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In the opinion of Mike Repole, also known as the Commish, every participant in the horse racing industry is inefficient except himself. This includes Stuart S. Janney III, chairman of the nonprofit Jockey Club, whom Repole criticizes for running the sport into the ground, and Churchill Downs Inc., which hosts the Kentucky Derby and frequently falls short of Repole’s expectations. Newcomer John Stewart also faces Repole’s ridicule due to what he perceives as arrogance and frivolous spending.
Repole communicates these criticisms through various social media platforms and podcasts. The prominent horse owner, who earned his wealth through the beverage sector, sees his role as acting as a disruptor to an industry he believes is on a doomed trajectory.
In January, Repole tweeted, “You want real or you want fake??? You want loud or you want quiet??? You want intensity or you want passive??? You want better or you want worse??? Love me or Hate me,” implying his intention to transform the equestrian business.
However, on Saturday, Repole will be focused on the Kentucky Derby, where his horse, Fierceness, will compete. Despite the seven unsuccessful attempts of previously owned horses in past Derby races, Repole remains optimistic.
The 55-year-old declined talking to The New York Times following last year’s incident involving his colt Forte testing positive for an anti-inflammatory drug in New York.
Apart from horse racing, Repole has made significant strides in the beverage industry, launching products that eventually got bought by Coca-Cola for nearly $10 billion. He also recently merged his sneaker and apparel company, Nobull, with Tom Brady’s health and nutrition company, TB12.
Even with his successful ventures, Repole’s dissatisfaction with the racehorse industry is evident. He frequently voices his opinions and criticizes those he believes are diminishing the sport. He has expressed his disapproval of the Jockey Club’s decision to honour Janney with a lifetime achievement award and given scathing reviews of Janney’s acceptance speech.
Repole’s outspokenness has sparked friction with other participants in the industry, such as Stewart, who insists that while Repole has good ideas, his execution lacks tact. Despite the outcome of the upcoming Kentucky Derby, it’s clear that Repole will continue to push for changes that align with his vision for the industry.
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