The St. Louis region is getting its own National Thoroughbred League team thanks to rap superstar Nelly.
The Grammy winner has taken significant ownership in the league’s Seattle franchise. The team will move to St. Louis and be renamed the Nellies, after the famous horse term (“Whoa Nellie”) and in honor of its newest owner.
“Nelly was an early investor in the National Thoroughbred League and his expanded ownership role is a testament to the momentum and success we’ve built so far,” said Randall Lane, co-founder of the NTL.
He will also serve as host of the National Thoroughbred League’s Nelly Cup at Collinsville’s Fairmount Park, on Saturday, July 19th. The Nelly Cup will feature team horse racing and a musical experience headlined by Jarobi White, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member of A Tribe Called Quest.
“I’m excited to be part of bringing a new professional sports team to the city that means so much to me…” Nelly said in a statement to FOX Business. “I can’t wait to hit the track and celebrate with our incredible St. Louis fans.”
The Nelly Cup will also include food/drinks and a Nelly-inspired fashion show. The event’s namesake will also welcome the fans and helm the trophy presentation. The NTL also will celebrate the centennial of Fairmount Park during the event.
“The NTL is the first team-based professional league in horse racing, giving fans recurring favorites and rivalries, while turning race weekends into full-blown lifestyle experiences and opportunities to support the community — think Kentucky Derby meets Formula 1,” the team said in a statement. “The National Thoroughbred League (NTL) is a first-of-its-kind racing league reimagining America’s oldest spectator sport by creating a team-based professional sports league.”
NTL has 10 teams and celebrity backers like Nelly, Lamar Jackson, Julius Erving, Tanya Tucker, Rick Ross and Jarobi White.
“Our mission is rooted in creating authentic connections and fan bases in every city we’re in” Lane said. “Which is why each team’s ownership group includes individuals who have strong, personal ties to their local communities.” For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.NTL.Racing.
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