Remembering Bobby Frankel

Mechanicville native Chad Brown worked as an assistant for Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, who died early this morning of complications from lymphoma at the age of 68.

Brown went out on his own two years ago after two years under Frankel and is now based in New York.

“He proved you don’t have to grow up on a farm or be somebody’s kid to make it,” Brown said.. “Trainers come and go, but here’s a guy who won at the highest level decade after decade. And as a horseman, a trainer, and a human being, he was so caring about his horses, and his help. There’s never going to be another Bobby Frankel.”

Here is some reaction from other New York horsemen on today's news:

“He was a tremendous horseman, his horses always looked well, and he was a great caretaker. In some ways, he developed the trend of giving horses more time between races. He was very passionate about horses and passionate about racing.”
-- trainer Todd Pletcher

“He was an excellent horseman with an impeccable record. He was great to his horses and great to his help. He went from the bottom rung of racing all the way to the top, which is a mark not only of him as a horseman, but as a person. He will be sadly missed.”
-- Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey

"Bobby was a great horseman and a fierce competitor. Over the years he won many of the most prestigious races on the NYRA calendar with some of the most talented horses that have ever been stabled in New York. His passion for thoroughbred racing will be sorely missed."
-- NYRA vice president and director of racing P.J. Campo