St. Louis native and Grammy-winning artist Nelly has taken a significant ownership stake in a National Thoroughbred League (NTL) horse racing team, relocating the franchise from Seattle to St. Louis and renaming it the Nellies, a nod to both the horse racing term “Whoa, Nellie!” and his own stage name. The NTL is the first professional team-based horse racing league, featuring 10 teams backed by celebrities including Lamar Jackson, Julius Erving, Tanya Tucker, Rick Ross, and Jarobi White. Nelly expressed excitement about bringing a new professional sports team to his hometown and engaging local fans through the St. Louis Cup, a premier summer event.
To celebrate the move, Nelly will host the National Thoroughbred League’s Nelly Cup at Fairmount Park on July 19, featuring music by Jarobi White, a Nelly-inspired fashion show, and festivities coinciding with Fairmount Park’s centennial. Randall Lane, NTL co-founder, highlighted Nelly’s expanded role as a sign of the league’s growth and its focus on building strong community ties through local ownership groups. More information about the league and events can be found at www.NTL.Racing.
