Aug. 27 (UPI) — NFL star Travis Kelce, whose popularity skyrocketed last season because of his relationship with girlfriend Taylor Swift, agreed to purchase a share of racehorse Swift Delivery, co-owner Team Valor announced Tuesday.
Team Valor CEO and founder Barry Irwin said in a news release that the Zoldan Family, who own Phantom Fireworks, and Kelce “recently acquired a significant share of Team Valor’s interest” in the 3-year-old gelding.
Swift Delivery, who is also owned by Gary Barber, won his first start for Team Valor in an allowance race July 19 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. The gelding also won a June 23 race when solely owned by Barber.
Swift Delivery will make his stakes debut at the Toronto Cup on Aug. 31 at Woodbine.
Kelce, 34, is entering his 12th NFL season. The nine-time Pro Bowl selection, four-time All-Pro and three-time Super Bowl champion signed a new, two-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs in April, making him the highest-paid tight end in NFL history.
The deal has an average annual value of $17 million.
The announcement of Kelce’s purchase in the gelding came the same day that Amazon’s podcast studio and publisher, Wondery, announced an ad-sales representation and distribution deal for New Heights, the show Kelce hosts with his brother, Jason.
Sources told Variety, People and The Hollywood Reporter that the agreement is for three years and worth at least $100 million.
“We couldn’t be more excited to team up with Wondery for the next phase of New Heights,” the Kelce brothers said. “We love this show and the fan base that has grown with us over the last two seasons.”
Kelce, who started dating Swift in September, also will host Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? That show will debut Oct. 16 on Amazon’s Prime Video.
The NFL veteran, often a fixture on commercials for various products during the football season, also will join the cast of the FX horror drama series, Grotesquerie, at some point this season. Kelce recently appeared in a trailer for that show, which will air its first episode Sept. 25.
Kelce and the Chiefs will launch the NFL’s regular season with a game against the Baltimore Ravens at 8:20 p.m. EDT Sept. 5 in Kansas City, Mo.
