Eric Reed resigned May 11 as the trainer of 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Rich Strike and seven other horses owned by Rick Dawson of RED TR-Racing because of a conflict over name, image, and licensing rights and a video production agreement involving Reed.
A new trainer has not yet been determined, Dawson said, and the horses remain, as of 10 a.m. ET Thursday, at Reed's Mercury Training Center in Central Kentucky.
Dawson said the parting with Reed followed a disagreement between the two after Reed last week reached an agreement with Omaha Productions, headed by former National Football League star Peyton Manning, for film projects that are intended to appear on Amazon Prime.
Reed said the production calls for it to detail Reed's life as a trainer, following in the footsteps of his father, Herbert, in the profession.
"It's my father's story more than (mine)," Reed said.
Dawson questioned how such a story could not involve the horse and his 80-1 upset at Churchill Downs in the Derby. He said promotional materials outlining the Omaha Productions and Amazon project that appeared in various publications last week detailed some of the colt's story, in which the horse rose from a $30,000 claim into a Kentucky Derby winner.
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According to Dawson, he established a trademark related to Rich Strike and owns the rights to the colt's story. He said he informed Reed after last year's Derby that he would head NIL requests related to Rich Strike.
"I feel obligated to protect him and his legacy," Dawson said.
Dawson added that he requested a copy of the agreement between Reed and Omaha Productions earlier this week and after being assured by Reed that he would receive it, was notified by Reed via text on Thursday that he had quit.
Reed said he could not produce the agreement due to a confidentiality agreement with Omaha Productions and Amazon. Dawson declined an opportunity to speak with representatives of the video production companies in an offered conference call May 10. Dawson said he wanted to see the agreement before proceeding.
Reed claims he received an ultimatum from Dawson on Wednesday, stating "basically no movie deal with Omaha and Peyton or he was going to move the horses," the trainer said.
The two have not spoken since last week when Rich Strike finished fifth in the May 5 Alysheba Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs and news of the film project surfaced, communicating only via text over that period. The Keen Ice 4-year-old is winless in six races since the 2022 Derby.
Beth Fryman Poulin assisted Reed in the development deal with Omaha Productions and Amazon Prime, according to social media posts. Dawson claims he did not receive a requested video agreement from Fryman Poulin.
Asked what Reed believed to be an ultimatum, Dawson said he messaged the trainer a text that read in part, "I thought our relationship was (more) important to you than whatever relationship you have with Beth. If not, I will move on with another trainer."
Reed said he wanted to go through with the video project.
"I had to do what was best for my family," he said.
Reed said he is appreciative of having trained for the owner. Neither he nor Dawson expects a reconciliation.
"I would say it's over," Dawson said.
