How Jayson Werth went from MLB star to Kentucky Derby horse owner – NBC10 Philadelphia

What to know

  • Jayson Werth won the World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies during a long MLB career.
  • Still, he says nothing compares to the adrenaline rush of his new favorite sport, horse racing.
  • The retired outfielder owns more than a dozen thoroughbreds, including Dornoch, who will compete in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

Jayson Werth reached Churchill Downs in the middle of Kentucky Derby week and was overcome with a feeling of familiarity.

“It has a World Series smell,” he said. “Now things are completely different. We’re at the barns, the roads are closed, there’s security everywhere. It’s definitely elevated and you get the feeling, ‘This is it, this is the highest level of the sport.’

Werth won the World Series with Philadelphia and played 63 playoff games during his Major League career with the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Phillies and Washington Nationals, and still nothing compares to the adrenaline rush of his new favorite sport. The retired outfielder owns shares in more than a dozen thoroughbreds and has a chance to become a Kentucky Derby-winning owner Saturday as Dornoch competes in the 150th running of the famous race.

“It’s surreal: We started this as a hobby and it has become a passion,” Werth told The Associated Press by phone. “I have a passion for the sport like I never imagined, and I want to share it with the world.”

Werth has used horse racing to fill the competitive void that baseball once did, a few years after learning about the sport from golfing buddy Rich Averill, who has been involved in the industry for decades.

It certainly doesn’t hurt that a prominent athlete is embracing his love of horse racing, as efforts are underway to bring in new fans.

“The connection between racing and professional sports has always been strong, going all the way back to Babe Ruth, who loved betting on horses,” said NBC Sports analyst Randy Moss, who is working his 44th Derby this weekend. “Especially when an athlete like Jayson Werth buys a few horses and actually makes it to the Derby.”

Werth thinks ordinary people owning racehorses – even micro-shares like 2023 Derby winner Mage, a full brother of Dornoch – are a way to get into the sport that has historically had a high barrier to entry due to costs. He describes watching a race now as if you were sitting in the dugout with a teammate trying to round the bases to score and win a game.

Werth, whose Two Eight Racing stable is a nod to his No. 28 jersey with the Dodgers, Phillies and Nationals, is considering forming an ownership collective to “do something on a much larger scale in horse racing.” Werth has 10% Dornoch and similar percentages of other horses.

But first there’s the Derby, with Dornoch trained by Danny Gargan and ridden by Luis Saez breaking off the rails. Werth was upset about Dornoch clinching the No. 1 spot before remembering that the horse likes to sprint to the lead. The knight is a long shot that opened at 20-1.

“I really think this could be a perfect storm for us,” Werth said. “If Dornoch can slip forward and stay in the lead and keep the dirt out of his face, I think we have a real chance.”

A filly has left the Kentucky Oaks ahead of Friday’s $1.5 million race at Churchill Downs.

Tapit Jenallie was withdrawn Thursday due to a minor injury to her backside, trainer Eddie Milligan Jr. said. She was 30-1 on the morning line.

“We felt she’s just too nice of a filly to do something that would be detrimental to her health,” Milligan said. “It’s very disappointing, very discouraging, but that’s the way this game is.”

He said Tapit Jenallie will take an extended break from racing and be reevaluated.

Our Beautiful Lady moves to the Oaks from the list that also qualifies. She is trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen and will be ridden by Joel Rosario, who was just elected to racing’s Hall of Fame.

Whit Beckman is back in his barn at Churchill Downs overseeing Derby preparations for Honor Marie after being released from the hospital.

The 42-year-old trainer from Louisville was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a potentially serious condition in which damaged muscle tissue releases its proteins into the blood, which can damage the heart and kidneys, according to the Daily Racing Form. He was hospitalized for five days.

Beckman said his legs were numb and he couldn’t walk last Friday. He said he had a blood infection and was given fluids in the hospital.


AP Racing Writer Beth Harris and AP Sports Writer Gary B. Graves in Louisville, Kentucky, contributed to this report.