'This is the only way to force change' - American owner Mike Repole plans lawsuit against major US racing bodies

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Leading US owner Mike Repole is filing a lawsuit against American racing's largest bodies in a drive to force an overhaul of the sport's governance.

The outspoken owner of Breeders' Cup Classic winner Vino Rosso and multiple Grade 1 scorer Fierceness said he has notified the Jockey Club,  Breeders’ Cup, National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) and Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) to prepare for litigation.

In a post on social media platform X, he called it a "national lawsuit", one that was required to save the industry, with Repole hoping the legal action would bring to light hidden information.

He compared the action he is pursuing to the recent anti-trust lawsuit in US motor sport involving Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing team and Nascar, which was settled last year, and said such a case would “bring forward facts that have long remained hidden and are critical to the future of the sport".

He wrote: “It’s about saving the tracks, the people, the small owners and breeders, the fans and, most importantly, protecting the thoroughbred. My goal and mission is to make the changes needed so this sport not only survives but thrives for the next 100 years.”

In another post on X, he added: "I couldn’t sit back and watch the industry continue its steep decline with so many fighting to survive. With decades of incompetence and poor leadership from the old guard, we all deserve transparency and accountability from those who have been in power."

Speaking to the Thoroughbred Daily News, Repole said: “The Jockey Club and their entities, the Breeders’ Cup, the NTRA, TOBA, and all their stewards, have been notified legally what my intentions are. They’ve been notified to prepare for litigation and to preserve all documents, emails and texts. They, in turn, have notified me to do the same.”

The Jockey Club declined to comment when contacted by Thoroughbred Daily News, while the Breeders’ Cup said it “cannot comment on threatened or pending litigation”.

Repole has been an outspoken critic of the US racing industry, accusing several governing bodies of acting in their own self-interest rather than in what he views as the best interests of the sport.

“There’s a lawsuit and it gets very nasty,” he said. “There’s extensive discovery on both sides, followed by mediation, alliance and compromise. Even if the lawsuit doesn’t run its full course through the courts, it forces people to come to the table and engage, either through the legal system or by sitting down and making decisions.

"I will take this as far as I can, there is no financial ceiling to stop me. This wasn’t plan A, it wasn’t plan B, and it wasn’t plan C. Unfortunately, I really believe that litigation is the only way and the only chance we have of enforcing change.”

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