A pair of marquee sporting figures have been in the mainstream news in the last couple of days due to their interest in the horse racing industry.

As an article by USA Today explains, United States Olympian Bode Miller has speculated that he may attempt to become a horse trainer in the future.

The report states that Miller currently owns a piece of some racehorses with thoroughbred conditioner Bob Baffert and that the skier could be getting into training horses.

“When I’m done (skiing career), I’ll always enjoy skiing,” said Miller. “I don’t know if I’ll find my way back coaching or something. I’m going to coach horses I think.”

A report by the Edmonton Sun explains that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, of the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers, grew up around the thoroughbred racing industry and is currently the owner of a filly that he hopes will make it to the races.

“Actually my mom’s dad was huge into it (horse racing) and he used to sell horses and stuff and used to breed them a little bit in Vancouver, at a track called Hastings,” Nugent-Hopkins told the Edmonton Sun. “My mom met my dad and they were both big horse racing fans. So my brother and I kind of grew up at the track.

“Every weekend we’d go and we’d spend a lot of time there, and my grandpa would be there all the time. It was kind of a family thing and it’s something that I’ve done throughout my whole life.”

(With files from the Edmonton Sun and USA Today)