Repole: `It’s Time Now That the Owners Take Back This Game’

In an interview with Nick Luck on Sunday's Spinster broadcast on NBC, Mike Repole called for the creation of a national owners' association that would “take back this game,” from the entities that now control it.

Repole indicated that he had started discussions with other interested owners and trainers, and expressed his discontent with the current state of the sport and how it is run, stressing that every other major sport is controlled at the ownership level.

“The frustration level…” he said. “I mean, this year, even though our success has been amazing, there isn't anything in this sport that is good right now. We need to make this sport better, so I want to start an association with the biggest owners and the biggest trainers. I think it's our responsibility. People say, `whose fault is it? Why is racing this bad?' I blame myself. I blame the owners. In other sports, like the NFL or the NBA, the owners are very involved. They run the sport. and here, we let everyone else run it for us, so I think owners and trainers taking care of the horses, the jockeys, the fans, the bettors, the tracks, working with the tracks, working with the other groups–it's time now that the owners take back this game.”

Luck pointed out that Repole had spent millions on yearlings at the Keeneland September sale just a few weeks prior.

“You just said there's nothing good about this sport, but a couple of weeks ago, just down the hill, you spent $14 million,” Luck said.

“Because I'm a big idiot, just like every owner in this game,” said Repole. “We take this. We take this from Churchill. We take this from other tracks. We take this from other associations. It can't happen any more.”

Last week, in a TDN survey about the Kentucky purse, Is The Derby Purse Fair? Repole expressed a strong opinion that the $3 million Derby purse, largely funded by nomination, entry and starting fees, was not fair.

“It's beyond embarrassing,” he said. “But not only do we put up a third of the purse with fees, but the way the owners get treated is an embarrassment. And the more I reflect, the more I'm starting to really realize that the blame of this lies with the owners and the trainers. As long as we keep letting tracks make the rules…and be ruled by the ineffective associations that represent owners, trainers, and jockeys in the sport without really having done them justice, the more we have to look ourselves in the mirror.”

He expressed a similar sentiment to Luck on the telecast.

“If we want to move forward, the only way is that the owners take over the control,” he said.” I spoke to a lot of owners. I spoke to a lot of trainers. We're going to work with the tracks, we're going to work with the other associations, we're going to work with HISA. We're going to work with horse rescue. We're going to work with vets. We're going to work with track surfaces. We're the ones that are putting money in this game. I spent $14 million dollars in this game (at Keeneland September) because I want (daughter) Gioia to be in it for a long, long time, and I care about this sport.”

Watch the interview here. 

Monday afternoon, Repole added some details in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. The post, in its entirety, reads:

“It's time!!!!! Racing needs change NOW. We need a NEW association led by the owners and trainers of this game that we all love and are passionate about. We need to turn selfish into SELFLESS and each do our part for the future of this great sport that is in poor health. The goal of this association will be to make all facets of racing better. We need to make it better and safer for horses, fans, gamblers, jockeys, trainers, owners, breeders, backstretch, tracks, etc, etc. This association will not just be focused on the top 10%, the goal is to make positive change for EVERYONE involved in the game. This seismic change doesn't happen overnight but it has to start now if it is ever going to happen. The plan is to unite and work together with the tracks, HISA, other racing associations, and the sales companies. We all want a better sport and it's about time we unite and leave the competition inside the racetrack not outside. Non cooperative tracks remember the owners and trainers control the entry box. I'm asking all owners and all trainers to help lead this mission!!!!! I'm asking you all to stop talking and let's unite for progress. Walk the talk!!!!! Here's a sneak peak into some of the focus items we will address: Working with HISA to improve horse safety with an advisory committee of the most experienced Thoroughbred Vets with the #1 goal to protect these amazing & loving equine athletes. Working with tracks on having three surfaces if possible, turf, dirt and synthetic. If not possible push for a synthetic training track. Stand up and back 99% of the trainers who devote their lives and work extremely hard. There are cheaters, crooks, in every industry and facet of life, they make up a small percentage. Significantly increase the purses for older horses. Having it make sense for owners and trainers to bring back these older horses. Long term this will lead to breeding older and more durable horses that will strengthen the breed. Have every consignment owner, bloodstock agent, jockey agent, veterinarian, etc. licensed with not only rules and regulations but fines, suspensions and penalties for everyone involved. Fix two year old sales. Horses will be tested when entered, weeks prior to the breeze and tested post breeze. We will also ban the stupidity of a 1 furlong 9.3 breeze. I would suggest they work go 3f or just gallop only before the auction. Promote ownership through reputable racing syndicates to get more owners in the game and at the same time educate them on horse ownership. Work with both Gen Z & Millennials with national programs focusing on the future of racing that includes future trainers, fans, grooms, gamblers, owners, media, etc. We need the next generation involved if racing has a future. Educate, upgrade and innovate the gambling of this sport. Be creative, let's think out of the box. Openly share your thoughts, comments and ideas with the industry and me. Do not hide or be afraid to speak up and share your true opinion to make the game better. If you get fired I will hire you for the new association!!!!! (Unless your name is Joe Drape) Are you willing to unite for progress??? #uniteforprogress LFG!!!!!”

The post is signed, “Mike from Queens, Racing Fan”

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Knicks Go Maintains Lead Over Letruska In NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll

Korea Racing Stable's 5-year-old horse Knicks Go, the leading contender for the Grade 1, $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Del Mar, retained his top ranking for the 10th consecutive week in this week's NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll. Knicks Go, a winner of four of six starts this year including his last three races, received 23 first place votes and 340 points.

St. George Stable's 5-year-old mare Letruska remained in second place in the poll with six first place votes and 310 points following an impressive victory in Sunday's Grade 1 Spinster Stakes at Keeneland. Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, Letruska is a leading contender for the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Another Cox trainee, Godolphin's 3-year-old standout colt Essential Quality, who is expected to take on elders for the first time in the Breeders' Cup Classic, remained in third place in this week's poll with seven first place votes and 300 points.

Roadrunner Racing, William Strauss, Boat Racing and Gainesway Stable's Hot Rod Charlie, another leading Classic contender, moved from fifth-place to fourth in this week's poll with 156 points. Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior, a leading contender for the Grade 1, $2,000,000 Breeders' Cup Sprint, fell one spot to fifth-place with 154 points.

Zedan Racing Stable's Breeders' Cup Classic hopeful, Medina Spirit (130 points), moved up one spot to sixth-place, overtaking Michael Lund Peterson's Gamine (127 points), who is being pointed for the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. There were no other changes in this week's rankings with Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector (98 points), George Hall's Max Player (85 points) and Klaravich Stable's Domestic Spending (70 points) rounding out the top 10.

Click here for this week's complete poll results.

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Leading Lady Letruska Tops Field Of Seven For ‘Win And You’re In’ Spinster

St. George Stable's Letruska, who has firmly established herself as the leading mare in the land, heads a field of seven fillies and mares entered Thursday for Sunday's 66th running of the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) at Keeneland.

Scheduled as the ninth race on Sunday's 10-race program, the Juddmonte Spinster is a Breeders' Cup Challenge race with the winner receiving a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) to be run Nov. 6 at Del Mar. Post time for the Juddmonte Spinster is 5:15 p.m. ET with first post at 1 p.m.

Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, Letruska has had her Breeders' Cup ticket punched three times by virtue of victories in the Ogden Phipps (G1), Fleur de Lis (G2) and Personal Ensign (G1) Presented by Lia Infiniti. Prior to the Ogden Phipps victory, Letruska started her four-race win streak with a nose victory over champion Monomoy Girl in the Apple Blossom (G1) in April at Oaklawn Park.

Since taking the Personal Ensign on Aug. 28, Letruska has had two bullet works at Keeneland. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount Sunday from post position four.

Back to challenge Letruska from the Personal Ensign are Juddmonte's Bonny South and Peter Brant's Dunbar Road.

Trained by Brad Cox, Bonny South has been a runner-up twice to Letruska. She came up 2¾ lengths short in the Ogden Phipps and was a half-length shy in the Personal Ensign. Winner of the Baird Doubledogdare (G3) here this spring, Bonny South will be ridden Florent Geroux out of post position two.

Dunbar Road finished fourth in the Personal Ensign, beaten just three-quarters of a length. Trained by Chad Brown, Dunbar Road was third in last year's Breeders' Cup Distaff here. In her only other Keeneland start, she ran third in the 2019 Juddmonte Spinster.

Dunbar Road will exit post one under jockey Flavien Prat.

The field for the Juddmonte Spinster, with riders and weights from the inside, is:

  1. Dunbar Road (Prat, 124 pounds)
  2. Bonny South (Geroux, 124)
  3. Town Avenger (Julien Leparoux, 121)
  4. Letruska (Ortiz Jr., 124)
  5. Envoutante (Brian Hernandez Jr., 124)
  6. Crystal Ball (Tyler Gaffalione, 124)
  7. High Regard (Rafael Bejarano, 124)

The post Leading Lady Letruska Tops Field Of Seven For ‘Win And You’re In’ Spinster appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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McPeek, Gaffalione’s Agent Pointing Fingers Over Preakness Decision With Swiss Skydiver

Tyler Gaffalione rode top 3-year-old filly Swiss Skydiver to win the G1 Alabama and then to a second-place finish in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, and according to her trainer Ken McPeek, was scheduled to ride her in her next start, as well. This week, McPeek told the Thoroughbred Daily News that Gaffalione's agent, Matt Muzikar, had reneged on their agreement.

“I announced that we're going to run in the Preakness and Tyler was on board,” McPeek said on the podcast. “By maybe 6:00 that night, his agent tells us that he can't ride. And I'm like, 'Look, you've given us a two-race commitment [GI Kentucky Oaks and Preakness].' He said, 'Oh well, sorry, I've got to ride for Chad Brown at Keeneland.' I said, 'You can't do this. It's dishonorable.' I've been doing this for 35 years and I've never had something like that happen. I still find it dishonorable. Shame on Tyler Gaffalione and his agent.”

Muzikar responded Friday, telling TDN that McPeek had informed him, nine days prior, that Swiss Skydiver would be running in the Spinster Stakes at Keeneland, held on the day after this year's Preakness Stakes. Thus, Muzikar began booking Gaffalione mounts for Keeneland that weekend.

When McPeek announced that he planned to run the filly in the Preakness at Pimlico instead, seven days ahead of the race, Muzikar wasn't able to get out of his commitments at Keeneland on Saturday. McPeek wound up giving the Preakness call on Swiss Skydiver to Robby Albarado, who won the race.

“What did he expect us to do? Not take business for the Preakness card or at Keeneland and sit there and wait for Kenny McPeek because the world revolves around him?” Muzikar said. “Knocking me and the jockey, he crossed a line.

“Tyler had nothing to do with this whole situation, so I don't like him knocking the jockey. Tyler is the greatest kid and the greatest jock I have had in the 26 years I have been doing this. He did nothing to him.”

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

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