Swift Delivery, a racehorse partially owned by pop star Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, secured a second-place finish at the Toronto Cup on Saturday.
The thoroughbred had been on a winning streak, having claimed victory in its last two races. However, this weekend, it couldn’t outpace a rival horse named Piper’s Factor.
The race took place at the E.P. Taylor turf of Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, a rather unique location.
By finishing second, Swift Delivery and jockey Patrick Husbands earned 20 percent of the $125,000 purse for the 1.6-kilometer race.
However, the event wasn’t just about the prize money. According to Woodbine spokesperson Leanne Elnicki, Swift Delivery’s connection to Taylor Swift attracted a notable number of new spectators, especially younger women, to the track, which typically doesn’t charge for attendance at most events.
“We definitely saw an uptick in young women, I can say that unequivocally,” Ms. Elnicki remarked after the race.
Travis Kelce, a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs and three-time Super Bowl champion, has reportedly been dating Ms. Swift since last year, sparking heightened interest from “Swifties” in his activities worldwide.
Woodbine embraced the added attention, with Elnicki noting, “We love when new people discover our sport, and if it means discovering it through the connection of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, hey, we’re all for it.”
Team Valor International, the stable managing the racehorse, announced that Kelce “recently acquired a significant share” in Swift Delivery, a three-year-old horse bred in Kentucky.
Swift Delivery began its racing career with four starts at Woodbine before moving to Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Florida, for two races last spring. After placing third in both Florida races, the horse rebounded with consecutive wins back at Woodbine, the operator noted in a news release earlier this week.
Trainer Mark E. Casse, a self-described Taylor Swift fan, praised Kelce’s investment in Swift Delivery, calling it a smart move. “This is great for horse racing, and hopefully on Saturday, we can deliver,” he said.
Despite a sluggish start at the Toronto Cup, where it initially lagged in last place, Swift Delivery made a strong comeback, thrilling the crowd as it surged past much of the competition from the outside. However, it wasn’t quite enough to secure the top spot.
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Publish date : 2024-09-01 01:54:00
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