For three decades, thoroughbred trainer Mark Glatt has quietly built one of the most respected stables in Southern California. But the 2026 racing season thrust him into the national spotlight in a way he never could have imagined. This spring, Glatt made his long‑awaited Kentucky Derby debut with a colt named So Happy – a career milestone that arrived just weeks after the sudden, devastating death of his wife of 25 years, Dena. The story of Mark Glatt’s family is one of deep partnership, shared sacrifice, and an unimaginable void, yet also a testament to how love and memory can carry a person through the darkest of times.
Dena Glatt died suddenly on February 12, 2026, at the age of 57. The cause was heart failure. Less than two months later, Glatt’s horse won the Santa Anita Derby – his first Grade 1 victory – earning a spot in the Run for the Roses. The triumph was bittersweet, as Glatt admitted, because the person who had been his biggest fan and most trusted partner was no longer there to celebrate.
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A Partnership Forged at Emerald Downs
Mark and Dena Glatt met in 1996 at Emerald Downs, the Seattle‑area track where Mark had box seats and Dena worked as a waitress. “She was a wonderful person,” Mark later recalled. “She aimed to please everyone in her life.” They began dating almost immediately, and Dena soon moved with Mark when he relocated his stable to Northern California and later to Southern California.
The couple married and settled in Monrovia, near Santa Anita Park, where they raised three children: Ryan, Luke, and Madison. Ryan, the eldest, became a jockey’s agent in California, keeping the family firmly rooted in the racing world. Dena was far more than a wife and mother; she was an active racing partner, advising Mark on stable decisions and rarely missing a day at the track. “She was right by my side, and a big part of what I do professionally, as well as being my life partner,” Mark said.
The Glatts’ 25‑year marriage was built on a shared love of horses and an unwavering commitment to their children, who have remained a close‑knit source of strength for Mark after Dena’s passing.
Carrying Her Memory Forward
In the wake of Dena’s death, Mark Glatt has found solace in the most unexpected places. He wears a bracelet containing some of Dena’s ashes, a simple but powerful symbol that she is still with him. Perhaps even more poignant is the name of his Derby horse – So Happy. “She was always so happy,” Mark said of his late wife, acknowledging the haunting coincidence that the colt’s name mirrors the very essence of Dena‘s personality. “It brings hope,” he added. “At a time when I need hope.”
The horse’s winning streak, which began just seven weeks after Dena’s death, has felt almost like a message from beyond. Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who rides So Happy, said that during the Santa Anita Derby he “called on Dena at the 8th pole,” and the colt surged to victory. For Mark, the 2026 Kentucky Derby is not just a race; it is a tribute to a woman who believed in him from the very beginning. “I think she’d be very proud of an accomplishment like this. We’re still together, you know, even if it’s just in spirit.”
