Horse named 'Gronkowski' qualifies for Kentucky Derby
A horse named after New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski will hope to spike its way across the finish line of this year's Kentucky Derby.
The thoroughbred, named "Gronkowski," won the Burradon Stakes in England on Friday to qualify for the May 5 race at Churchill Downs.
The Kentucky-bred colt will take part in the Kentucky Derby's 20-horse field as the winner of the inaugural "European Road to the Kentucky Derby." Gronkowski moved ahead of Mendelssohn on the European Derby leaderboard with Friday's win to clinch the spot.
The horse, trained by Jeremy Noseda and ridden by Jamie Spencer, has finished first in his last four races.
Kerri Radcliffe, the manager of Phoenix Thoroughbreds, which owns the horse, said he was inspired to name the horse after the Patriots tight end because they have the same build. "Gronkowski," like his football player counterpart, is 6-foot-5.
"I love the New England Patriots, and as Rob Gronkowski is 6-5 and about the same wide, I thought it would be an appropriate name for the horse, as he's built much the same," Radcliffe said in an interview with the Racing Post published last month.
--Field Level Media
