Griffin Johnson: thanks for the inspo!
Super-influencer's post of a video of Silver Charm, a 32-year old former Kentucky Derby winner, is just one part of moving horse racing in the right direction.
Griffin Johnson is someone you have definitely heard of if you are below a certain age, and likely have not heard of if you are above a certain age. I’m somewhere in the middle. I first learned of his success as an influencer and content creator (the modern version of TV star) when NBC did a report on him during last year’s Kentucky Derby broadcast.
Johnson is a part owner of Sandman via the prominent racing partnership West Point Thoroughbreds. Sandman made his 4-year old debut after a fine 2025 campaign. More importantly to horse racing’s long-term growth, and frankly its very survival as a national sport in the US, is attracting younger generations to the game.
Griffin Johnson is right! (lmk if you get the “Blazing Saddles” movie reference there)
Griffin Johnson is doing everything in his power to try to nudge that along. And I think its great! Last year, he reached more than 200 million people. According to my adult kids, that’s clearly in “viral” territory.
Johnson can do a lot of things with his time, in this age where online popularity is converted by some into a full-time income. That is largely dependent on who and what that “influencer” decides to align with. Be it a business, a product, or a cause.
So when he posts things like this, a recent video of Silver Charm, winner of the 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness, who was 1 1/2 lengths short of a Triple Crown (2nd in the Belmont Stakes), still rocking at age 32, we remember what every good trainer or owner will tell you: its ultimately about the horse. That includes quality aftercare.
Johnson is not just a part owner of horses, as are many other people, including me. He is using his platform to try to shine a bright light on a sport that really should appeal to younger generations. Its a sport, it involves gambling (maybe not as much as on today’s Super Bowl game), it gets us outdoors (OK, maybe not in NY, PA and Toronto lately) and it is an exciting challenge from many angles.
Horse racing in this modern digital economy: let’s embrace it and grow
In my other (legacy) investment research business, I’m doing some work with PiTrade.com, an early stage trading/investing platform, where growth via influencers is part of the path to long-term growth. Those of us in our 60s or even north of age 40 may still be wrapping our arms around this 21st century brand of commerce.
But it is here to stay, so the more we embrace it alongside traditional forms of identifying who we want to listen to, work with and trust, the easier it is to integrate that into the sport of horse racing. That word…integration…is so much at the heart of this.
Younger generations (and there are at least 2 younger than me now), are absolutely necessary to perpetuate the sport. And while the industry is filled with young, rising stars in areas like media, and of course the jockeys and trainers, ownership is a bit different.
Racehorse ownership is more capital-intensive. Or is it? More on that in upcoming posts here.
Let’s face it, racing has a reputation as an older person’s sport. It is rich in legacies from generational families, and those who can read a racing form and understand 100% of it, because they grew up with it in some form. As my friend Howie Heiberger of In Front Racing Stables said when I asked him how he learned the game, his response with simple. “A misspent youth.” LOL, as the kids say.
I say we attract as many people from Generations X,Y,Z, Alpha and Beta as we can. That covers about everyone currently aged 6-60. If you love this game, see it for the total package it is, and like me, want to surround yourself with many, many more people that see what we do, embrace that challenge.
I know I am, through creating this site, in large part to create a community of people with shared interest. In the horse, in the sport, in the competition, in the skills, in the entertainment, and in the camaraderie.
Silver Charm is my all-time favorite...it took an entry in the Belmont to him!!!