Global Symposium on Racing Speaker: Mike Repole
Mike Repole has always been a big dreamer. His modest upbringing in Queens, NY, as the son of a waiter and a seamstress in a first-generation Italian family fuel his drive as a serial entrepreneur. Mike graduated from Holy Cross High School and attended St. John’s University, graduating with a degree in sports management and, as Mike would say, “a stellar 2.2 GPA.” In 2011 Mike was proud to give the commencement speech at graduation and receive an honorary doctorate from St. John’s University.
Mike’s success in the food and beverage industry is unparallelled – he is the co-founder of Glaceau vitaminwater and BODYARMOR sports drinks, both of which sold to The Coca-Cola Company for $4 Billion and $8 Billion, respectively. Mike was also a significant investor in both Pirate’s Booty Snacks and KIND Bars.
In 2022, Repole created Impact Capital, the private equity group of Repole’s family office, Driven Capital. Impact Capital is comprised of a team of seasoned operators, marketers and brand-builders with experience from brand inception to successful exit, focused on finding, nurturing and growing brands that have untapped potential in their industries. Impact Capital has made majority investments in footwear, apparel and wellness company, NOBULL and granola bar company, JUNKLESS. Tom Brady’s TB12 and Brady Brand merged with NOBULL and Brady and Repole joined forces to change the wellness game. Repole and Brady are the #1 and #2 shareholders of NOBULL. In July 2025, Mike became an owner of the United Football League, joining a powerhouse coalition that includes FOX, ESPN, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Dany Garcia and RedBird Capital.
Mike has always had a lifelong passion for thoroughbred racing which led him to purchase his first thoroughbred in 2004. He is the proud owner of Repole Stable, one of the nation’s most successful racing stables which consists of more than 300 racehorses and has raced championed horses, Uncle Mo, Vino Rosso, Nest, Forte, Fierceness and Up To The Mark. His horses have won many prestigious races including the Belmont Stakes where Mo Donegal and Nest finished first and second, the Travers Stakes in Saratoga twice with Stay Thirsty and Fierceness, the Breeders’ Cup Classic with Vino Rosso, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile three times with Uncle Mo, Forte and Fierceness. Other important races won by Repole Stable include The Florida Derby, The Arkansas Derby, The Coaching Club American Oaks, and the Wood Memorial. He maintains a breeding operation which ranked 10th in North American earnings in 2024 and was featured prominently in Netflix’s popular series “Race For The Crown”. Mike is also an outspoken disruptor, advocating for transformative changes across the horse racing industry and is a significant supporter of many retired racehorse initiatives.
In 2006, Mike established Nonna’s Garden Foundation, named in honor of his beloved late grandmother, which focuses on health, education and faith. The foundation reflects Mike’s grandmother’s lifelong passion for nurturing both her garden and her family with tender loving care. The Nonna’s Garden Foundation has donated to many causes including $50 Million to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, $20 Million to The Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia University Medical Center, and most recently, $16 Million to NewYork-Presbyterian to transform cancer care in Mike’s home community of Queens at the soon-to-open Nonna’s Garden Foundation Cancer Care Center.
Throughout his career, Mike has always shared his success with his family, friends, and employees. He is incredibly passionate about and committed to inspiring, motivating and coaching the next generation to think big, dream bigger and achieve their lifelong dreams.
Mike lives in Florida with his wife, Maria and their daughter, Gioia.