(Forte / Photo by Holly M. Smith)

(Fierceness / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

Enough is enough.

And, when you think about it just a tad, too much has always been way too much.

Mike Repole — the arrogant, obnoxious, self-proclaimed genius of all things Thoroughbreds — has finally hit the last nerve, and, as far as I’m concerned,  it is way past time that the brash, out-spoken, flippant egotist, who excuses his immature and brazen personality as just being “New Yorkish,” takes off in another direction and chases another windmill.

Instead…

Maybe he should try his hand at mucking out the pit.

After all, he’s full of the stuff that fills it up on a regular basis.

Repole’s latest foray into the abyss has come this past week — on his own Jan. 19 “X/Twitter” blast — with his threat that he is going to blow up the entire Thoroughbred industry with his version of a “NASCAR-like” federal, class-action lawsuit aimed at the likes of The Jockey Club, the Breeders’ Cup, the NTRA, and TOBA.

But that’s not all, either.

After he expects to win the lawsuit, whatever decade that may be, Repole has said publicly that he vows to recreate the industry in his own image.

Ugh.

As in, ugly.

If you have ever cast an eye on this modern-day, common man’s Don Quixote, you know that is not a pretty sight. In other words, he is not going to be cast as the next Bond…James Bond. Maybe he could be a “double” for David Cross, who filled the job of “Ian Hawke” in the movie of “Alvin and the Chipmunks” films back in 2007 to 2011. Remember that greedy music executive in the movies series? That’s what I get when I see Repole.

Ugh.

But back to the points…

Here’s the base line truth of the matter.

Mike Repole — who has had a considerable amount of success racing horses over the past decade and has, to his credit, invested millions in chasing the rainbows of the Triple Crown and other major Stakes races around the globe — has a serious problem with desperately needing to stroke his rather large ego on a consistent, almost daily basis. In fact, one could call his obsession with his obsession — himself — is a fetish of gross proportions.

Quite honestly, Repole simply (yep, simply) overrates his own self worth when it comes to “good ideas” on how to make the Thoroughbred sport and industry better. Has he had a good one yet? Maybe. Somewhere out there? Can anyone dig through the rubble and find one. Just one? I can’t remember. Because they get lost in the myriad of manure that he throws on top on a daily basis.

Quite honestly, Repole can’t take a day off from patting himself on his own “X” account “back” long enough to know that most people in this sport would rather stab him there, or kick him just a couple of feet below the back area.

Quite honestly, Repole’s constant reminders that he comes from the “other side of the tracks;” that he “made his own way” in the business world due to his “amazing work ethic;” that he rose from obscurity to the fraternity ranks of American billionaires due to his  willingness to take risks and call out “house of cards” along life’s journey; and his “finger punching” the chest of the established hierarchy of the Thoroughbred racing world are as old and tired as are most of his ideas.

If you disagree and are prone to blindly accept the ramblings of a troubled billionaire egomanatic (does that sound familiar to those who know a man in OUR White House?), then just tell me one thing:

Why hasn’t the man who professes to have an unlimited amount of funds to self-sponsor his critic-based idea to tear down the current version of the Thoroughbred industry that exists and thrives in some jurisdictions spent any of his billions/zillions of dollars on investing in either infrastructure or research & development to give any credibility at all to any of the ideas that he espouses about on every social medium platform known to mankind.

Once upon a time, there was a dreamer or two who didn’t like the old National Basketball Association. They went out and created and built the old American Basketball Association. From the ground up. It got so successful that the old NBA had to merge with the new ABA and the likes of John Y. and Ellie Brown (who founded the Kentucky Colonels and later folded into the Denver Nuggets), and the likes of Richard Tinkham, John DeVoe, Chuck DeVoe and Chuck Barnes (who created the original Indiana Pacers in 1967). The outcome was a better pro league.

Once upon a time, there was a dreamer or two who didn’t care for the aristocracy that was the old National Football League. They went out and created and built the American Football League. From the ground up. It got so successful that the old NFL had to merge with the likes of Barron Hilton and then Eugene Klein (the San Diego Chargers) and Lamar Hunt (the Kansas City Chiefs) to build a bigger and better NFL.

Now, faced with a similar dream, Mike Repole has refused to build an infrastructure to create a new Thoroughbred industry. Has he built a new model? While spending his money on horses — good horses, mind you — has he spent any of his money on building a new “game?” If so, where is it? What is it?

Mike Repole is no John Gaines, who built the Breeders’ Cup from the ground up and was the inspiration behind the Thoroughbred Racing Association.

Mike Repole is not even close to being a Bill Carstanjen, who has built Churchill Downs and helped build the Kentucky Thoroughbred racing circuit into the best in the land.

Mike Repole is simply too damn lazy to do what those two great Horsemen have done to help build a bigger, better and stronger industry in our lifetimes and in our midsts. If not, why don’t you duplicate what has already worked wonderfully?

Go build relationships in the political world and create legislation that builds the horse industry, step by step.

Go build relationships with other sports betting interests — like the Native American tribes — and negotiate the first treaty ever that will benefit all parties. Build the first legal agreement that we — the white-collared billionaires — will keep. Construct a contract that we — the rich and the so-called famous — will honor and acknowledge every word. Commit to an agreement where we will ensure every provision is followed today and tomorrow and splits revenues in a way that will guaranteed all are treated fairly, equally, and with respect — including the Native Americans. That would be a nice and refreshing approach, for once.

Go build.

That’s what we did in Kentucky. We built from within. We built, sometimes, without.

But we built. All the while, we built.

Damon Thayer, a Thoroughbred executive, ran for the Kentucky State Senate and worked himself into a powerful leadership position as the Majority Floor Leader. David Osborne, a working horse farmer and breeder, ran for the Kentucky House of Representatives and worked himself all the way up to the most important position as the Speaker of the House. Matt Koch, who comes from a family who is rooted as deeply in the horse industry as any field of blue, fescue or clover, ran for the Kentucky House of Representatives, too. He worked himself all the way up to the Chairmanship of the powerful House Licensing & Occupations Committee. Horse owner Tom O’Dell Smith ran for the Kentucky House of Representatives, too, and he is now a powerful and influential leader, as well. Michael Meredith, an astute young farmer from Southwest Kentucky, ran for the Kentucky House of Representatives and is now an important Committee chairman, and a sponsor of nearly all sports betting legislation.

And, the proof is in the pudding.

Kentucky is now the best racing state in all of these United States of America. The best.

Kentucky Downs has the largest purse structure of any racetrack in North America.

Churchill Downs — which now owns Ellis Park and Turfway Park — has maiden races with purses higher than Stakes races in California.

Keeneland is still Keeneland.

And, the Standardbred industry — which once was on the cusp of total destruction in Kentucky — now has three tracks racing live.

A new Quarter Horse track is on the cusp of opening.

Things are rocking.

It didn’t use to be that way. It didn’t have to be that way now. But we worked. And, we built.

We didn’t file meaningless lawsuits to try to defile one segment of the industry and pit against another. We built alliances, coalitions, friends. We built legislative language. We built legislative friendships. We built.

No, it is not easy. No, it won’t come or happen overnight. No, you normally don’t win legislative battles by making demands and acting like a horse’s behind quarters.

But it is workable. It is doable. And, it is winnable.

Now this? From Mike Repole, the epitome of arrogance?

A lawsuit to totally dismantle. A lawsuit to totally destroy. Has even given a second’s worth of thought to who may be collateral damage?

What a loser.

Don’t threaten — like a little New York bully or some back room mobster — to just blow things up.

How cliche.

But, truthfully Mike, I don’t think you are capable of doing the honorable thing and attempting a build-up approach as opposed to a tear-down one. Truthfully, you don’t want people to join in and offer opinions and compromises. You just want to dictate. Or, now, you just want to file a lawsuit.

Instead of parking your damn Manhattan-sized ego alongside your newest luxury ride at the door and putting on your working clothes, like a real horse farmer, you just want to put on your little three-piece pin-stripe — made somewhere in Italy — and prance all the way to the courthouse. Easier that way. Makes more headlines that way, right?

Quite simply?

Mike Repole…you are nothing but a blow hard. And, your little lawsuit will go the way of the Oklahoma dust storms.

Oh, you may tell us what to do and how to do it. But you have never done it. Never shown any proclivity to even try to do it.

The fact is, Mike, despite your efforts to call yourself the “Commissioner of Thoroughbred Racing,” nobody gives a rat’s hind quarter. There’s no ground spell of support for your write-in candidacy. Nobody wants you or your radical, “fly by night,” changes. If so, where is it? Where’s the support? Where’s the applause? Where’s the commitment to follow you and your hair-brained Pied Piper volunteerism and leadership?

The fact is, Mike, there is no following. There is no support. There isn’t even a spattering of head-nodding in agreement.

The fact is, Mike, just like in 2025 when your horse Grande was scratched on Friday, just a day before the Kentucky Derby was to be run due to a hoof issue; just like in 2023 when your horse Forte was scratched by the Kentucky State Veterinarians on the morning of the Kentucky Derby due to a bruised right front foot that everyone on the backside had witnessed all week long; just like 2011 when your Uncle Mo — the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby — was scratched the day before the biggest race on Earth due to a gastrointestinal infection and/or a liver disorder; …

Well, this lawsuit will be scratched, too.

It is not sound.

It is not sound in theory.

It is not sound in practice.

And, it is not sound enough to run a winning race.

Period.

The fact that you attempted to run those horses in the Kentucky Derby and threw a kid fit when they were scratched is proof enough that you will do anything and everything to take a shortcut that is not in the best interest of the horse or the sport itself.

Period.

The fact that you would cry foul is proof you don’t deserve a seat at this table, no matter how much you squeal.

So, if you want to steal this “NASCAR IDEA” and file your ridiculous lawsuit to challenge the current system of Thoroughbred racing in these United States, go ahead. Get yourself a class action lawyer and file your suit. It’s a free country.

And, waste a lot of time and people’s money, along your silly way.

But I sure hope that you do more research and development on it than you have shown to date in your other weak-kneed rants and rages.

This industry needs bold leadership — which is willing to try new and innovative ideas — and is willing to work with one and all to get things done. Together. For the benefit of all. For the long run.

This industry does not need another loose screw on the manure spreader.

Which one do you really want to be, Mike?

I think we already know.

Cue up the manure spreader. Maybe you, Tom Ryan and Bradley Weisbord can share the fare.