LEXINGTON, KY - May 16, 2024 - TikTok star Griffin Johnson has been named the 2025 New Owner of the Year by OwnerView, a joint initiative of The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. The award recognizes Johnson’s significant impact on attracting new fans to horse racing through his extensive social media presence.
Johnson, who boasts more than 14 million followers on TikTok, entered the sport in 2024 through America’s Best Racing’s “A Stake in Stardom” campaign, becoming a partial owner of Grade 1 winner Sandman in partnership with West Point Thoroughbreds. He also became a part owner of Grade 2 winner Ewing.
His behind-the-scenes videos featuring Sandman reached over 200 million people and generated more than 35 million views, exposing a new audience to the sport. Johnson is also a founding member of the Sway House and a co-founder and operating partner of venture capital firm Animal Capital.
“Griffin Johnson has had an incredible impact on horse racing through his social media platforms, helping to create new fans, which will ultimately result in new owners,” said Gary Falter, project manager for OwnerView. “We appreciate his continued promotion of the sport and look forward to his future success as an owner.”
Previous recipients of the New Owner of the Year Award include MyRacehorse, Larry Best, the Churchill Downs Racing club, Charles and Susan Chu, LNJ Foxwoods, Sol Kumin, Boat Racing, Richard Dawson and Pat Kearney, Jim and Dana Bernhard and Alex Bregman, and John stewart and Jayson Werth.
The 2025 Thoroughbred Owner Conference series, hosted by the Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and presented by Bessemer Trust, Keeneland, and stoll Keenon Ogden, offers further resources for owners. Registration details is available at ownerview.com/event/conference or by contacting gary Falter at gfalter@jockeyclub.com.
OwnerView aims to encourage Thoroughbred ownership and provide information on all aspects of ownership, including trainers, public racing syndicates, purchasing, retirement, and licensing.
