Steve Margolis, a trainer, has been a regular on Churchill Downs' backstretch for almost 20 years. Even though his stable of 40-50 horses has shrunk to just six this year, Margolis is determined to rebuild it to its previous size.
“Winning is the best form of advertisement a trainer can do,” Margolis remarked. “It’s been a tough couple of years for us, there’s no hiding that. However, I know I’m still as passionate about this sport as when I started grooming horses out of high school. I’ve been training for now 24 years and I’m continuing to re-invent myself with the way the industry is going.”
Margolis, 60, began his career as a groom at Belmont Park. He subsequently worked as an assistant for trainers Howie Tesher and Pat Byrne in the early 1990s, before moving to Kentucky to work with Stan Hough in the late 1990s.
“I got lucky to work for some great horsemen during my career and learned a lot from them,” Margolis said. “I’ve had a lot of good relationships with owners through the years, too. Sometimes, by luck or other things out of my control, the business relationship didn’t work out. I don’t hold anything against them. Things in life change and I understand that and keep pushing forward.”
Winning became one of Margolis' best advertisements in the early 2000s when Cajun Beat was transferred to his barn and went on to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint. John and Joseph Iracane co-owned the quick Cajun Beat, and they sent Margolis to Turfway Park to compete in the Kentucky Cup Sprint Stakes (G3), followed by the Breeders' Cup Sprint.
“He was such a cool horse and I was very grateful for the Iracanes for sending him to Kentucky to me,” Margolis said. “It wasn’t long after Cajun Beat won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint that I started getting horses for the Klein Family. He helped open the doors for a lot of things in my career.”
Margolis began training for the Klein family in the late 2000s. Bert and Elaine, the late husband and wife, were joined by their son Richard on the ownership team. Country Day, the Kleins' homebred, was one of the most noteworthy horses Margolis trained. The horse made 19 starts and won seven, including the 2010 Hot Springs Stakes and the 2012 Colonel Power Stakes.
Margolis and the Kleins also played an important part in giving trainer Phil Bauer his start. Bauer, who used to babysit Richard in high school, started his career as a hotwalker for Margolis before getting a grooming job with Kenny McPeek at Saratoga.
While Margolis' stable does not have the numbers it once did, he remains optimistic and works to rebuild his barn.
Margolis had three of his trainees entered over the next seven days: Now Ima Believer in the seventh race on Monday at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Gunner Bay in the sixth race, and Paint Me Perfect in the tenth Sunday at Churchill Downs.