Harry's Horses shows Redknapp's competitive spirit

Former football manager Harry Redknapp has been making a name for himself in the world of horse racing.

His horse The Jukebox Man won the King George VI Chase at Kempton in December, while Shakem Up'arry won at the Cheltenham Festival in 2024.

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Redknapp's love of racing can be traced back to his grandmother, Maggie Brown, who was a bookmaker's runner in London's East End, at a time when betting shops and off-course betting were illegal.

BBC Sport followed the football legend and racing enthusiast as he watched some of his best horses train and race.

"My nan would take the bets," he said. "There was no betting shops, betting was totally illegal.

"I'd come out for my school dinner when I'm eight or nine and she was getting put in the back of a police van and taken to Poplar police station.

"I grew up with my nan, she'd give me a pen - I couldn't read or write - she'd say stick a pen in a couple and that would be her bet for the day."

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Despite his love of racing, Redknapp says he's never been tempted to ride, "not for all the money in the world".

"I leave it to people who know what they're doing," he said.

"I think they're amazing - they get injured, these jump jockeys, and then they come back about three weeks later.

"They're not like footballers, are they?"

Redknapp, who lives in Sandbanks, Dorset, owns shares in 26 horses.

"You're not always successful," he said. "I've got a lot of horses.

"For every Shakem Up'arry and Jukebox Man and Taurus Bay there's lots of others that never really did anything."

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