National Basketball Association

Bryant, Gasol partner up on racehorse

Published Apr. 25, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Kobe Bryant outbid his Lakers teammate Pau Gasol for a racehorse called Siempre Mio, but the Spaniard was so enamored with the name — which translates to "Always Mine" — that the original owner allowed the pair to become partners.

Mark Verge, the CEO of Los Angeles-area thoroughbred race track Santa Anita Park, offered a 25 percent stake in the four-year-old gelding as part of a Lakers Foundation fundraiser at Riviera Country Club on Tuesday night.

"What ended up happening was that Kobe and Pau got into a bidding war and Kobe finally outran Pau at $8,000," Verge said.

"I decided that since Pau was bidding with interest and he really did give it the old college try, I'd donate another 25 percent to him as long as he made a separate donation to the Lakers Foundation.

"So now, Kobe and Pau own 50 percent of Siempre Mio, with no expenses, for the rest of the year."

The horse's trainer, Doug O'Neill, said he had spoken to Jeanie Buss, the daughter of Lakers owner Jerry Buss, about getting silks made with the team colors, bloodhorse.com reported.

"She said, 'Just make them, and we'll use them as long as the legal team passes them,' " O'Neill said.

O'Neill said $24,000 was raised in total for charity with the sale of Siempre Mio.