Ron Spatz, Thoroughbred Race Horse Trainer
Are you looking for a thoroughbred race horse trainer that believes in giving each horse the individual time and training it takes to make them a winner?
Ron never stables more than 25 horses at a time, giving each animal the hands-on time and personal training they need. What more could you want in a qualified thoroughbred race horse trainer?
Ron has 25 stakes winners and stakes placed horses and a 20% strike rate at first time out.
Recent News
Last Leaf Victorious In Hollywood Beach, Pro Quality Best In Wildcat Heir At Gulfstream
Press Release 9.25.2021
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Light Fury comes through first time Tapeta and turned the tables on Vow me Now.
Last Leaf beats males, first time turf in the Hollywood Beach Stakes.
Spotlight On: FHBPA Board Member Ron Spatz
When Ron Spatz found his first job at the racetrack, he was not in search of a career. Spatz was a typical 20-year-old on break from college, looking to make a little money and enjoy the Jersey Shore. Growing up in Union City, he’d always liked animals. “I’d bring home every pet I could find – dogs, cats, turtles, frogs,” he said. But he never expected the highlight of that summer vacation to be working with the horses.
“Something happened that summer,” he recalled. “Being around the horses, they just drew me in. I went back to school for a few months, but I knew that was not where I wanted to be. The racetrack, that was it for me. I’d found my niche.”
He left Monmouth College and an unfinished degree in business administration behind, and never looked back.
Spatz celebrates five decades in racing this year, the last four as a trainer in South Florida. He has spent the last five years dedicating his time and energy to the industry as a Board member of the Florida HBPA.
“I didn’t have a lot of interest in running for the Board, to be honest,” Spatz said. “I had friends who were on the Board, and there was a lot of dissension, a lot of conflict. But [then-Board member] Bill Kaplan came to me and said, ‘you’ve been in racing a long time, don’t you want to give something back?’ I thought about it, and I realized he had a point. I had more free time, so I talked myself into it.”
Spatz takes his role seriously.
Last Leaf got away from the gate much better today which resulted in this good-looking 10 and three-quarter length romp.
3rd winner in 2 days! DJ Federico’s Marisa’s Mission’s 2nd Win
Second win of the day! Congrats Monarch Stables on Rosy Apple’s maiden victory.
Started the day with a win congrats Kevin Dole on this exciting victor
Light Fury wins his second back-to-back and has 5 wins; 2 seconds, and 1 third in 9 turf starts!
Happy to win a race for the Federico’s. Our first one together.
Love this Filly, winner in her second start for Monarch Stables
What a great race for both horses in the seventh race today for the 1/2 punch. Wasdn’t sure who was going to win till close to the finish, very exciting!
I’ll Do It My Way another winner for Monarch Stables at Gulfstream Park.
First timer Flipping Fish gets it done for Monarch Stables
Perfectly ridden Little Bit Good
from last to first !!
I Get It gives Spatz a parting gift with Sanibel Island win
Mike Welsch Mar 31, 2021
Barbara D. LivingstonI Get It notched her first stakes win in last Saturday’s Sanibel Island at Gulfstream.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Despite sending out I Get It to register the most important victory of her career, a half-length decision over favored World Tour in Saturday’s Sanibel Island Stakes, trainer Ron Spatz had to say a sad good-bye to the big horse in his barn earlier this week. I Get It joined trainer Mark Casse’s stable, having been purchased privately by owner Gary Barber following her troubled fourth-place finish (placed third by disqualification) four weeks earlier in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride.
I Get It rallied from last in the Sanibel Island, a one-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies, to register her fifth win in nine career starts. She tipped her hand that she was sitting on that type of performance with her effort in the Herecomesthebride. I Get It was seemingly full of run under Miguel Vasquez before being forced to check sharply inside Spanish Loveaffair on the far turn of the Herecomesthebride, losing all chance.
Spatz said he understands why I Get It has to move on. Read More ->
Very proud of I Get It winning her first stake race today from last to first for her new owner Gary Barber, she’s off to Keeneland for her next start and I predict she will be a graded stakes winner before long!
Gary Barber’s I Get It, last of eight early in Gulfstream’s $100,000 Sanibel Island Stakes, rallied wide down the stretch, took the lead a furlong from home and held off a late run by fellow OBS graduate World Tour (April ’20) to beat her by half a length. It’s the first stakes win for the graded stakes placed 3-year-old filly by Get Stormy, trained by Ron Spatz, no 9-5-0-1 with $156,278 in earnings. Consigned by Kaisen Sales (Richard Kent), to the 2019 OBS October Yearling Sale, she was purchased by her trainer for $8,500. Exponential’s first win for 2 first time owners!!
Couldn’t be there today but thrilled just the same for a Little Bit Good and Kevin Dole
Man of Vision winning for the 2nd time in January, great start in 2021 for him
First time out winner for Best a Luck Farm,
I Get It wins her 4th race in 7 starts, We Got this Stable is very proud of her!!
Man of Vision, gettin’ it done
Light Fury wins in a tight photo up the rail
Amazing win from a compromising post position, claimed as well, gonna miss this Horse. Ran him 5 times with 2 seconds and 2 Wins!
My first run with Light Fury, all the credit to Larry Pilotti who put in all the hard work having him in great condition!!
Spatz tries to close out his 40-year run at
Gulfstream Park West-Calder with a victory
Mike Welsch | Nov 26, 2020
READ THE FULL ARTICLE
November 28th, 2020
That’s three in a row for I Get It, on to Gulf Stream Park next!
October 18th, 2020
I Get It beats the Boys 2nd win in a row, very proud of her progress!
The FHBPA wishes to congratulate Trainer, and FHBPA Board Member, Ron Spatz on posting his 800th career win when his 2yo Filly “I Get It” bested the boys in last Sunday’s allowance race. Ron has amassed a record of 800-758-727 since he saddled winner #1 named Fast Change on 12/23/1982 at Calder.
We foster relationships between Florida horsemen, racing associations and government. More info: FloridaHorsemen.com
October 9th, 2020
Little Bit Good won last season on the GPW turf and again this season!
October 8th, 2020
Rocket Joe flew home today on the GPW turf course
September 19th, 2020
Announcer Pete called it right!! Barn ten again!!
September 13th, 2020
Like You loved the lead today, knocks out his 4th win and 1st alw condition!!
August 28th, 2020
I Get It got the win today, congrats We Got This Stables
August 15th, 2020
Love seeing the hard trying Sky Chaser back in the winners circle!!
July 30th, 2020
This is the third time for Ron Spatz! He had a freshman Sire first horse to the races and first winner. The first one being ByeByeJ by Uncaptured, The second one Saint Michael by Handsome Mike, and now Savatiano by Prayer for Relief.
Related Article from BloodHorse
Prayer for Relief’s First Starter Becomes First Winner
Savatiano is the third winner out of the Imperialism mare Retsina.
July 24th, 2020
Frank First guts out a nice win at GP
July 24th, 2020
Second winner on the day, no words just happy, great ride from J Trejos for his 2nd on the day as well!!
July 3rd, 2020
Very proud of Assertiko today winning his third in a row and showing his ability to carry his speed at the 1 mile distance, congrats to the partners!!
June 14th, 2020
Another fun Win with Frank First, winning for his owner “Frank Bertolino” on his birthday!!
June 7th, 2020
Barn 10 is Hot this week, congrats to Monarch Stable and my crew!!
June 3rd, 2020
Assertiko does it! This week keeps getting better. Congrats to the Partnership.
May 31st, 2020
Awesome Enough thought the grass was awesome today!
May 9th, 2020
Assertiko beats Rivelli 3/5 favorite.
April 30th, 2020
Sky Chaser wins her second in a row! Florida bred alw race at a mile.
April 5, 2020
Sky Chaser getting it done. Congrats Sundance Stable!
March 4, 2020
Like You seems to like the mile distance!
February 21, 2020
Put another maiden winner at Gulfstream Park, Monarch Stables Frank First ridden by Irad Ortiz!
February 14, 2020
I’ll Do It My Way breaks her maiden in a grass race at Gulfstream Park winning easily at odds of 16 to 1!
Really fun race to watch!
December 29, 2019
Wasn’t a win but we sure are proud of Jack B. Winkle. He was so close after a long layoff.
Thoroughbred Winners
Currently Ron has over 784 career wins and made over 16 million in purse earnings. Some of his early successes include Carterista, a Florida bred Turf Champion, grass horse who won most of the major stake races in Florida, After the early successes of Carterista, whose career ended with 27 wins out of 102 starts included graded stakes wins.
First starter at GPW a winner, Frank Alone
Congrats Monarch stable!
- Redoubled Miss was another of Ron’s early successes. She had earnings of $629,839 and is a multiple Graded Stakes Place winner. She was retired at the end of her racing career to be a broodmare.
History of a Thoroughbred Race Horse Trainer, Ron Spatz
Ron started a summer job hot walking at Monmouth Park Racetrack. He then spent 4 years grooming and 6 years as an assistant to top trainers, Budd Lepman, and Hall of fame trainer, Jimmy Croll. After a 3 year stint as a Racing Official Ron took out his trainers license in 1981 and began, what has become, a successful training career.
Individual Attention to Each Thoroughbred Horse
- Ron recently attended the Ocala Breeders sales looking for young prospects. Ron’s passion is buying young horses and turning them into success stories. He enjoys working with young athletes and developing their potential.
- His strong desire to personally serve his owners and give his attention to each individual horse is the root of his success.
- Being a horse race horse trainer is all about winning races and keeping horses in the barn and the owners enjoying the business.
The Passion of a Thoroughbred Race Horse Trainer
Some of his more recent successes include:
- Art G is Back was a OBS April 2018, 2 yr old for $90,000 purchase. As of Sept. ’19 he’s had 11 starts, 4 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, for earnings of $235,655. He has 2 wins, 2 seconds, and 1 third in his last 5 stakes races.
- Bye Bye J, a $21,000 OBS yearling purchase. She was Uncaptureds first starter and first winner. She won her first start and also became a stakes winner in her 2nd start. Check the article on Bye Bye J.
- Mo Cash was a very interesting story. He was an 11,000 OBS June, 2016, 2 year old sale. He was also a multiple graded stakes winning, stakes placed horse.
- That same week, St. Michael was the first runner and first time out winner for his sire, Handsome Mike.
Some of Ron's Stakes Winning Horses
Here are some articles written about Ron’s winning horses after their win.
Mo Cash battled favored Three Rules in the stretch and prevailed by three-quarters of a length in the $125,000 FTBOA Marion County Florida Sire Stakes Dec. 16 at Tampa Bay Downs. The seven-furlong stakes for 3-year-old Florida-bred colts and geldings was the second black-type
Monarch Stables’ Bye Bye J kicked away late to score on debut April 26 at Gulfstream Park and gave freshman sire Uncaptured his first winner from his first starter. Trained by Ronald Spatz, Bye Bye J went off as the 8-5 favorite in the
Trained by Ronald Spatz, Saint Michael posted an April 20 timed work, going four furlongs in :47.91 over the Gulfstream main track. The colt, bred by Jeannine Strauss McGinn in Florida, is out of the Saint Anddan mare Santa Lacera. Handsome Mike, campaigned by
Carterista was a familiar name to racing fans in the 1990’s, and Ron trained the hard-knocking grass specialist through the greater part of distinguished career that spanned almost a decade. the Dr. Carter gelding always seemed to compete against the best of his
Was a real success story. Purchased for $24,226. Snazzle Dazzle won the Chapple Belle Stakes at Louisiana Downs; the Begonia Handicap at Calder and the office Queen Breeder’s cup, also at Calder. She placed second in the Herecomesthebride Stakes at Gulfstream
Earned $129,710 in her career. She won the Office Queen Stakes at Calder,placed Second in the Sweetest Chant Stakes, and Finished third in the Patricia Stakes at Hialeah.
Mountain Forum emerged in the Fall of 2001 as the most promising 2 year old in Ron’s barn. The Versatile colt finished second in the 125k florida stallion stakes at 7f on the dirt, and went on to win the Fabulous Frolic Stakes
Won four of his six races, including the $100,000 What A Pleasure Stakes at the Tropical at Calder meet. The photo at left shows him winning the City Of Miami Stakes also at Tropical at Calder
I NO BEST is shown at left (Inside towards rail) winning The Fairlee Wild Stakes at Calder on October 7, 2001
NOBLE ROBYN was a remarkably game and determined sprinter. The speedy mare always finished first or second. During a prolonged stretch from 1998 through August of 2000 (27 starts) she was only off the board 3 times! She finished either first or second.
The three-time stakes winner of last season, whose most important career win came in the 7-furlong Grade 3 Chaposa Springs Handicap in her 3-year-old finale, looked good winning the Kimscountrydiamond Stakes on Aug. 3, her second start after a lengthy layoff. On Oct.
A REAL ZIPPER is shown here winning the Mac Diarmida Stakes on the turf at Gulfstream Park on January 14,1996
REDOUBLED MISS, Ron’s 4-year old filly owned by Centaur Farms, has continued to run well in top company. Last year, she won the Judysredshoes Stakes in September, she was 4th in the $200,000 Elmer Heubeck Distaff on Florida Million Day in November (beaten
Captain Ron gets the Hat Trick, 3 Wins in a row! Congrats to the connections and all who helped keep him in top shape!! Captain Ron won his last 3 races! Check out the stats. Captain Ron (FL) TB, B, H, FOALED MARCH 12, 2013
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About Ron Spatz
Ron believes there is nothing more important than the time spent with the horse and the experience he brings to the table. He never stables more than 25 horses at a time, giving each animal the hands-on time and personal training they need. What more could you want in a qualified thoroughbred race horse trainer?
Are you looking for a race horse trainer for your thoroughbred? If you’re looking for a trainer that spends time with the horses on a daily basis, you’ll appreciate the personal care that Ron Spatz brings to training.
A WINNING RACE HORSE TRAINER
Being a race horse trainer is all about winning races and keeping horses in the barn.
Ron knows that the more horse races you win, the more horses you get to train. Ron knows how to do both. After starting with just 2 horses he moved to 25 horses in his barn that he was training within 3 years.
Currently Ron has over 770 career wins and made over 16 million in purse earnings. Ron Spatz got his start back in 1971 while working a summer job in his college years. He gravitated towards what he loved and headed down to the race track and started walking horses.
Ron became a hot walker and then a groom. Ron spent 4 years grooming and another 6 years as an assistant to other trainers before setting out on his own. In 1981 he took out his trainer license and began a successful career.
He has found that, for his way of doing things, stabling no more than 25 horses is the ideal to allow for the hands-on training and detailed attention that he has become known for.
