“We kind of got into this as a hobby, and it is turned into a passion,” Phillies World Series champion Jayson Werth remarked, describing the situation as surreal. “I am incredibly passionate about this sport and I want to spread that love to everyone.”
When Jayson Werth arrived at Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week, he could not shake a familiar feeling.
He claimed that it “has some fragrance of the World Series.” “Now, everything is completely different. The roads are closed off, we are at the barns, and security is present everywhere. There is undoubtedly a sense of heightened intensity and “this is it; this is the highest level of the sport.”
Nothing compares to the rush of his new favorite sport, sportsmanship, for Werth, who played 63 postseason games with the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Washington Nationals in addition to winning the World Series with Philadelphia. With Dornoch participating in the 150th running of the renowned race on Saturday, the retired outfielder, who owns shares in over a dozen thoroughbreds, has the opportunity to become the owner of a Kentucky Derby winner.
Werth said over the phone to The Associated Press, “It is surreal: We kind of got into this as a hobby, and it is turned into a passion.” “I want to share my passion for the sport with the world, as I never would have imagined having one.”
After learning about horse racing from his golfing buddy Rich Averill, who has been in the business for decades, Werth has used it to replace the competitive vacuum that baseball once occupied.
It certainly does not hurt that a well-known athlete is promoting horse racing, since efforts are still being made to attract new followers.
This weekend marks NBC Sports analyst Randy Moss’ 44th Derby. “The connection between racing and professional sports has always been strong, going all the way back to Babe Ruth, who loved to bet the horses,” Moss said. “Especially when a professional athlete like Jayson Werth backs a few horses and wins the Derby.”
According to Werth, owning racehorses by the general public—even microshares like 2023 Derby winner Mage, who is Dornoch’s full brother—is a means of getting into the sport, which has traditionally had a high entry barrier due to expenses. In the dugout, he compares watching a race to trying to help a teammate round the bases in order to win the game.
In an effort to “do something on a much larger scale in horse racing,” Werth, whose stable Two Eight Racing honors his jersey No. 28 with the Dodgers, Phillies, and Nationals, is exploring the possibility of forming an ownership group. Werth owns 10% of Dornoch and other horses with comparable percentages.
But first, there is the Derby, where Danny Gargan-trained Dornoch, ridden by Luis Saez, is expected to break the rail. Before remembering that the horse enjoys charging out to the lead, Werth expressed his displeasure at Dornoch securing the top spot inside. The horse, which started at 20-1, is a long shot.
Werth stated, “I really do think this could be a perfect storm of us.” “I believe we have a good chance if Dornoch can get ahead early, maintain the lead, and avoid getting dirty on his face.”
