The past Monday, the thoroughbred world lost a legendary figure. Hall of Fame trainer; Bobby Frankel succumbed to the cancer he had been battling the past year. His death at the age of 68 leaves a void in the sport that may be hard to replace. His nearly 45 years on the track as a trainer originally from the east coast and then transplanted to the west coast was one of exceptional greatness. Born in Brooklyn, he got his start as a “hot walker” at Aqueduct and Belmont Park in the early 60’s. A brash, no nonsense New Yorker; Bobby was tough as nails in the metropolitan racing scene. He saddled his first winner in 1966 and then spent the next six years as a trainer on the New York circuit. In 1972, Bobby decided to move his tact to the west coast. That is where he would flourish and become the great trainer that we know.
His rise to greatness came just about the same time I was beginning to be interested in the sport. In 1986, he won the Eddie Read Stakes with Al Mammon and that started a great stretch of graded stakes wins in California and throughout the country. He trained champion colts; Bertrando (1993) and 2004 Horse of the Year; Ghostzapper, champion sprinter; Squirtle Squirt (2001) and 2003 Belmont Stakes winner; Empire Maker. But, Bobby was best with the opposite members of the sex; the filly and mares. Here Frankel had a knack with the gals and the list of winners and champions he trained is a long one. Ginger Punch, Intercontinental, Possibly Perfect, Wandtesa and Ryafan were all champions for Frankel. The list goes non-stop from the late 80’s until today with graded stake winners. It earned him a place in thoroughbred racing’s Hall of Fame in 1995.
Bobby had won 3,654 races from 17,657 starters and his horses earned $227,947,775, second all-time on the money list to D. Wayne Lukas. He was an Eclipse Award-winning trainer five times (1993 and 2000-2003), and he won 11 Eclipse Awards with the above mention horses. Throughout his training career, he won 30 individual meet training titles. When he relocated on the west coast, he won 10 titles at Hollywood Park 's spring meet, 6 at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting, 5 at Santa Anita's main winter meeting, 5 more at Del Mar, and 3 at Hollywood 's fall meeting. His main success the last decade was with Juddmonte Farms who he trained for and garnered six Eclipse Awards as champion owner and breeder.
But, under that rough exterior that Bobby Frankel showed most of his career was a softer side that he had when people got close to him and it came out more the past few years. Two year’s ago his beloved Australian shepherd pup; Happy passed away just before 2007 Breeder’s Cup at Monmouth Park . Very upset about his death, Frankel did not attend the event. Bobby loved his dog and his horses and would get very emotional when he spoke about them. I know people that became very close to him the past few years and tell stories on how “down to earth” Bobby had become later in life. He was a fun loving guy who enjoyed a good Italian meal, watching sports and celebrating after a big win on the track. He’ll be missed by his friends and the sport will be a lesser place without him in it. He had a long career that spanned from one coast to another, made a lot of friends and won a lot of races. Bobby Frankel was a legend in our sport and will be missed, but never forgotten.
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