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is that Clément Troprès , on the other hand , recognized the potential of combining horse racing and breeding when he suggested Parker invest . “ I was working in basketball when the PMU ( Pari Mutuel Urbain ) was involved in various sports disciplines . That ’ s how I got invited to attend racing events , and I thought it would be fun to own a share of a racehorse . By the time Tony bought his first horse in 2020 - Best Win , a three-year-old filly - I had already been involved in racing for five or six years .” The former marketing director of the French Basketball League contacted Tony Parker after Best Win ’ s first victories .
Partnered with Charles Leclerc Troprès later became the president and partner in the structure built around Parker : Infinity Nine Horses . “ I told him about the breeding project . He wanted to be involved in racing for the long term , and that meant getting into breeding .” Things moved quickly . By 2021 , an opportunity arose . “ Located just 2.5 hours from Paris , we visited the Haras de Quétiéville around 6 a . m . before starting our actual day . The place was magnificent . The infrastructure was in great condition , and as we were leaving , Tony told me to do whatever it took to buy it .” From the outset , the plan — beyond the partnership with Nicolas Batum — was to
open the stud farm to other owners and even to anyone interested in investing , no matter how small their contribution . “ Other horses besides Tony ’ s could be stationed there , and clients could benefit from our land . With these co-owners , the goal was to produce early-developing horses , which fit Tony ’ s profile in basketball since he was often the youngest player on his teams . Most importantly , we aimed to get horses racing quickly . The following year , Ramatuelle finished second in the Prix Morny ( Gr . 1 ), and we had our first homebred winner at Lion d ’ Angers last year .” The key advantage of the project — aside from the valuable advice of Henri Bozo from Haras des Monceaux — is Tony Parker ’ s network and reputation . His fame enables groundbreaking initiatives , such as bringing in Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc as a co-owner , particularly through Best Sixteen . Parker ’ s influence also allows for engaging his fan community in following the horses ’ progress , attracting new partners , and expanding the operation . In 2024 , the stud farm expanded by 27 hectares , increasing to 120 stalls after launching an online investment campaign open to the public . This approach , aimed at “ democratizing ” racehorse ownership and breeding , owes much to “ Tony ’ s good fortune ,” as Troprès admits . “ Winning two Group
1 races in a year is rare .” With all these positives combined , the team has also been able to innovate . “ We sought to make this business model more sustainable by securing a sponsor — something uncommon in flat racing . ZeTurf decided to support the stable , with Tony becoming their ambassador , which also allowed us to develop various marketing initiatives .”
Personalization and identification This momentum , which appeals to a broader and newer audience , aligns with Tony Parker ’ s belief that anyone , even with a modest investment , can become a co-owner of racehorses . Another goal is to attract new bettors and a younger generation to racetracks , as associating a racing silks with a high-profile athlete makes the sport more relatable . Clément Troprès draws a parallel : “ To get people to attend horse races , I compare it to the two NBA games held in Paris each year . This year , of course , Victor Wembanyama was playing , so the arena was packed . But even the previous year , without a major French star , tickets sold out two months in advance . Why ? Because it was the place to be , filled with celebrities . If horse racing can attract these kinds of stars , we then need to find ways to engage visitors in betting - responsibly , of course .” Identifying with sports fig-
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