"What a blessing": Russell Wilson and Ciara’s new horse-racing venture gets dream start as Club Reign storms to six-length win

Russell Wilson and Ciara have found a new arena for competition, and their first outing could hardly have gone better. The couple’s Three Brand Racing made its debut at Saratoga on Travers Day, with Club Reign delivering a six-length victory in the opening race. For Wilson, the former NFL star now preparing for his television career, the win offered an unexpected but familiar feeling: the thrill of coming out on top.Russell Wilson and Ciara celebrate winning debut with Three Brand RacingClub Reign wasted little time making an impression. The two-year-old powered away from six other horses to claim victory at Saratoga Race Course, giving Wilson and Ciara an ideal introduction to thoroughbred ownership.The result was especially meaningful because this was not simply another investment for the couple. Wilson has described Three Brand Racing as a family-focused project, making the first victory a moment they could enjoy together.“Man, what an exciting day,” Wilson said afterward. “We’re so excited for Three Brand Racing and, obviously, Club Reign. What a blessing.”Wilson already had plenty of confidence in Club Reign before the race. The performance, however, gave that belief some serious backing. The horse was ridden by Edgard Zayas and trained by Whit Beckman, with the combination producing a commanding result on one of the biggest days on the Saratoga calendar.“We felt like we had a tremendous athlete in this horse,” Wilson said. “He’s our first one for me and Ciara and our team, our Three Brand Racing team, and to come out here and to win in Saratoga—and he won by a lot. He’s a fast horse.”Ciara and the couple’s children were also present for the winner’s-circle celebration. That family element matters to Wilson, who sees horse racing as more than a new business interest.Russell Wilson brings his competitive spirit to horse racingWilson's interest in horse racing did not appear out of nowhere. He credited his brother Harry, who lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with helping introduce him to the world of thoroughbred ownership. Their daughter Sienna, meanwhile, already enjoys horseback riding, giving the family another personal connection to the sport.“We felt like this would be a good thing for the family,” Wilson explained. “No matter what happens, let’s do some cool stuff. I love competing, I love our family competing, and our Three Brand Racing team loves it, too.”That competitive edge has been a major part of Wilson's life for years. After 14 NFL seasons, he retired with 46,966 passing yards, 353 touchdowns and a Super Bowl XLVIII title with the Seattle Seahawks.His next chapter will take him to CBS Sports, where he is set to work as an analyst. But horse racing has already given him another way to experience the rush of competition.“There’s nothing like holding that Lombardi Trophy in front of hundreds and hundreds of millions of people,” Wilson said.Even so, winning immediately at Saratoga clearly made an impression.“To win on Travers Day, to win in Saratoga first race out, it feels like rookie of the year.”Then came a familiar phrase from Zayas after the victory.“He comes right up to me and goes, ‘Let’s ride,’” Wilson recalled.Wilson could only laugh. “So, that was funny.”Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.