Queens native and business mogul Mike Repole has two horses in the Kentucky Derby — 2-year-old cham pion Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty. The Vitamin Water co-founder and Pirate Brands chairman chronicles his week leading up to the Run for the Roses in a daily diary for The Post. As told to Dylan Butler.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — I’ve been to one Kentucky Derby in my life and that was when Big Brown ran in 2008. As a sports fan, it’s definitely one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had, one I highly recommend. If you have the opportunity to check off that box, you need to do so.
As I left, I turned to my wife, Maria, and said, “Now that we’ve done this, the next time I’ll come here is as an owner of a horse in the Kentucky Derby,” not knowing if that would be in two years, 20 years or if it would ever happen.
Like I said, until that day comes there are no guarantees in racing. Unfortunately, [yesterday] it was announced that the favorite for the Kentucky Oaks, R Heat Lightning, has a knee issue and will be scratched. It’s sad how quickly you can go from racing favorite to being totally out of the race. I spoke to my trainer, Todd Pletcher, who also trains R Heat Lightning, and I just felt so bad for him.
In 2008, it was all about the experience and having fun. Now, being an owner of Stay Thirsty and Uncle Mo, the focus is more about watching their progress during the week, going to the track in the morning, watching them gallop, I want to be there for their 10:30 a.m. feed, I want to be there for their 4:30 p.m. feed and I want to be the night watchman and sleep in Stall 2 — with Uncle Mo in Stall 1 and Stay Thirsty in Stall 3 — making sure they’re safe, sound and protected.
In Louisville, it’s all about horse racing. It’s the Mets, Knicks, Rangers and Giants all in one. On opening night, they had 50,000 fans and they expect 160,000 at the Derby. That’s like the equivalent of two Giants games. Even though there are some other New York connections here, I’d really love to get this win for New York and I actually feel some pressure to do so.
