Jose D’Angelo And Griffin Johnson Part Of Thoroughbred Youth Movement

Shisospicy has become one of the prize pupils in the Jose D’Angelo barn.

Churchill Downs

Thoroughbred racing is the oldest game in town. The sport of kings has been on the map longer than any other organized sport. As is the case with any game, an infusion of youth is important in maintaining a relevant spot in the sporting world. As the old-timers get old, the whippersnappers push their way into prominence and that keeps the pulse beat pulsing.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at two of the new kids on the block in horse racing. Bringing vibrancy and helping indoctrinate this next generation into the Thoroughbred game, these two young men hope to help elevate the game they love and keep this royal sport on the throne in the 21^st century.

Breeders’ Cup shines the light on Jose D’Angelo

Jose D’Angelo has become one of the shining stars in the Thoroughbred training ranks. The 2025 Breeders’ Cup became a proving ground for this dedicated thirty-five year old and told many what others already knew about this native of Venezuela.

Coming into these World Thoroughbred Championships, the Gulfstream Park based D’Angelo had two really live entrants. Both Bentornato and Shisospicy had taken some non-traditional routes to Del Mar, but after their jaw-dropping performances made D’Angelo one of the youngest trainers to capture Breeders’ Cup glory, few questions were asked about his ability to prepare a horse for the biggest of stages.

First, there was Shisospicy whom Jose had prepped at Kentucky Downs for her run against the boys in the Turf Sprint. After lighting up the lawn with gate to wire brilliance, there was no doubt as to the fitness of this fleet-footed filly. In the very next Breeders’ Cup race, Bentornato rolled home in the Sprint and provided fans with a D’Angelo double. Having finished second in this race last year, this fast-flying four-year old came back to Del Mar having ran just once in 2025, and that was in a listed stakes race at Churchill Downs (Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes) on September 13.

“The Breeders’ Cup was an amazing experience for our entire team”, says D’Angelo, who began training in the United States in 2019. “Our preparation worked out for both horses, but I am maintaining a what’s next mentality. We try and keep our feet on the ground and realize every day is a new one and we need to keep winning races.”

The Cup was a show case, however, D’Angelo has been no stranger to success. Prior to his wins at Del Mar on November 1, this second generation trainer had conditioned Jesus’ Team who was graded stakes placed in the 2020 Preakness, Jim Dandy Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, and 2021 Pegasus World Cup. In 2024 he campaigned grade 1 winner Howard Wolowitz and over the past six years has captured over $26 million in on-track earnings.

“I grew up in the sport as my grandfather was a turf writer and my dad a trainer”, says D’Angelo. “I love this game and have been involved in it since I was a baby. I don’t really think about the things we have accomplished thus far, I just want to keep moving forward and carry the tradition in the sport that is my life.”

Griffin Johnson provides a gateway to a new generation

Now that we are twenty five years into the 21^st century, the role of social media in our society cannot be underscored. Griffin Johnson is a widely recognized influencer with over 9.6 million followers on TikTok. This twenty-six-year-old native of Paris, Illinois became involved in the Thoroughbred game this year and the impact has been immediate in more ways than one.

Becoming a part owner in Arkansas Derby champion Sandman, the kid that grew up loving baseball became indoctrinated into the sport in a big way this spring. Enjoying the thrills of Triple Crown races like the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes with the brilliantly marked Sandman, Johnson was exposed to the magic that Thoroughbred racing represents.

“I knew a little about horse racing before this year but the Sandman experience was really an eye-opener for me”, says the youthful entrepreneur. “His ownership group wanted to bring me on board to reach my audience and show the younger crowd how wonderful this sport truly is.”

In a short span, Johnson has become more than just a pawn in this game. His involvement has drastically increased and his early case of Derby fever has developed into an epidemic of race horse-itis. His actions as an ambassador for the sport has earned him a New Horse Owner of the Year Award and the Big Sport of Turfdom Award.

“I offer up some very sincere thanks to those who chose to recognize me with these awards”, says Johnson. “I have invested a lot of time this year in trying to promote the sport through social media and my experiences have been unbelievable. There are so many layers to this sport, but the best thing is probably the people I have met. They are so passionate about the racing game and have helped me understand a lot more about the sport of kings. I am very happy to be a part of Thoroughbred racing and hope to represent it in the best way possible.”

With a clear picture on his screen and a better understanding of the competitive greatness Thoroughbred racing offers, Griffin Johnson is now prepared to go all in with a new-found love.

“Jayson Werth has won the World Series in baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Belmont Stakes as an owner with Dornoch”, says Johnson. “I asked him which was better and he really had to think hard about it. That spoke volumes to me about Thoroughbred racing. After my exposure to the game in 2025, I have completely restructured my life with horse racing at the forefront. I love the dedication, discipline, and culture represented. I have expanded my ownership with other horses and trainers now and look very forward to educating the younger generations about the oldest and best sport in the world.”