Celebrities You May Spot at Breeders Cup

Laura Bell Bundy enjoying a day at the Breeders' Cup. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire unless otherwise noted)
I have no doubt that if you are at Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup on Oct. 30 and 31 you’ll spot at least one human celebrity. Heck, if you’re at a track on a big day you’ll probably spot some of them then too – I know I have!
BODE MILLER

There are many celebrities known to attend racing events including gold medalist skier Bode Miller, 22-time Olympic medalist Michael Phelps, New England Patriot quarterback Tom Brady, professional snowboarder and skateboarder Shaun White, beloved singer Tony Bennett, six-time Grammy winner Toni Braxton, “The Coach” Mike Ditka, N*Sync member Joey Fatone, former NFL head coach Bill Parcells and Tony and Emmy award winning showstopper Kristin Chenoweth among many others.
KRISTIN CHENOWETH

You really never know who you’ll see at the races - my colleague Dan and I met “The Most Interesting Man in the World” at Saratoga last year!

Photo by Victoria Garofalo
Dancing With the Stars professional dancer Karina Smirnoff has been spotted at Santa Anita Park this year supporting her celebrity dance partner, jockey Victor Espinoza. President Clinton and the Burger King man were at this year’s Belmont Stakes when American Pharoah won the Triple Crown. Former Disney star Selena Gomez filmed her music video for The Heart Wants What It Wants at Santa Anita. And Kylie, Kendall and Caitlyn, the Jenner-side of the Kardashian clan, have been spotted at the big California racetracks.
The Breeders' Cup has 15 celebrity-racing fans named Ambassadors. The 15 ambassadors promote the World Championships and serve as spokespersons for the prestigious two-day, 13-race, $24.5-million event. The honor of Breeders’ Cup Ambassador comes with rewards like concierge service, tickets and more that allows them to enjoy horse racing all over the world.
The Ambassadors promoting the Breeders’ Cup are:
ELIZABETH BANKS

Nowadays you’re most likely to find Breeders’ Cup ambassador Elizabeth Banks dressed up in crazy wigs and makeup as the Hunger Games’ Effie Trinket, but as a child you could find her riding horses in Massachusetts where she was introduced to racing by her father. She also played the role of Marcela Howard, the second wife of Charles Howard, in Seabiscuit.
LAURA BELL BUNDY

Actress and singer Laura Bell Bundy is a Lexington native most well known for her roles in Jumanji and Heart of Dixie. In addition, she has a successful musical career that includes her first solo “Giddy On Up.”
James Carville is an American political commentator and an enthusiastic racing fan who has introduced many new fans to the sport.
Actress, model, producer and activist Bo Derek is incredible involved in the racing world. From her activity to end horse slaughter through the passage of legislation to her autobiography 'Riding Lessons: Everything That Matters in Life I Learned From Horses,’ you can always find Derek around a horse.
ROB DYRDEK AND WIFE BRYIANA NOELLE FLORES

Rob Dyrdek made a grand entrance into horse racing when he rode his gelding Mega Heat under the name "Bolt Speedman" on June 30, 2009 in a staged race at Hollywood Park. He is known for his skateboarding, acting, entrepreneur and producing ways.
TV personality, chef, restaurateur and author Bobby Flay is on NYRA’s Board of Directors and is also a Thoroughbred owner. His most recent biggest stable star, Dame Dorothy, is named for his mother.
STEVEN JACKSON (far right)

Three-time Pro Bowl NFL running back Steven Jackson became a racing fan when he attended the 2012 Breeders' Cup. He can be seen presenting trophies to winning connections at the Breeders’ Cup and enjoying his time at the track.
After playing NBA point guard for 16 years on five different teams, Avery Johnson went on to coach two other NBA teams before landing his current position as Alabama Crimson Tide coach. In his spare time he’s involved as an owner with WinStar Farm and can be seen in their StableMates commercials.
Country music legend Toby Keith has over 100 mares on his 330-acre farm in Oklahoma. The singer enjoys researching racing pedigree and can commonly be spotted at various horse sales where he buys some horses to race for himself and others to resell. He races horses under the name of Dream Walkin’ Farms.
John Ortiz has played in countless movie and television roles including Turo Escalande, a Peruvian immigrant who works his way up to be a trainer, in the HBO series Luck where he found his home away from home at the racetrack.
Rick Pitino is the coach of the University of Louisville basketball team and has been known to name some of his horses after Louisville Cardinals players. He has been in the Breeders’ Cup winner’s circle as a co-owner with Goldencents winning the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile with him in the ownership group.
Gary Player has won 165 professional golf tournaments worldwide and has been called "The World's Most Traveled Athlete.” He has a stud farm in South Africa where he has bred over 2,000 winning Thoroughbreds.
JIM ROME AND SHARED BELIEF

Sports radio and talk show host Jim Rome is no stranger to the horse racing spotlight. He purchased his first Thoroughbred in 2008 and has owned or co-owned horses under Jungle Racing, LCC. Two of his most well known are 2012 and 2013 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Mizdirection and 2013 Eclipse champion 2-year-old male Shared Belief.
Joe Torre is mostly recognized for his incredible career in baseball, but he’s also had a great career as owner of several successful Thoroughbred including the beloved eight-time Grade 1 winner and 2011 Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up Game On Dude.
When Kate Upton isn’t fulfilling her duties as a top supermodel she enjoys spending time at her barn and horseback riding.
NFL wide receiver Wes Welker has been spotted gambling and enjoying races around the country. Undrafted, one of the handful of horses he co-owns, won the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot this year and was third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint last year.
Is there a particular celebrity you hope to bump into at the race rack? (I’m waiting for Justin Timberlake show up at the races one of these days!) Let us know in the comments!