Meet the NBA all-star who wants to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe | Horse racing news

Stacy Revere

“title =” Tony Parker: won four NBA titles with the San Antonio Spurs and is now on a mission to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe “class =” js-imageLoader “data-at-xn =” https : / /www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2021/06/27/94770-medium.jpeg “data-br-n =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/ 2021 / 27.06.94770-medium.jpeg “data-br-m =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2021/26/27/94770-large.jpeg “data-br-w = “https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2021/06/27/94770-large.jpeg” data-br-xw = “https://www.rp-assets.com/images /news/2021/06/27/94770-large.jpeg “onclick =” return false; “>

Tony Parker: won four NBA titles with the San Antonio Spurs and is now on a mission to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

Stacy Revere

UPDATED 5:42 PM on JUN 28, 2021 by Scott Burton, France Correspondent

One of the most successful sports personalities his country has ever produced, he is very popular in both France and Texas, where he helped the San Antonio Spurs to four NBA championships.

Now Tony Parker has returned to his childhood love for horses and started the life of a racehorse owner.

There is nothing unusual about a wealthy athlete investing in horses, you might think. But Parker is determined to spread the gospel that racing is a sport for everyone, with his Infinity Nine Horses stable getting huge attention on social media and the release of a new documentary, Tony Parker: The Big Bet Park.

And he’s made himself available to racing institutions and signed embassy contracts with Equidia – which co-produced Big Bet – and France Galop.

“My idea is to modernize and popularize the world of racing, illuminate the sport and share my excitement with the community,” said Parker at a press screening of the first episode in Longchamp.

France Gallop / Scoop Dyga

“title =” Former NBA star and now racehorse owner Tony Parker, flanked by Equidia General Manager Arnaud de Courcelles and France Galop President Edouard de Rothschild (right) at the press screening of The Big Bet “class =” js-imageLoader “data- at -xn = “https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2021/06/27/94776-medium.jpeg” data-br-n = “https: //www.rp-assets. com /images/news/2021/06/27/94776-medium.jpeg “data-br-m =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2021/06/27/94776-large . jpeg “data-br-w =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2021/06/27/94776-large.jpeg “data-br-xw =” https: // www. rp-assets.com/images/news/2021/06/27/94776-large.jpeg “onclick =” return false; “>

Former NBA star and now racehorse owner Tony Parker, flanked by Equidia General Manager Arnaud de Courcelles and France Galop President Edouard de Rothschild (right) at the press screening of The Big Bet

France Gallop / Scoop Dyga

“I want to share the adventure with people and really promote a different image of horse racing. There are a great many people who think that it is a sport reserved for millionaires and it really is not a horse, you can bet on a race, there are many different ways to get involved.

“That was my modest offer to France Galop and it is fortunate that the president trusted me. It is a huge opportunity.”

Racing has already gained its profile with football stars like Barcelona and France striker Antoine Griezmann and Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti.

He’s coming … @tonyparker x #Equidia

More information will follow during the day … pic.twitter.com/eNv0JP3EP8

– Equidia (@equidia) June 17, 2021

But Parker – who has two million followers on Twitter and 657,000 signed up to his Instagram account – is determined to bring even more famous names to the ranks at Infinity Nine. year old colt in training with Fabrice Chappet.

“Charles responded to a post I posted on social media that featured one of my horses,” said Parker. “He suggested the name Best Sixteen and the fans voted for it.

“I told him we were shooting for the series and I would like to take him on board, so he came to dinner with ‘Coach’. [Yann] Barberot. Charles had a great time and at the end of the meal he said that the next time I am interested in a horse he would like to have a share. “

Mark Thompson

“title =” Charles Leclerc: named one of Tony Parker’s horses and participated in another “class =” js-imageLoader “data-at-xn =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/ 29.08.2019 / 67416-medium.jpeg “data-br-n =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2019/08/29/67416-medium.jpeg “data-br -m = “https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2019/08/29/67416-large.jpeg” data-br-w = “https://www.rp-assets.com / images /news/2019/08/29/67416-large.jpeg “data-br-xw =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2019/08/29/67416-large. jpeg “onclick =” return false; “>

Charles Leclerc: named one of Tony Parker’s horses and participated in another

Mark Thompson

Parker added, “‘Coach’ Chappet came to me with a horse named Afghany and Charles called me yesterday to tell me he was ready. That’s the whole point of making it accessible. Lots of people watch what we do. “

Parker was known in his playing days as a talent whose speed and skill more than make up for a perceived lack of stature. Now he is pleased to be on record that from small beginnings – Infinity Nine has five horses, which are divided between the trainers Ludovic Gadbin, Yann Barberot and Fabrice Chappet – he has the greatest ambition of all: the Qatar Prix de l ‘ Arc de Triomphe. to win .

“You could tell me that I’m crazy to dream this big, but I’ve always been since I was a kid,” said Parker. “Everyone told me I was too short and slim to make it into the NBA.

“There will be people in racing who will think I’m a fool if I say that. Pauline Chehboub [of Haras de la Gousserie] joked with me that it took her and her father 15 years to have a runner in the Prix de Diane. But I will not hide my ambition. “

Parker took himself 20 years to win the Arc. But French racing won’t have to wait nearly as long to feel the positive effects of its involvement in the sport.

Tony Parker may not be as mainstream a name as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or LeBron James, but he certainly wouldn’t be out of place in terms of his talent and accomplishments.

Parker played 18 years in the NBA, including 17 years with the San Antonio Spurs, with whom he became a four-time NBA champion and was named NBA Finals MVP in 2007. Together with Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, the Frenchman created a dynasty in San Antonio the likes of which will probably never be seen again, and since then his famous number 9 jersey has been retired.

The 39-year-old also left his mark on the French national team, representing France at the Olympic and EuroBasket levels and leading France to victory in the latter tournament in 2013.

Parker is president of the French basketball league team ASVEL and rightly has superstar status both in his home country and across America.
Andrew Wilsher, US sports editor, Pickswise

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