Billionaire owner's brutal put-down of racing sheikh in ongoing public feud
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.'
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