DENNIS ALBAUGH loves horsepower.
It doesn't matter whether it's of the literal or the car kind either, as he owns plenty of both.
Albaugh owns the well-fancied Angel Of Empire and part owns Jace’s Road, but he is better known for his huge collection of Chevy convertibles.
The American businessman is the founder and chairman of a pesticide and fertiliser company, but his first love is clearly cars.
Albaugh has a collection of around 150 cars, with the vast majority being Chevy convertibles, and it is one of the biggest in the US.
He bought his first car in 1998 - a Chevy Bel Air convertible - from a golfing friend, which started him on the slippery slope.
He told his wife he would stop when he completed the Tri-Five Chevrolets, but that promise did not last.
According to Murl Randall, a Chevrolet historian and collector, the collection is 'probably the best assemblage of convertible Chevys in the country'.
TwinSpires Kentucky Derby promo: $200 sign-up bonus
SIGN UP AND EARN A $200 BONUS
The above offers are available in the following states at present: AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NH, NM, NY, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY. 21+ Full T&Cs apply.
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 21+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler
His collection is worth millions and is housed in a colossal 28,000 sq ft garage.
To put that into context, it’s the equivalent of an 11 bed, 18 bathroom mansion.
Most read in Horse Racing
Albaugh said he believed that the most valuable of his cars was a 1953 Corvette, one of only 300 made.
The billionaire businessman, who purchased the roadster in 2008 from a restorer in Indiana for $325,000, said with typical understatement: "It was very hard to find."
The collection is so good, it’s showcased every year at the Albaugh Classic Car Show in Ankeny, Iowa.
Punters line pay $20 to see his famous collection, with the Iowa native having an estimated worth of $1.5billion in 2016.
The show is hosted by the man himself Karl Chevrolet and also showcases the cars of Carl Moyer, who is a longtime friend of Albaugh.
His horses aren’t so bad either.
Albaugh Family Stables owns Angel of Empire, who stamped his Kentucky credentials by winning the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in April.
That race is usually a good trial for the Derby itself and his draw should not be a hindrance to his already sizable chances.
He was a shrewd bit of business, costing just $70,000, with the average purchase price of this year’s Derby field being $530,000.
Albaugh told the Des Moines Register: “He didn’t look like a great horse but we didn’t let that scare us off.
“Maybe that’s why we picked him up at that price, but he fit what we were looking for. That’s what counted for us.”
Albaugh is no stranger to owning great horses and has owned four that have won at the top-level.
Read More on The US Sun
Brody’s Cause won the Blue Grass Stakes, while Juju’s Map landed the Alcibiades and Free Drop Billy the Breeders’ Futurity.
Albaugh Family Stables have accrued a whopping $9,335,683 in prize money and that does not include the horses they have a part share in.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTEZqqupl6YvK570qmmq6xfbX10gZNxamijlaPBtq%2FKsmSdnaKXxm671qecq2WTnbK3xYycmKtlk6S5rbHCraCopl8%3D