at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. These victories have caught the attention of the horse’s trainer, Mark Casse, who expressed optimism about the horse’s future.
“This horse is good. He’s good right now, and he has the potential to go on and do big things,” Casse said in a recent interview with the Associated Press. “He’s a horse that we always thought a lot of, and he just didn’t perform. And now he’s performing.”
Jockey Patrick Husbands, who has ridden Swift Delivery to victory, will be in the saddle again as the horse prepares for its next race—a one-mile event at Woodbine Racetrack this Saturday. Given the horse’s recent form, there is considerable anticipation about its performance.
Kelce’s involvement in horse racing, especially with a horse named Swift Delivery, adds another layer to his public persona, already enriched by his relationship with pop star Taylor Swift. As fans eagerly await the horse’s next race, many are curious to see if Kelce’s latest venture will mirror his success on the football field.