Bobby Frankel 1941-2009

Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel, one of most successful and respected trainers in the history of thoroughbred racing, died today in California of complications from lymphoma. He was 68.

Frankel kept the details of his illness private during his treatments, but its severity was clear. For the first time in decades, Frankel did not attend the annual Saratoga Race Course meet this summer, leaving his string in the hands of trusted assistant Jose Cuevas.

"Bobby Frankel was one of the greatest trainers in thoroughbred racing history," said Alex Waldrop, president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. "His outstanding horsemanship, coupled with a keen insight into the game, made him a force in the sport for the last 40 years. His immense talent, and his abiding love for his horses, will be sorely missed."

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Frankel died at his home in Pacific Palisades, Calif. His horses won 3,654 races and $227,947,775 in purses from 17,657 starters during a career that began in 1966, ranking second in earnings to Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas. Frankel was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs in 1995.

"Bobby Frankel was a winner at every level he competed, including in the Breeders’ Cup, where his six career wins are part of his wonderful legacy as one of the true greats of our game," Breeders' Cup president and CEO Greg Avioli said. "We extend our deepest sympathies to Bobby’s family and his many friends."

Frankel began his career as a claiming trainer based in New York, before moving his headquarters to the West Coast. There, he began a rise to prominence that saw him dominate the sport in the early 2000s, win at least one Grade 1 race from 1988 through 2009, and top $10 million in season earnings eight times.

In all, Frankel was voted the Eclipse Award as top trainer five times (1993, 2000-03), and trained 10 horses to 11 year-end championships: Aldebaran, Bertrando, Ghostzapper, Ginger Punch, Intercontinental, Leroidesanimaux, Possibly Perfect, Ryafan, Squirtle Squirt, and Wandesta. His 25 Grade 1 victories in 2003 remains a single-season world record.

Always known as a force in Saratoga's biggest races (he won four Grade 1s in 2008; the Forego, Hopeful, Go for Wand and Personal Ensign), Frankel captured the first of 30 career individual meet titles at Saratoga in 1970, his only one in New York. He won 13 at Hollywood Park, 11 at Santa Anita and five at Del Mar.

Frankel was often seen as a bit of a curmudgeon by some writers who ambled by his barn in the mornings, but could also be a warm and engaging personality. His passion for the game and his horses never wavered.

My favorite memory of Frankel came in 2003, when he publicly traded barbs in print with late Hall of Famer P.G. Johnson, trainer of Volponi, who shocked the 2002 Breeders' Cup Classic at 43-1.

Frankel and Johnson, who died in August 2004, were stabled near each other on the Oklahoma training track backstretch in Saratoga Springs. In the buildup to the 2003 Whitney Handicap, Johnson playfully mocked Frankel and his high-profile operation, the exact opposite of Johnson's.

"He'll be the favorite, but the real reason is that Bobby Frankel is the favorite," Johnson was quoted as saying. "If 'Charlie Nobody' was the trainer, they wouldn't bet him. But with Frankel, they bet his image, his ego and the horse . . . I don't even want to think about it."

Volponi finished second to the Frankel-trained Medaglia d'Oro -- a horse Johnson had said was "all hype" -- in the Whitney. Medaglia d'Oro, who won the 2002 Travers in the slop over Repent, is the sire of superfilly Rachel Alexandra.

"Well, the horse is a good horse," Frankel said after the race. "Everybody knows he's a good horse except one guy, who didn't think he was a good horse. That's the guy that finished second.

"It feels really good. To be honest with you, I wanted it a little more because of what the article was. It bothered me. It's disrespect. I don't diss anybody else's horses. I wanted to kick his [butt]. I was a little bit upset, but the best revenge is winning. I learned that a long time ago. If you win, you don't have to say anything."