Lil Yachty Talks Horse Racing Diversity At “Kentucky Derby Day”

This past Saturday (May 2), Run Fast Racing stepped into the winner’s circle of culture, hosting its inaugural “Kentucky Derby Day” activation at California’s historic Santa Anita Park. Celebrating the launch of its new app, the company invited registered users—many of whom are also horse co-owners—to pull up alongside one of the brand’s most recognizable faces, Lil Yachty.

Alongside global names like Lil Wayne and Rauw Alejandro, Yachty holds ownership in a racehorse named LISETNUPSHANCE. For the Atlanta native, the appeal is simple: bring a new audience into an often-overlooked space.

“This scene is only new to a certain demographic, so I just want my fans to get exposed to it because I know they’ll love it,” Yachty tells VIBE. “When you experience horse racing live, it’s hard not to have a good time. The vibes are fun, and people are always dressed a certain way.”

With the SoCal sun cutting across the San Gabriel Mountains, the tastemaker spent the afternoon posted in the owner’s box, mixing with fans, influencers, and racing regulars. While it wasn’t a winning day for Yachty’s stable, the energy never dipped. If anything, the moment underscored Run Fast Racing’s bigger play: introducing a more diverse and younger crowd to a legacy sport.

A self-described homebody, horse racing helps Lil’ Boat get outside and experience something that wasn’t available to him as a kid. “The betting aspect makes it more fun,” Yachty adds with a laugh. “But being able to introduce my fans to new things always makes me happy. I want to help bring the ownership side to a new crowd.”

Run Fast Racing plans to continue hosting events across California throughout 2026, with its sights set on reshaping the culture around horse racing. As the Kentucky Derby unfolded at Churchill Downs that same weekend, founder Adam Kluger made it clear that the brand is thinking long term.

“We just want to get young people excited about horse racing again. Through Run Fast, they can become co-owners and really be involved in decision-making when it comes to their horse,” Kluger says.

Before stepping away, VIBE had to ask Yachty about his standout verse on Action Bronson’s latest single, “TRICERATOPS.” The track features Paul Wall and finds Lil’ Boat gliding over production from Bronson and Daringer with ease.

“I’m a fan of Action and Paul Wall, first of all, but I love doing music people don’t expect from me,” Yachty says. “People love to judge my lyrics or whatever, but I was just having fun. That beat took me to a place where I could be as creative as I want.”