Werth Hits a Home Run With Dornoch, Horse Racing

While horse racing often pays or cahoodles celebrities and influencers to say nice things about it, there's no better brand ambassador for the sport than Jayson Werth.

The former Major League Baseball star not only has become a passionate fan of the sport, but he is not shy about voicing his positive feelings about his new passion or making a serious financial investment in the game.

"I think it's a great sport for everyone," Werth said. "The days I have spent at the racetrack have been great. The stuff surrounding the races has been awesome. People should come to the races, bring their families here and enjoy this great experience with cool people. It's the best sport out there."

First introduced to the sport while watching some Florida races during a round of golf with his friend and horse owner Rich Averill, Werth bought his first horse in 2021.

"I didn't know anything about horse racing when I got into it," Werth said. "Now I love it."

Werth now owns a share of about 25 horses with various partners and has one MVP candidate in the bunch.

The man who hit 229 MLB home runs from 2002-17 slugged a grand slam when he bought a 10% share of a yearling who turned out to be Dornoch , the Belmont Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) winner who is the morning-line favorite in the big Aug. 24 showdown for 3-year-olds in the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

Werth, who races under the banner of Two Eight Racing, owns part of the Good Magic   colt trained by Danny Gargan along with West Paces Racing, Randy Hill's R.A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, and Pine Racing Stables.

"Dornoch is an unbelievable athlete with an incredible amount of spirit and heart," Werth said about the full brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage  . "He has transformed our lives. He is so special; such a cool guy. He has the heart of a lion, the heart of champion to fight the way he does. I can relate to his story with the way he was overlooked in the Belmont Stakes (at 17-1 odds) with the hardships and injuries I had in baseball and people wrote me off.

"If the gates open Saturday and he just stands there, I'll be the first one to run out to him on the track and hug him," he added. "I'll lead him in and celebrate like we won. He's been incredible and to have him as my first colt is other worldly. We all love him so much."

The 45-year-old Werth is not just saying great things about the sport, he's also trying to bring in new owners through a new venture, Icon Racing.

"I'm working on a bigger idea with the premise to bring more owners to the sport and more former athletes and teammates that I think would love the sport for the same reason as I do. It fills the void for the competitive emotions we used to feel every day as athletes. It's called Icon Racing and we're building out the website now," said Werth, who is formulating plans to be active at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. "I want to create a community to come to the races, experience the sport and potentially run in and win the big races. 

"We need to grow the sport. I don't think they have scratched the surface as to how good this sport can be. It's the oldest professional sport but it hasn't had its industrial revolution. Now, with the tech and all the betting out there, is the perfect time to try something like this."

And speaking of perfect, there's no doubt horse racing and Jayson Werth have indeed become a perfect match.