Nelly is making major moves in his hometown of St. Louis—and this time, it’s not about music.
The Grammy-winning rapper has officially purchased the Seattle National Thoroughbred League (NTL) team and relocated it to his beloved city. Now rebranded as the St. Louis Nellies, the team is set to gallop into a new era of horse racing excitement.
“I’m excited to be part of bringing a new professional sports team to the city that means so much to me…” Nelly told FOX Business. “I can’t wait to hit the track and celebrate with our incredible St. Louis fans.”
The Nellies will compete at Fairmount Park, a historic racecourse in nearby Collinsville, Illinois, which recently underwent a $100 million renovation to prepare for the league’s expansion.
???? “The Sport of Kings, Now for Everyone”
Joining Nelly in backing the league is A Tribe Called Quest’s Jarobi White, who shared his excitement about refreshing horse racing for modern audiences.
“Horse racing is called the sport of kings. What NTL is doing is making the sport more accessible, so everyone from kings to commoners can enjoy,” White explained.
The move is part of the NTL’s mission to reimagine horse racing as an entertainment powerhouse.
???? Why St. Louis? “This City Loves Its Teams”
The decision to bring the team to St. Louis wasn’t made lightly. Randall Lane, CEO of the NTL, highlighted the city’s deep sports culture and passion.
“You look at the Cardinals, St. Louis supports its teams and falls in love with its teams. We coordinated with the mayor’s office. This is a city that loves sports,” Lane said.
He added that Nelly’s hometown pride made the deal even sweeter:
“We wouldn’t have done this without Nelly spearheading it. The St. Louis Nellies—it’s a name that’s fun and reflects how this team belongs to the city.”
???? The Nelly Cup Is Coming
To celebrate the launch, Nelly will host the first-ever Nelly Cup on July 19 at Fairmount Park.
???? The day promises:
- Live music performances (including Jarobi White)
- A Nelly-inspired fashion show
- Family-friendly activities for horse racing and music lovers alike
The event aims to blend the energy of hip-hop culture with the elegance of horse racing.
???? A New Chapter for St. Louis Sports
With the St. Louis Nellies, Nelly is adding another jewel to the city’s sports crown—and fans are here for it.
On social media, reactions poured in:
- “The Nellies? ICONIC. Only Nelly could make horse racing cool in STL.” – @CityVibes314
- “A team, a fashion show, and live music? Count me IN for the Nelly Cup.” – @HipHopAndHooves
- “We outside for the horses AND Hot in Herre.” – @StLouisQueen
???? TPR Takeaway
Nelly isn’t just making hits—he’s making history. With the St. Louis Nellies, the rapper is putting his city on the horse racing map and blending music, sports, and culture in a way only he can.
???? Will you be at the Nelly Cup? Would you support a horse racing team in your city? Drop your thoughts below!
???? Stay locked to The Pop Radar for more exclusive updates on Nelly, the Nellies, and all things NTL.
