Betting is a huge part of the horse racing experience. But modern technology has taken this aspect of horse racing to new heights.
According to Business Research Insights, the global horse racing market was worth $21.75 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $40.7 billion by 2033 by 2033. With betting being so closely tied to the sport, it's no surprise that some horses are in such a way that ties the two subjects together. Gaming-related names are very common, representing an affinity with another betting pursuit. So, with that in mind, here are some racehorses that have gone all-in:
Poker
When Poker defeated champions Assagai and Buckpasser in the 1967 Bowling Green Handicap, he effectively changed the horse racing scene. He became the inspiration for Poker Stakes, a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in Belmont Park, the same location where he achieved that upset in 1967. The Poker Stakes race is also where champion Thoroughbred Oscar Performance set a speed record in 2018. Poker was also a Champion Broodmare Sire, with his daughters producing numerous champions, including champion sire Seattle Slew.
Moni Maker
Moni Maker was one of the most successful horses in history, with 67 wins, 18 seconds, and 10 thirds in 105 races. Aside from competing in America, she raced internationally, winning major races like the Copenhagen Cup and Prix Prix d'Amérique. True to her name, she became the richest Standardbred when she retired in 2000, and won awards like the United States Horse of the Year.
Moni Maker also shares a similar name to another money-making icon. Around the time she was racing, the accountant turned Americas Cardroom Pro Chris Moneymaker was honing his poker skills. He made history when he won the World Series of Poker in 2003 after qualifying through an online poker site, igniting the poker boom often dubbed the "Moneymaker Effect." The poker legend currently represents the Amercias Cardroom site at major tournaments and tours, including his own. Both Moni Maker and Chris Moneymaker are Hall of Famers in their respective fields.
Laddies Poker Two
Laddies Poker Two didn't have a very long career, but she won her fair share of races in 2008 and 2010. At the Median Auction Maiden Stakes, she beat the favorite Ocean Legend, garnering attention. While she didn’t participate in races in 2009, she made a reappearance at Wokingham in 2010; winning on a seasonal reappearance in a highly competitive, big-field sprint handicap made the achievement even more monumental. Her name also comes from her owners, betting company Ladbrokes. She retired after her win at Wokingham, but the impressive feat pulled off by her and trainer Jeremy Noseda made her a racehorse to remember.
Poker Face
Poker Face had an impressive start to his racing career, winning all of his races in 2022. The gelding also saw remarkable wins in 2023, placing first at the Pomfret Stakes, Prix Quincey, and the Prix Daniel Wildenstein one after the other. He continued with a modest career and a few more wins until his passing while training in 2025. Poker Face was named after the expression a poker player would wear to avoid giving away their hand. It was a fitting name for an unpredictable yet skilled racehorse who gave his all.
Poker Chip Peake
Though not technically a racehorse, Poker Chip Peake made a name for himself in the calf roping world. He was known for his perfect conformation and great "cow sense," making him an icon in the field. His skills helped him become one of the timed-event horses inducted with the ProRodeo Hall of Fame's inaugural Class of 1979, a rare accolade only achieved by four other horses in the 40 years since. He's named after the iconic currency one would see at the poker table, and like his namesake, he was a valuable horse. A tragic accident unfortunately ended his career, but his legacy has lived on to this day.
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