Eyes on racing: From Netflix to the Triple Crown
We’ve seen what Netflix can do for other sports – Formula 1, tennis, American football. Entire fan bases created from scratch. Now, it’s racing’s turn.
📱 In the year following Drive To Survive‘s debut, Formula 1 gained over 1.5 million new US social media followers.
👥 The average US F1 viewer became nearly a decade younger, drawing in Gen Z and Millennials.
🏆 The US now hosts three Grand Prix events – Austin, Miami, and Las Vegas – since the show’s success.
💰 F1 team values have increased by hundreds of millions, thanks to new global fan engagement.
Race for the Crown premieres April 22 on Netflix and it’s a massive opportunity for the industry. This is racing in the spotlight, reaching new audiences who’ve never stepped foot on a backstretch. Check out the trailer here.
These kinds of shows shift entire sports. Let’s do our part to boost its reach:
Share it
Rate it
Watch it with someone outside the racing bubble
And let’s build on the momentum. With more eyeballs turning toward racing thanks to Race for the Crown, we’ve got a rare window to keep the story going – with content that speaks to new audiences where they already are. That’s where the Triple Crown UGC Campaign comes in: short, scroll-stopping videos that feel real, fun, emotional and reaching people who don’t normally see it.
Light Up Racing will keep an eye on the narrative. If public conversation turns or misconceptions arise, we’ll be ready to guide it back to facts, care, and context. Remember to tag us on social media if you spot anything! be ready to guide it back to facts, care, and context. Remember to tag us on social media if you spot anything!
Triple Crown UGC Campaign: Real Talk, Real Racing
Most people don’t know how racehorses live, train, and thrive – because they’ve never been invited in.
So we’re pairing content creators with industry insiders (like you!) to gather real, behind-the-scenes care, prep and passion. No scripts. No filters. Just authentic stories of horse racing, reaching people on their devices!
UGC Campaign: What It’s All About
We’re using User Generated Content (UGC) creators (people who don’t know racing inside-out) to:
Reach mainstream audiences
Bust myths with humour and honesty
Spark curiosity and emotional connection
The goal is to make racing relatable, accessible and engaging for non-racing people. Show them how amazing this industry is – without sounding like a lecture.
1️⃣ Relatable, Everyday-Style Content
Casual viral-style clips that spark curiosity and positivity.
2️⃣ Mythbusting Through Storytelling & Humour
No data dumps, just cools stats, good stories that tackle misinformation head-on and trending hooks.
3️⃣ Emotional & Feel-Good Horse Stories
From grooms to foals to happy retirements – this is the heart of it.
Example Content Ideas:
- “Wait, racehorses have chiropractors?”
- “Things I thought about racing before I actually learned the truth”
- “What really happens when a horse retires?”
- “5 insane perks racehorses get that humans don’t”
- “Racehorses get new shoes more often than me…”
Best Formats:
- Creator collabs asking & answering real questions
- TikTok & Reels (viral, social-first)
- Instagram Story Q&As (quick and casual education)
Several of you have already reached out to get involved – thank you! This is a Light Up Racing community initative.
- Want to host a creator or support the campaign? Please reply to this email.
- Know a content creator who should be involved? Send them our way – get your kids, your cousins, your staff involved!
We’re building a network of real people, telling real stories – on the platforms where it matters most.
Let’s break the echo chamber. Together.
🎧 On the pod: Paddock Pulse!
Leah Reddoch O’Meara & Leah Alessandroni, members of the first Light Up Racing content cohort, are back – and this time, they’re joined by Amplify’s Annise Montplaisir for a wide-ranging chat on youth engagement.
📢 Share this with the young guns in your stable or office. This one’s for them.
📠 Common Question Spotlight: Is Running on a Wet Track Dangerous?
With severe storms rolling through Kentucky this week, this one’s timely.
Short answer: No.
Long answer? It’s on our website!
📚 A science-backed explainer on running in the rain.
Studies of over 400,000 dirt starts and 95,000 turf starts showed no significant increase in injuries on wet tracks.
In our Common Questions section, we break down the myths, science and facts about racing surfaces. It’s a go-to hub to arm yourself for tricky conversations. Visit it on the Light Up Racing website.
🤝 Community Corner
From April 24–26, Lexington will host the 2025 International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR), shining a light on the incredible work of aftercare organisations worldwide. The three-day event includes a keynote from Olympian Boyd Martin, panels from global experts, visits to aftercare facilities like New Vocations, Old Friends, and CKRH, plus a finale at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event.
It’s more than a conference – it’s a show of commitment to Thoroughbred welfare across a horse’s lifetime.
🎟️ Tickets are $100 and include transport, meals, and all site access.
Want to learn more, register, or sponsor? Visit IFAR’s website.
Know someone who loves horse racing but isn’t a member yet? Invite them to join us here!
Together we can make a difference
LUR is an independent initiative powered by passionate people who believe in the future of racing. If you like what we’re doing and want to see more of it:
Donate now to help us expand content, resources, and reach.
Light Up Racing Directors
Price Bell
Dr. Jeff Berk
Christina Blacker
Roderick Wachman
