Mike Repole, a well-known Thoroughbred owner and rich businessman, has started to set up a big lawsuit that could put many US horse racing groups under the legal microscope. Repole said he has officially told some of the sport’s most powerful organizations that he is preparing to sue. He sees this as a last-ditch try to make the changes he thinks the sport needs.
Billionaire Owner Eyes Antitrust Fight Against Horse Racing Leaders
Repole says the planned lawsuit would go after groups like The Jockey Club, the Breeders’ Cup, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) as well as their leaders and stewards. He mentions these organizations have been told to keep their internal messages and records, as they might be needed in court. He adds that he has gotten similar notices back from them.
Repole sees similarities between his approach and the antitrust case that Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing team brought against NASCAR. The case ended with a deal in late 2025. Repole thinks this shows how legal action can push stubborn sports groups to fix management problems and power imbalances, reported Thoroughbred Daily News. He believes this can happen without going through a full court battle.
A key part of Repole’s case is likely to center on worries about antitrust and conflicts of interest. He has often said that a small group of leaders has roles in several racing organizations, which bunches up power and cuts down on openness. Repole thinks this setup has held back new ideas and stopped real change as the sport deals with fewer foals being born, racetracks closing, and less public interest.
Repole Escalates Fight for Retired Racehorses and Industry Reform
Taking care of horses is another big part of what he is pushing for. While big accidents during races make the news, Repole points out that thousands of old racehorses each year cannot find good homes. He has called out the industry for not setting up a full system to look after these horses, saying that this moral problem shows there are deeper issues in how things work.
Repole says he has tried to work within the system for years. He set up meetings and talked with industry executives. He got some good reactions and some not-so-good ones, but he thinks nothing much came of it. Now he sees suing as the only way left to make stakeholders sit down and talk.
He has not picked a date to file yet, but Repole says he has been getting ready since mid-2025. Several law firms are already on board. He knows the case might not make it to court, but he points out that just digging up evidence could bring hidden practices to light.
Industry groups asked to comment have refused to respond, saying they do not talk about lawsuits that might happen or are already happening. However, Repole is not giving up. He says he is ready to take the case as far as needed and would not stop because of money. At the same time, he has hinted that if he cannot make changes this time, he might leave the sport for good.