Nelly turned a $50 million payday from selling half his music catalog into a new venture by purchasing and relocating a horse racing team to his hometown.
The Hip-Hop icon, born in St. Louis, acquired the Seattle franchise of the National Thoroughbred League and moved it to Illinois, rebranding the team as the St. Louis Nellies.
The team will make its official debut at the inaugural Nelly Cup on July 19, 2025, at Fairmount Park in Collinsville, Illinois.
“I’m excited to be part of bringing a new professional sports team to the city that means so much to me,” said Nelly. “The St. Louis Cup is set to be one of the summer’s premier events, and I can’t wait to hit the track and celebrate with our incredible St. Louis fans.”
The event will blend sport and entertainment, featuring live music, a fashion show and a trophy presentation by Nelly himself. Admission is free and open to the public.
The move comes after Nelly sold 50 percent of his music catalog to HarbourView Equity Partners for a reported $50 million.
The deal includes some of his most recognizable hits, such as “Hot in Herre,” “E.I.” and others. The catalog spans eight albums from his decades-long career.
By investing in the National Thoroughbred League, Nelly joins a growing list of celebrities entering the sports ownership space.
The league aims to modernize horse racing by combining competition with entertainment, and Nelly’s involvement brings both star power and hometown pride.
Fairmount Park, located just across the Mississippi River in Collinsville, has hosted horse racing for decades and now becomes home to one of the NTL’s newest franchises.