Opinion
premium

Record betting turnover and most viewers this century - here's how the Kentucky Derby did it and what British racing can learn

Bill Barber on how a US influencer drove interest in the action at Churchill Downs

author image
Industry editor
Sovereignty and Junior Alvarado win the Kentucky Derby to complete a big-race double for Godolphin
Influencer Griffin Johnson has been credited with boosting interest in this year's Kentucky DerbyCredit: Michael Reeves (Getty Images)

The name Griffin Johnson was not one I was familiar with until recently but there are an awful lot of people who do know who he is and, in the last few months at least, also know about his involvement in horseracing.

Johnson, 26, is described as a content creator, social media star, actor and singer, and he has 9.7 million followers on TikTok, 2.7 million on Instagram and 1.6 million on X, the former Twitter.

He is also a shareholder in Sandman, who finished seventh behind Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby, and Johnson gave his followers behind-the-scenes insights into the colt's preparations for America's most famous race.

Read the full story

Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.

Subscribe to unlock
  • Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
  • Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
  • Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
  • Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
  • Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
  • Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Subscribe

Already a subscriber?Log in

Published on inOn The Money

Last updated

iconCopy