Prominent owner Mike Repole is living the American dream. He grew up in Queens, N.Y. His mother, Anna, was a seamstress and his father, Benny, was a waiter. He developed a passion for racing while making frequent trips to nearby Aqueduct Racetrack.
His life straddles the history of horse racing and he’s seen it all from the back of a horse. Seventy-three-year-old Mike Crowder gets to Churchill Downs every morning by 4 a.m.. He tends to his morning chores with his two ponies, Blue and Levi, and readies them to escort the Japanese Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve contenders to the track.
Tom Pedulla is interviewing prominent owners, trainers, and jockeys as they travel the Road to the 149th Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve May 6 at Churchill Downs.
“Let’s go, girls!” Shania’s voice rang out as Pied and I came to a stop, running into the indoor at the Kentucky Horse Park during our Freestyle routine at the 2021 Mega-Makeover. This was a targeted choice, as not only was Shania Twain’s CD one of the first I ever purchased, but if you are a millennial, there is a good chance she basically raised you. Let’s also not forget she is a fellow horse enthusiast! From “That Don’t Impress Me Much” to “Any Man of Mine,” the standards she taught us to hold were certainly the highest… who is Brad Pitt anyway? We’ll get back to this.
The most exciting week of every year in horse racing is upon us, and all eyes are laser-focused on Churchill Downs as 3-year-old Thoroughbreds prepare to run in the 149th Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on Saturday, May 6.
