The racing crowd in Southern California awoke to some surprising news Saturday morning when Daily Racing Form’s Brad Free posted an article reporting trainer Mark Glatt had decided to part ways with the prominent ownership group Little Red Feather.
While owners and trainers often separate, what was most notable of this move was Glatt’s explanation for the decision. He said Little Red Feather asked him to make “a business decision,” which did not involve horses or racing, “that was extremely uncomfortable.”
Glatt confirmed to Horse Racing Nation five horses owned by Little Red Feather stabled at Santa Anita were all moved to different trainers and a sixth that is currently turned out at the farm will also have a new trainer. The most notable of these is top turf sprinter Beer Can Man, who is now with Phil D’Amato, Little Red Feather’s Billy Koch confirmed.
While Koch declined further comment on the matter to HRN, Glatt noted the move “was not an easy decision."
“I really don’t have anything further to add, but I was asked to make a business decision that left me very uncomfortable,” said Glatt, who typically conditions between 50 to 60 horses and is coming off a career-best year in 2021. “It was strictly a business decision and unrelated in any way to a horse or any racing activities. I just felt it was best, mostly for myself, to move on.”
Little Red Feather is one of the bigger ownership groups in California, and Glatt acknowledged the move figures to impact his business, particularly in the immediate future.
“It was not an easy decision. There are a lot of factors involved, one being my crew," Glatt said. "From the grooms to my assistants, the exercise boys, their living depends on the success of the stable overall. So that made it difficult."
In 2021, Glatt’s stable had 56 wins from 314 starters and purse earnings of $3,680,474, which topped the barn’s previous high set in 2019. Glatt also nearly won his first Breeders’ Cup race when Dr. Schivel was beaten the narrowest of margins by Aloha West in the Sprint.
