Russell Wilson has spent most of his sporting life trying to win on football fields. His move into horse racing could hardly have started much better.
The former Super Bowl-winning quarterback and wife Ciara were at Saratoga on Travers Day to watch Club Reign, the first starter for their new Three Brand Racing operation.
Six lengths later, they were in the winner’s circle.
Club Reign made an impressive debut in the opening race of one of Saratoga’s biggest days, giving Wilson’s new racing venture a winner with its very first runner.
For most racing fans, Club Reign is now interesting because he could move into Grade 1 company and potentially onto the early 2027 Kentucky Derby trail.
For Wilson, however, this was also the first public sign that Three Brand Racing could become much more than a one-horse project.
What Is Three Brand Racing?
Three Brand Racing takes its name from 3BRAND, Wilson’s sports and fashion business.
The 3BRAND company grew from Wilson’s interest in sport, music and fashion and carries many of the ideas he has used throughout his career, particularly competition, family and the “Why Not You?” message associated with Wilson and Ciara.
Three Brand Racing now takes that name into Thoroughbred ownership.
Club Reign races for Ribble Farms, Three Brand Racing LLC and Walmac Farm, so Wilson’s operation is part of an ownership partnership rather than the sole owner of the colt.
That is a sensible way to enter racing.
Rather than immediately trying to build a large stable from scratch, Three Brand Racing is working with established racing people while Wilson learns more about ownership.
If Club Reign is any indication, the first horse has certainly given them something to work with.
Club Reign Gives 3BRAND the Perfect Start
Club Reign went into his Saratoga debut at 8-1, but there was nothing uncertain about the way he finished the race.
Trained by Whit Beckman and ridden by Edgard Zayas, the two-year-old raced prominently before pulling away from his rivals in the stretch.
He won the six-furlong maiden special weight by six lengths, completing the race in 1:11.27.
The performance earned a 73 Beyer Speed Figure.
There have been faster two-year-olds this summer, so it is far too early to start talking about Club Reign as one of the leading horses of his generation.
But for a first start, there was plenty to like.
Beckman said afterwards that the colt had shown considerable ability during training and was pleased to see him reproduce it in a race.
Russell Wilson’s Interest in Racing Is a Family Story
Wilson’s move into racehorse ownership did not simply appear after his retirement from football.
He has said his interest was helped by his brother Harry, who lives in Louisville, Kentucky, while his daughter Sienna’s interest in horseback riding also played a part.
Wilson described racing as something that could be enjoyed by the family regardless of how the horses performed.
That was clear at Saratoga.
Ciara and the children joined Wilson for Club Reign’s debut and the whole family celebrated in the winner’s circle afterwards.
Wilson compared the excitement of the victory to winning Rookie of the Year, although he admitted little could compare with lifting the Lombardi Trophy.
There was even a nice football connection after the race when Zayas greeted Wilson with the quarterback’s familiar “Let’s ride” line.
From the NFL to Racing
The timing is interesting too.
Wilson retired earlier this year after a 14-season NFL career, most famously with the Seattle Seahawks. He won Super Bowl XLVIII and was selected to the Pro Bowl ten times before later playing for Denver, Pittsburgh and the New York Giants. He has now moved into broadcasting with CBS Sports.
Horse racing gives him another competitive interest away from football.
Plenty of famous sports names have become involved in Thoroughbred ownership over the years, but there is a big difference between owning a horse and finding one capable of competing in major races.
Three Brand Racing may have been fortunate enough to find an interesting one immediately.
Champagne Stakes Could Be Next
The story could become much bigger fairly quickly.
Beckman has identified the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes on October 3 as a possible next race for Club Reign.
That would take him from maiden company into one of America’s major races for two-year-olds.
The Champagne also has direct importance for next season.
It is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby and offers qualifying points towards the 2027 race, while also providing a route towards the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
That does not make Club Reign a Kentucky Derby horse yet.
His Saratoga victory came over six furlongs and he still needs to prove himself over longer distances and against much better opposition.
But if he runs in the Champagne and performs well, Three Brand Racing could suddenly have a horse involved in one of the biggest stories of the next racing season.
Could Three Brand Racing Become a Bigger Operation?
This is perhaps the most interesting part of the story.
Club Reign is not simply Russell Wilson buying a share in a horse and turning up for a day at Saratoga. The use of the Three Brand Racing name suggests a racing identity that can continue beyond one colt.
Wilson was certainly talking about the operation rather than just the horse after Saturday’s victory, saying the family and Three Brand Racing team were fully behind the project.
How large it eventually becomes remains to be seen.
Horse racing is full of expensive horses that never win a maiden, never mind reach a Grade 1. Starting with a six-length Saratoga winner is about as good an introduction to ownership as Wilson and Ciara could have hoped for.
Now Club Reign gets the chance to show whether the story can go further.
If the Champagne is next, the first horse to race under the Three Brand Racing banner could already be heading towards Grade 1 company.
And for a new racing operation with strong NFL links and one very famous owner, that will ensure plenty of people are watching.
