Latest news with #Repole
USA Today
31-07-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Mike Repole joins UFL: Why entrepreneur is investing in spring football league
The UFL is bringing a new investor into the fold as it enters a critical offseason ahead of its third season. The league announced on Thursday, July 31 that Mike Repole would be joining the UFL's ownership group and would head up its business operations. Repole, 56, is an entrepreneur who is best known for co-founding two sports drink companies: Glaceau, the maker of vitaminwater and smartwater, and BODYARMOR. He sold the companies to the Coca-Cola Company for more than $12 billion. Currently, Repole is the majority owner of NOBULL, an athletic apparel company backed by Tom Brady. He also owns Repole Stable, a horse-racing operation that has produced multiple Breeders' Cup and Belmont Stakes winners, along with Uncle Mo, who sired 2016 Kentucky Derby champion Nyquist. "The UFL is thrilled to welcome a visionary like Mike Repole to our ownership group," UFL president and CEO Russ Brandon said in a statement announcing the development. "Mike's entrepreneurial accomplishments are extraordinary, and his dynamic leadership will immediately elevate the league's business and brand trajectory." WHAT'S NEXT FOR UFL? News on expansion, attendance, plans for 2026 season Why Mike Repole is investing in the UFL Repole explained his interest in investing in the UFL stemmed from a variety of factors. Chief among them is football's ever-increasing popularity. "Football really has distanced itself from all the other sports right now," Repole told USA TODAY in an interview. "When you see the top 100 sports shows, football has 85 of them. It's just amazing." Repole noted that even offseason NFL events, such as the NFL scouting combine and NFL draft, draw in millions of viewers. He believes that audience indicates an appetite for football on which a spring league, like the UFL, could capitalize. Already, Repole is confident in the league's "good" viewership. He knows it won't compare to top NFL or college football events, but he is confident it can rival the viewership of its direct competition, such as the WNBA, MLS, NHL, NBA and MLB. "For a league that has the lowest awareness out of all these other leagues, it does pretty well," Repole said of the UFL's TV ratings. Repole credited Brandon and Daryl Johnston for creating an on-field product that has drawn fans to watch the fledgling league. However, the 56-year-old knows it will be critical to enhance the at-game experience for the UFL to establish roots. "When some of the stadiums look like COVID games and there are no fans, and there really isn't a cheering section, I think there's a disconnect with how the product is connecting," Repole explained. That attendance challenge is one of the factors that excites Repole about joining the UFL. He already has started assessing ways to improve that, from potential franchise relocation to venue changes. "I think the biggest opportunity is picking the right city, picking the right markets, picking the right venues and then really connecting with every fan, one fan at a time, and spending more time in that local region," he detailed. What will that process look like for the UFL in 2026? Repole and the league are still mapping that out. UFL RELOCATION RUMORS: What we know about league's plans for 2026 Nonetheless, he remains steadfast the UFL, with some tweaks, can establish itself as the a long-term staple of the spring sports calendar. "You've heard about spring football for over 30 years now," he said. "There's a reason why people are still at it."
Daily Mirror
06-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Billionaire owner's brutal put-down of racing sheikh in ongoing public feud
Mike Repole shared a video of Sheikh Fahad Al Thani falling off a horse in a charity race at Newmarket after he stuck up for rival owner John Stewart A billionaire racehorse owner has brutally put down a racing sheikh after he intervened in an ongoing public feud with another rival. Mike Repole is one of the most successful owners in US horse racing. The New Yorker, who sold his drinks manufacturing businesses to Coca Cola for nearly £8 billion, poured his fortune into establishing a racing stable which has produced star names such as Uncle Mo and Breeders' Cup winners Fierceness and Forte. In the last 12 months he has been engaged in increasingly spiky exchanges on social media with a relative newcomer to the sport, John Stewart. Former Toyota production line worker Stewart, who runs his own private equity business, has spent millions establishing his Resolute Racing racing and breeding operation since 2023. The vocal Repole has branded himself the 'commissioner' of horse racing in the US who is committed to unifying the factions in the sport but his banter with Stewart has become increasingly bitter. Last year, after Stewart described Repole as 'divisive', the New Yorker responded by calling his rival an 'arrogant, free spending new kid on the block' and a 'shallow rich guy'. Stewart, who last year added the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Goliath to his string, is sponsoring races this weekend at the Belmont Stakes fixture at Saratoga. He explained he had become involved for 'for the horseplayers and the fans. Without the horseplayers and the fans the sport doesn't exist in the US.' He added: 'There are enough 'look at me' people in the horse industry that are just in it for what they can get from it. 'I believe that in order to be a true participant in horse racing you have to support the broader industry. I am not a breed to sell operation and we don't stand stallions so some may argue that we shouldn't sponsor races. 'Resolute sponsors races for the same reason we participate in stallions shares and hold free promotional events for fans and industry participants. 'I want Resolute to promote the sport and to engage with others. Of course we like winning races and we do, but we like handing out trophies to others and celebrating others success.' Repole could not resist commenting on the post, and responded: 'I have to give credit where credit is due. In the 150 year history of Thoroughbred Racing, Little John is the ONLY owner to ever sponsor more races than he has won!!!!! This is an historic and epic feat that will never be duplicated!!!!! 'I am ashamed and embarrassed to admit that Repole Stable has won over 1000 career races, over 100 stake races, Classics, Breeders Cups, won the Travers 2x, Multiple Eclipse Awards etc, etc, and NEVER sponsored a race. 'I would like to 'sincerely' apologize to my family, friends, all of Gioia's stuffed animals and the Thoroughbred industry for any embarrassment I have caused you by consistently winning races. Will you forgive me?' Rallying to Stewart's side, Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, whose Qatar Racing is a partner in some of Stewart's horses and who through Qipco has been a major sponsor in Britain, remarked: 'At least someone gives back to the races. We all have to do our part not just take.' But Repole dug up a clip of Sheikh Fahad falling off his horse and crashing through the rail during the 2017 Newmarket Town Plate. The sheikh suffered minor cuts to his head and face. He said: 'Sheikh Fahad, I will take the high road on this disappointing post, because we both know this is untrue. I am just happy you and the horse were both OK after this incident.' He signed it :'Mike From Queens.'
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kentucky Derby 2025: Grande scratched from race, reducing field to 19 horses
A second horse has been scratched from Saturday's Kentucky Derby, a day and a half before the 2025 race. Grande was scratched due to a foot bruise, owner Mike Repole announced Friday. The horse was slated to start in the ninth post and was at 20-1 odds before being pulled from the race. All horses that were on the outside of Grande will now move in one gate on Saturday. For trainer Todd Pletcher, Grande's scratch will end his record streak of 21 consecutive Derbies. His horses have twice won the Kentucky Derby with Super Saver finishing first in 2010 and Always Dreaming winning in 2017. John Velazquez was to have been Grande's jockey. "Unfortunately, the vets have decided to scratch Grande from tomorrow's Kentucky Derby," Repole posted on X on Friday. "He has been battling a slight cracked heel this week which has been improving," he continued. "To be cautious, Todd X-rayed on Monday and the horse had clean X-rays. On Wednesday, the state vets asked us if we could do a PET scan, and Grande had that yesterday and it was also clean." However, despite the clean diagnostics and improvement during the week, Kentucky state veterinarians decided to scratch Grande. Repole's team was "shocked" and "confused" by the ruling, he said. "The heel has improved throughout the week and it also improved again this morning," Repole added. "Unfortunately the vets told us this morning they were scratching the horse despite the clean diagnostics. We were very confused with all the clean diagnostics and improvement all week, why they rushed to judgment to scratch today." This will be the third time Repole has had a horse scratched from the Derby. Uncle Mo was pulled from the race in 2011 due to a gastrointestinal infection. And in 2023, Forte was scratched on the morning of the event because of a bruised right foot. Repole has never had a horse win the Derby in eight tries. Grande joins Rodriguez as scratches from Saturday's race. Trained by Bob Baffert and opening as a 12-1 favorite, Rodriguez was scratched on Thursday because of a foot bruise. The field for the 2025 Kentucky Derby is now down to 19 horses.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kentucky Derby 2025: Grande scratched from race, reducing field to 19 horses
A second horse has been scratched from Saturday's Kentucky Derby, a day and a half before the 2025 race. Grande was scratched due to a foot bruise, owner Mike Repole announced Friday. The horse was slated to start in the ninth post and was at 20-1 odds before being pulled from the race. All horses that were on the outside of Grande will now move in one gate on Saturday. For trainer Todd Pletcher, Grande's scratch will end his record streak of 21 consecutive Derbies. His horses have twice won the Kentucky Derby with Super Saver finishing first in 2010 and Always Dreaming winning in 2017. John Velazquez was to have been Grande's jockey. "Unfortunately, the vets have decided to scratch Grande from tomorrow's Kentucky Derby," Repole posted on X on Friday. "He has been battling a slight cracked heel this week which has been improving," he continued. "To be cautious, Todd X-rayed on Monday and the horse had clean X-rays. On Wednesday, the state vets asked us if we could do a PET scan, and Grande had that yesterday and it was also clean." However, despite the clean diagnostics and improvement during the week, Kentucky state veterinarians decided to scratch Grande. Repole's team was "shocked" and "confused" by the ruling, he said. "The heel has improved throughout the week and it also improved again this morning," Repole added. "Unfortunately the vets told us this morning they were scratching the horse despite the clean diagnostics. We were very confused with all the clean diagnostics and improvement all week, why they rushed to judgment to scratch today." This will be the third time Repole has had a horse scratched from the Derby. Uncle Mo was pulled from the race in 2011 due to a gastrointestinal infection. And in 2023, Forte was scratched on the morning of the event because of a bruised right foot. Repole has never had a horse win the Derby in eight tries. Grande joins Rodriguez as scratches from Saturday's race. Trained by Bob Baffert and opening as a 12-1 favorite, Rodriguez was scratched on Thursday because of a foot bruise. The field for the 2025 Kentucky Derby is now down to 19 horses.
Fox Sports
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
The 151st Kentucky Derby's field reduced to 19 with scratch of Grande
Grande has been scratched from the Kentucky Derby, reducing the field for Saturday's 151st edition to 19 horses. He joins Rodriguez on the sidelines after that colt was scratched on Thursday. [MORE: 2025 Kentucky Derby: Post time, updated odds, TV schedule, horses, date, purse] Repole said various diagnostic tests on Grande came back clean, including a PET scan requested by Kentucky state veterinarians. He said the 3-year-old colt had been "training and looking great" on the track all week. Repole has had this happen twice before. In 2011, Uncle Mo was scratched the day before the race because of a gastrointestinal infection. In 2023, Forte was scratched the morning of the race due to a bruised right front foot. The self-made billionaire from New York is 0-for-8 in the Derby. "We all love these horses and our number one concern is the safety and welfare of these amazing Thoroughbreds," Repole wrote. "That is, and should always be the priority." [MORE: 2025 Kentucky Derby: Chris 'The Bear' Fallica's expert picks, best bets] Rodriguez's scratch moved Baeza into the field. He was the only horse on the also-eligible list, so there will be no replacement for Grande. Grande was the lone runner for two-time Derby-winning trainer Pletcher and was to be ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily ! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Horse Racing in this topic
