Deadliest Catch’s Wild Bill Has An Unexpected Passion For Horses That Only Hardcore Fans Know About

It should be no surprise to fans that Captain Wild Bill Wichrowski grew up fishing, eventually parlaying the interest into a full-fledged career. His more equine hobbies, however, have flown under the radar. In an appearance at the 2014 Hambletonian Stakes, Wild Bill outlined his passion for horses, which includes owning his own saddle horses, hunters, and jumpers.

Per the sailor, he caught the racing bug during his childhood in Western Pennsylvania. “I grew up outside of Pittsburgh, and at a young age, I went to The Meadows in Pittsburgh,” said Wild Bill (via Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment). That interest has persisted, and Wild Bill continues to seek out racing at events like the Kentucky Derby. He and his wife also own their own thoroughbreds. “We actually have horses in Mexico,” said Wild Bill. “When my wife isn’t working in Alaska, five days a week, she’s on horseback.”

Though Wild Bill’s social media presence primarily serves to showcase his sports fishing aptitude, his love of horses periodically makes an appearance. In 2020, he took to Instagram to mourn the death of his horse, Cameron. “Horses have an amazing long-term memory, and he was no different,” wrote Wild Bill. “He would hear my Dura max diesel pulling up to [the] ranch and always perk up to greet me.”