I don’t think all that many people know that George Steinbrenner, the New York Yankees owner who died at age 80 Tuesday, dabbled in horse racing. Well he actually more than dabbled, he was a big player in thoroughbred horse racing, even entering horses in the Kentucky Derby. The funny thing was, as brash and outspoken as he was in baseball, he was quiet and reserved with the horse racing crowd.
The most famous horses he owned were Majestic Warrior, a beautiful horse who won the Hopeful Stakes in 2007, and Bellamy Road, who was the favorite in the 2005 Kentucky Derby. Bellamy Road ended up finishing 7th.
Steinbrenner loved his horses and he loved the Kentucky Derby. He had six horses in all who ran the Derby. Noted horse trainer Nick Zito trained horses for Steinbrenner for 15 years. Those who knew Steinbrenner around the horse track couldn’t say enough good things about him. Zito chimed in with, “I had a good relationship with him. He took me to a playoff game in 1995 and sat me next to Joe DiMaggio.”
Steinbrenner’s 750-acre Kinsman Stud in Florida was a major breeding ground for horses. About 50 horses are at Kinsman breeding and training. In his life Steinbrenner also owned shares of Florida Downs race track as well as Balmoral and Maywood in Illinois.