Sir Alex Ferguson has smashed a world record that he created with a huge purchase

Legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has broken his own world record by contributing to an incredible purchase.

Ferguson retired from football management upon departing United in 2013, but remained at the club as a director and still attends matches involving the senior men's and women's teams.

The Scot's other great passion outside of football is horse racing, with Ferguson memorably having two winners at the Cheltenham Festival earlier this year.

Monmiral and Protekorat both charged to victory on the third day of the festival, with Ferguson stating afterwards: "I've waited 20 years and now I've had two winners in 40 minutes!"

Horse racing, though, isn't a cheap business - as proven with Ferguson's latest purchase.

The Scot was part of a winning bid that resulted in the purchase of promising jumps horse Regent's Stroll for a staggering £660,000 via public auction, as per the Racing Post.

It is claimed that there was a bidding war between Tom Malone and trainer Paul Nicholls, who was representing the winning bid, and the managing director of Goffs UK, who were hosting the auction.

The previous record had been held by another horse bought in part by Ferguson, with Caldwell Potter sold for around £623,000 earlier this year.

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Regent's Stroll is yet to compete in a jumps race but has won both of the National Hunt flat races that it has entered.

Ridden by Harry Cobden, the horse won over 1m 71/2f at Ascot last year, before then stepping up to Class 2 and winning a 2m 1/2f race at Newbury back in March.

Speaking after the bidding war ended, Nichols told the Racing Post: "It's a huge relief as I don't think I've ever been as nervous in half an hour in all my life.

"It was my job to put people together and get the horses bought, which is what we've done. Everyone's been so supportive.

"He's been bought by existing owners headed up by John Hales and Ged Mason. Sir Alex Ferguson, Neil and Alfie Smith are involved too. There'll be a group of them involved but they'll sort it out tonight."