The National Thoroughbred League (NTL) today announced the addition of two-time NFL MVP and Baltimore Ravens superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson as its newest team owner. Jackson will be the lead owner in the group bringing the Maryland Colts to the NTL.
The season kicks off this Sunday, September 1, with the NTL Nashville Cup sponsored by Sticker Mule, featuring a prize pool of over $2 million and a $1 million special race.
Additionally, NTL announced that Jackson will launch a program to help underprivileged kids gain access to one of Maryland’s oldest industries, including free tickets to the NTL Baltimore Cup and an apprenticeship program to train promising young horses under the guidance of renowned trainer Chad Brown, a multiple-time Preakness Stakes winner.
“I am truly excited to be a part of this wonderful opportunity,” said Jackson. “The core values of excellence, teamwork, community and leadership will help propel the program beyond our expectations. I believe that through our hard work and determination, more opportunities will be opened up for the youth of Maryland. We look forward to seeing such a wonderful vision become a reality.”
Jackson joins NTL’s impressive list of partners, including Julius Erving, Tanya Tucker, Nelly, Rick Ross, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Moira Forbes, as well as a host of veteran investors. NTL is the first horse racing series to reinvent America’s oldest spectator sport by creating a professional team sports league that, through continuous and safe access to exceptional horses, allows fans the opportunity to cheer on the same stars month after month, year after year.
“Walk the track with Lamar Jackson and you immediately understand his ability to captivate an audience,” said Randall Lane, co-founder of NTL, who attended this year’s Preakness Stakes with the National Football League MVP. “And that very connection and adrenaline is consistent with the basic premise of the National Thoroughbred League. Our league exists to honor the tradition of one of America’s oldest spectator sports, but also to add a level of excitement to the sport to engage a diverse audience and give them a special experience. Lamar Jackson and his family have a passion for Baltimore and we are honored to have them join our NTL family and continue to inspire and excite the next generation of fans.”
After a successful inaugural season, the NTL recently announced an expansion from six to 10 teams with more than $3 million in prize money for the 2024 season, up from less than $1 million last year. In addition to the Maryland Colts, three additional teams are joining the league including the Miami Seahorses, Phoenix Mustangs and San Francisco Unicorns. Thoroughbred owners will be able to nominate their horses to be drafted by one of the 10 NTL teams. The drafted horses, which will represent the teams in races, will be eligible to run in these NTL races for a prize of $3 million.
Earlier this year, Maryland Governor Wes Moore brokered a historic agreement to transfer ownership of Pimlico Racetrack to the State of Maryland and begin a renovation project to ensure the facilities will continue to support high-quality thoroughbred racing for generations to come and serve as a year-round hub of economic activity for Maryland. While construction is expected to take more than three years at Pimlico to complete the entire renovation, the State is expected to open the track for a National Thoroughbred Federation specialty racing event in 2025.
Following the season opener this weekend, the NTL will host the Philadelphia Cup on October 19 and the League Championship in Phoenix on December 30. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.NTL.Racing.
This press release has not been edited by BloodHorse. If you have any questions, please contact the organization that compiled this press release.
