( CNN ) -- As more and more celebrities sign up for a day at the races , a growing list are taking their passion for the sport one step further and becoming racehorse owners . From Hollywood directors such as Steven Spielberg to English Premier League soccer stars like Wayne Rooney , the lure of playing a bigger part in race day has led to many putting money into the development of one particular horse or even into the breeding of a whole group . Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood has a stud farm in the Republic of Ireland and even 1990s pop icon MC Hammer has been the proud owner of a Kentucky Derby entrant . Royalty dominates the list of celebrity successes on the track , with the United Arab Emirates-based Godolphin stable owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum turning out 200 winners a year , netting nearly $ 17 million in prize funds . And while other celebrity owners are not as prolific in the winning stakes , many do see it as a future business and a serious investment of their time and money . English soccer player Michael Owen is already co-owner in a stable which has trained many UK race winners -- including those owned by his former Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney . United 's manager Alex Ferguson is also a racehorse owner . A former top-flight English footballer , Mick Channon , is now more renowned for training horses than he is for his achievements in a Southampton and England football shirt . Take a look at the gallery above to learn more about horse racing 's celebrity owners .
Big names in Hollywood are investing in racehorses . The biggest name is the legendary trainer Bob Baffert, who has invested more than $100 million into his own racing operation and owns a number of other successful horse trainers. Soccer club Manchester United has strong links with racing . Even 1990s pop icon MC Hammer invested in the sport .