Bobby Frankel
Encyclopedia
Robert Julian Frankel was an American
thoroughbred
race horse trainer
whom ESPN
called "one of the most successful and respected trainers in the history of thoroughbred racing." He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
in 1995, and was a five-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer
. Often referred to as "Bobby" by others, he preferred and always used "Robert." Frankel set the single-season world record for most Grade/Group I victories in 2003 with 25 Grade I wins, a record he still holds.
, Frankel assisted the prominent trainer Buddy Jacobson. On his own, Frankel saddled his first winner late in 1966 before struggling somewhat in 1967, when he won with just 9 of 101 starters. During 1968, however, he won 36 of 165 outings, his horses accumulating $167,000 in purse money. In the next few years, he continued to prosper in New York, and during the winter of 1970–1971, he had some success at the West Coast meeting at Santa Anita
.
After moving permanently to California in 1972, Frankel scored a series of wins that brought him to the attention of the horse betting world, winning a record 60 races at Hollywood Park. Many of those victories came with runners he acquired as low-cost claimers for one of his owners such as Edmund Gann
with whom he had a thirty-year working relationship. These horses typically showed dramatic improvement under his care, sometimes winning their next start against higher priced claiming company.
Frankel was an avid follower of the training techniques of Charlie Whittingham
, trainer of champions such as Ferdinand
and Sunday Silence
. Frankel won several Eclipse Awards, the year-end horse racing awards, for best trainer. He set earnings records, Grade I stakes victory records, and many others. Frankel also won the Pacific Classic Stakes
a record six times, including four times in a row.
Some of his best horses include Squirtle Squirt
, his first Breeders' Cup
winner; Skimming, two-time winner of the Grade 1 Pacific Classic Stakes
; Sightseek
, winner of the Humana Distaff Handicap
(Gr. I) and Ogden Phipps Handicap
(Gr. I); triple Grade I winner Empire Maker
, winner of the Belmont Stakes
(Gr. I); multiple Grade I winning Peace Rules
; two-time Santa Anita Handicap
(Gr. I) winner Milwaukee Brew
; Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf
(Gr. I) winner Starine
, whom he also owned; and Ghostzapper
, the Breeders' Cup Classic
(Gr. I) winner who was voted the 2004 Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year
.
Frankel was the U.S. Champion Trainer by earnings
in 2002 and 2003.
On June 26, 2005, Wild Desert
, owned by several businesspeople including former New York Yankees
manager Joe Torre
, gave Frankel his first victory in the $1 million Queen's Plate
, the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown
at Woodbine Racetrack
.
Frankel died at his home in California on November 16, 2009, at the age of 68, after being diagnosed with leukemia
. He was survived by his daughter, reality TV star Bethenny Frankel
.
In 2010, the San Gorgonio Handicap - a race Frankel won eight times - was renamed the Robert J. Frankel Memorial Handicap in his honor.
The winner of the 2011 British 2,000 Guineas, Frankel
, is named for Robert Frankel and owned by one of his patrons, Prince Khalid Abdullah.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
race horse trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
whom ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
called "one of the most successful and respected trainers in the history of thoroughbred racing." He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
in 1995, and was a five-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer
The Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor for trainers. Created in 1971, it is part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually.Its Canadian counterpart is the Sovereign Award for Outstanding Trainer....
. Often referred to as "Bobby" by others, he preferred and always used "Robert." Frankel set the single-season world record for most Grade/Group I victories in 2003 with 25 Grade I wins, a record he still holds.
Life and career
Early in his career, in 1960s New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Frankel assisted the prominent trainer Buddy Jacobson. On his own, Frankel saddled his first winner late in 1966 before struggling somewhat in 1967, when he won with just 9 of 101 starters. During 1968, however, he won 36 of 165 outings, his horses accumulating $167,000 in purse money. In the next few years, he continued to prosper in New York, and during the winter of 1970–1971, he had some success at the West Coast meeting at Santa Anita
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
.
After moving permanently to California in 1972, Frankel scored a series of wins that brought him to the attention of the horse betting world, winning a record 60 races at Hollywood Park. Many of those victories came with runners he acquired as low-cost claimers for one of his owners such as Edmund Gann
Edmund A. Gann
Edmund A. Gann is an American businessman and Thoroughbred racehorse owner.-Early life and career:...
with whom he had a thirty-year working relationship. These horses typically showed dramatic improvement under his care, sometimes winning their next start against higher priced claiming company.
Frankel was an avid follower of the training techniques of Charlie Whittingham
Charlie Whittingham
Charles Edward Whittingham was an American thoroughbred race horse trainer who is one of the most acclaimed trainers in U.S. racing history....
, trainer of champions such as Ferdinand
Ferdinand (horse)
Ferdinand was a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1986 Kentucky Derby and 1987 Breeders' Cup Classic. He was voted the 1987 Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year.He entered stud in 1989 and was later sold to a breeding farm in Japan in 1994....
and Sunday Silence
Sunday Silence
Sunday Silence was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, earning distinction as 1989 American Horse of the Year over American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse Easy Goer. He was foaled in 1986, sired by Halo out of Wishing Well by Understanding. Though he was registered as a dark bay/brown, he was in...
. Frankel won several Eclipse Awards, the year-end horse racing awards, for best trainer. He set earnings records, Grade I stakes victory records, and many others. Frankel also won the Pacific Classic Stakes
Pacific Classic Stakes
The Pacific Classic Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for runners aged 3-year-old or up run at the classic American distance of a mile and a quarter...
a record six times, including four times in a row.
Some of his best horses include Squirtle Squirt
Squirtle Squirt
Squirtle Squirt is an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He was out of the mare Lost The Code, by the multiple Grade I winner, Lost Code. He was sired by the 1991 Hollywood Gold Cup winner Marquetry who also sired the 1999 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner, Artax...
, his first Breeders' Cup
Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Thoroughbred horse races, most but not all Grade I, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. The location...
winner; Skimming, two-time winner of the Grade 1 Pacific Classic Stakes
Pacific Classic Stakes
The Pacific Classic Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for runners aged 3-year-old or up run at the classic American distance of a mile and a quarter...
; Sightseek
Sightseek
Sightseek is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse and current broodmare. She was bred and raced by Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms and was trained by Bobby Frankel....
, winner of the Humana Distaff Handicap
Humana Distaff Handicap
The Humana Distaff Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually on the first Saturday in May as part of Derby Day at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky...
(Gr. I) and Ogden Phipps Handicap
Ogden Phipps Handicap
The Ogden Phipps Handicap is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race for run annually in mid June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Contested on dirt at a distance of 11/16 miles , the race is open to fillies and mares, three years of age and up. Inaugurated in 1961 as the Hempstead...
(Gr. I); triple Grade I winner Empire Maker
Empire Maker
Empire Maker is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Owned and bred by Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms, he was sired by champion Unbridled, winner of the 1990 Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic...
, winner of the Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
(Gr. I); multiple Grade I winning Peace Rules
Peace Rules
Peace Rules , is a multiple Grade I winning American Thoroughbred race horse. By Jules Peace Rules (bred and foaled in Florida at Newchance Farm on April 26, 2000), is a multiple Grade I winning American Thoroughbred race horse. By Jules Peace Rules (bred and foaled in Florida at Newchance Farm on...
; two-time Santa Anita Handicap
Santa Anita Handicap
The Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses four years old and up , and is considered the most important race for older horses in North America during the winter racing season...
(Gr. I) winner Milwaukee Brew
Milwaukee Brew
Milwaukee Brew is an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known as one of only three horses to ever win back-to-back runnings of the Santa Anita Handicap....
; Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf
The Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for fillies and mares, three years old and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships....
(Gr. I) winner Starine
Starine
Starine was a French Thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Orne who competed in France and in the United States. She made her racing debut for owner/breeder Catherine Dubois in June 1999 and on July 16, 1999 got her first win in the Prix des Edelweiss at Aix-les-Bains racecourse. After winning the...
, whom he also owned; and Ghostzapper
Ghostzapper
Foaled in Kentucky on April 6 in the year 2000, the thoroughbred racehorse Ghostzapper won the Breeders' Cup Classic in 2004, outdistancing Roses in May by three lengths in a stakes record of 1:59.02...
, the Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
(Gr. I) winner who was voted the 2004 Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year
Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year
The American Award for Horse of the Year is the highest honor given in American thoroughbred horse racing. It has been awarded since 1887 to the horse, irrespective of age, whose performance during the racing year is deemed the most outstanding....
.
Frankel was the U.S. Champion Trainer by earnings
United States Champion Thoroughbred Trainer by earnings
There is recognition for the United States Champion Thoroughbred Trainer by earnings but no formal award is given to the trainer in Thoroughbred flat racing whose horses earned the most purse money in North American Thoroughbred racing....
in 2002 and 2003.
On June 26, 2005, Wild Desert
Wild Desert
Wild Desert is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2005 Queen's Plate, Canada's most prestigious race and North America's oldest annually run stakes race....
, owned by several businesspeople including former New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
manager Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
, gave Frankel his first victory in the $1 million Queen's Plate
Queen's Plate
The Queen's Plate is Canada's oldest thoroughbred horse race. It is run at a distance of 1¼ miles for 3-year-old thoroughbred horses foaled in Canada. The race takes place each summer in June or July at Woodbine Racetrack, Etobicoke , Ontario...
, the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
at Woodbine Racetrack
Woodbine Racetrack
Woodbine Racetrack is a Canadian racetrack for Thoroughbred horse races located at 555 Rexdale Blvd. in the city of Toronto, Ontario. It is the only horseracing track in North America which stages, or is capable of staging, thoroughbred and standardbred horseracing programs on the same day...
.
Frankel died at his home in California on November 16, 2009, at the age of 68, after being diagnosed with leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
. He was survived by his daughter, reality TV star Bethenny Frankel
Bethenny Frankel
Bethenny Frankel is an American reality show personality, author, entrepreneur and natural foods chef. She was a contestant in the 2005 series The Apprentice: Martha Stewart and one of the original five housewives featured on the Bravo reality series The Real Housewives of New York City...
.
In 2010, the San Gorgonio Handicap - a race Frankel won eight times - was renamed the Robert J. Frankel Memorial Handicap in his honor.
The winner of the 2011 British 2,000 Guineas, Frankel
Frankel (horse)
Frankel is a thoroughbred colt racehorse bred by Juddmonte Farms, trained by Sir Henry Cecil and owned by Prince Khalid Abdulla. Named after the renowned and late American trainer Bobby Frankel, Frankel is unbeaten in nine races and is officially rated as the best racehorse in the world...
, is named for Robert Frankel and owned by one of his patrons, Prince Khalid Abdullah.