The founder and CEO of Under Armour (NYSE:UA), who started his billion-dollar sports apparel business after college graduation, hopes to take a step closer to realizing that dream by entering his horse, Tiger Walk, in Saturday’s Preakness.
In 2007, Plank bought the 530-acre breeding and training facility, Sagamore Farm. Once the home of 1953 Preakness and Belmont champion Native Dancer, Sagamore Farm sat far from its former glory when Plank made his purchase. Now, it’s stunning. In an interview with The Baltimore Sun, Plank said he hopes people will one day talk about what’s going on at Sagamore as easily as they discuss Baltimore’s Ravens and Orioles.
Tiger Walk, trained by Ignacio Correas IV, is a long shot to win Preakness. In fact, whether the colt will even make the field for the world-famous horse race won’t be determined until Wednesday. But Plank believes in the horse who finished fourth in the Wood Memorial. Plank believes in long shots.
“We won the Breeders’ Cup two years ago with a 46-1 long shot,” Plank told Bloomberg about another one of his horses. “Nobody thought that she could do it. But she won. That’s what makes horse racing great — that lottery ticket in your pocket. I can’t guarantee a win, but I know I’ll bet on it. And why not that horse?
“This much I do know: We need to believe in long shots. That is what makes America great.”
