For many wealthy footballers, the allure and excitement of horse racing is too much to resist. There is a natural link between the competitive world of top-flight football and the knife-edge thrills of racing that has attracted players and managers ranging from Sir Alex Ferguson, via Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman, to Michael Owen. Chelsea have had their own share of horse-obsessed players over the years, with John Terry and Joe Cole among the big names who enjoy the sport.

Joe Cole, in particular, has gone as far as buying his own race horses. In 2009 and 2010 his horse, Poppanan, won several races, netting Cole some big pay days in the process. After transferring from Chelsea to Liverpool in 2010, Cole was a frequent sight at Aintree, famously taking his wife and young daughter to Ladies’ Day at the Grand National in 2011.Anyone looking to learn more about the runners and riders for this year’s Ladies’ Day can do so here: Grand National Ladies’ Day 2016 – place your bets for the latest odds and news.

If the main event is of more interest then this article is the perfect primer- Which are the best Grand National horses for 2016 –for all the form and facts on the competing horses.

John Terry is another Chelsea player involved in horse racing, owning three horses that compete in dressage competitions. These were purchased by his wife, Toni, who was a dressage rider prior to the couple having children and returned to the sport once their progeny had grown up a little. The horses are called Delmonte, Beltoni and Diamond Fritz.

Behind the scenes at Chelsea, Roman Abramovich has also been rumoured to have been interested in getting involved with the sport of kings. Back in 2005, the oligarch reportedly booked every room at a Michelin starred hotel near the small Cumbrian Cartmel race track to coincide with their spring festival. Around the same time, there were reports of him having sent representatives to horse auctions. He also created a stir by accepting an invitation to the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but then backed out due to business commitments.

While this apparent interest hasn’t translated into Abramovich actually becoming a race horse owner, he has invested in a show jumping pony for his daughter for a reportedly colossal fee. One newspaper report quotes a price of £50 million for the 12 year old pony. Its name is Pringle.

Going further back into Chelsea’s history, Tony Cascarino, who was a striker at the club in the early nineties, has had a share in owning race horses in the past. He has also worked as a columnist for horse racing bible, the Racing Post, albeit as a football pundit.

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