In the high-stakes world of Thoroughbred racing, there is a fine line between being a “disruptor” and being “disoriented.” Recently, John Stewart (Resolute Racing) took to social media to mount a spirited, albeit factually malnourished, defense of The Jockey Club (TJC) while taking aim at Mike Repole. While Stewart’s passion for the sport is evident in his recent bloodstock investments, his understanding of the industry’s governing structures—and apparently, basic terminology—is in a “photo finish” with total confusion.
The “AI” Fiasco: Intelligence vs. Insemination
Before diving into the legalities of non-profits, we have to address the elephant in the room—or rather, the stallion in the shed. In a recent exchange, Stewart responded to my critiques of TJC’s stance on Artificial Insemination (AI) by offering free access to a platform that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI).
For those who have spent more than a weekend in the industry, “AI” in a breeding context refers to the safer, more efficient method of equine reproduction used by almost every other sport horse discipline on the planet. Stewart’s pivot to machine learning and algorithms suggests he thinks we are trying to breed horses in the Metaverse. It is a staggering display of a “reading comprehension issue” that undermines his authority to speak on industry progress. If you don’t know the difference between a pipette and a processor, you might want to hold off on lecturing the veterans. We may have opportunity here however: I am going to reach out to Hooked on Phonics about a commercial if they’re still around.
The Private Business Fallacy
Stewart’s primary defense of TJC is that they are a “private business” with “constitutional rights” to remain opaque. This is where the logic breaks down:
- The Registrar is not a Pizza Shop: The Jockey Club is the registrar of the breed. They hold the keys to the kingdom. If a private entity controls the very lifeblood of a public-facing industry—including the registration of every foal born—they are no longer just a “private club”; they are a steward of the industry’s money.
- Non-Profit Status: TJC is a non-profit organization sitting on millions of dollars generated by the industry. Unlike Repole Stables, which is a for-profit entity where Mike Repole answers to exactly one person (himself), TJC has a fiduciary and moral obligation to the health of the sport.
- The False Equivalence: Comparing Mike Repole’s stallion deals to the financial transparency of the breed registrar is like comparing a private citizen’s bank account to the Federal Reserve. One is private wealth; the other is the industry’s infrastructure.
A History of Lagging Behind
Stewart suggests that TJC is a “better steward” than its critics. History says otherwise. Whether it’s the glacial pace of adopting microchipping technology or the resistance to modernization in breeding practices (the other AI), TJC has often been the anchor dragging behind the ship of progress, not the wind in its sails.
The “Newcomer” Tax
It is wonderful that Stewart is investing millions in the game. The industry needs liquidity and fresh faces. However, being a high-roller at the sale doesn’t automatically grant you a PhD in the industry’s political history. Attacking Mike Repole—a man who has invested as much sweat equity as he has cash—while failing to understand the basic functions (or definitions) of the breeding industry is a bold strategy.
Stewart’s challenge for a “joint press conference” to reveal financials is a classic red herring. We don’t need to see John’s tax returns; we need to see the organization that controls the breed act with the transparency and modernization required of a 21st-century sport.
Final Thoughts
John, we love the enthusiasm, and we certainly encourage you to keep betting into the pools—a “real lot,” as they say. But before you defend the “constitutional rights” of a registrar, perhaps take a moment to learn the difference between a computer chip and a microchip, and an algorithm and an embryo.
In this game, if you’re going to call someone out, you better make sure you’re in the right starting gate. Right now, Stewart is still trying to find the paddock.
