John A. Franks
Encyclopedia
John Franks was an American businessman and a Thoroughbred
racehorse
owner and breeder
. A native of Haughton, Louisiana
, he earned a degree in geology
from Louisiana State University
. In 1962, he founded the highly successful Franks Petroleum Inc. and later invested in real estate
with Franks Realty LLC. In 1989 he sold his petroleum company to Sonat Inc.
.
In 1976, Franks became involved in the horse racing
business and would become a leading North America
n stable owner with a horse farm in Shreveport, Louisiana
plus his own breeding operation in Ocala, Florida
.
John Franks success in Thoroughbred racing saw him become the leading owner at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana
for eighteen consecutive years from 1982 through 1999. Nationally, he earned the American Eclipse Award for Outstanding Owner
in 1983, 1984, 1993, and 1994. As at 2007, his four wins remain the most of any owner. In 1993 and 1994 he led all American owners in earnings from racing. Seven times he was the leading owner in races won, taking the title in 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1994.
Franks was the owner and/or breeder of more than a dozen horses who earned more than $1 million in their racing careers including Answer Lively
, winner of the 1998 Breeders' Cup Juvenile
who was voted American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt. His other horses of note included Royal Anthem
, Sharp Cat
, Heatherten and Kissin Kris. In poor health, in 2002 the seventy-seven-year-old Franks undertook a liquidation of his horse racing and breeding operations. He died on December 31, 2003 at the WK Pierremont Heath Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. In his memory, three racetracks
have named races for John Franks.
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...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
owner and breeder
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
. A native of Haughton, Louisiana
Haughton, Louisiana
Haughton is a town in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,792 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Shreveport–Bossier City Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Haughton is located at ....
, he earned a degree in geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
from Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
. In 1962, he founded the highly successful Franks Petroleum Inc. and later invested in real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
with Franks Realty LLC. In 1989 he sold his petroleum company to Sonat Inc.
Sonat
Sonat, Inc., headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, was a large Fortune 500 American energy holding company. The company was founded in 1928 and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "SNT". Sonat was primarily involved in transmission and marketing natural gas and oil and...
.
In 1976, Franks became involved in the horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
business and would become a leading North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n stable owner with a horse farm in Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
plus his own breeding operation in Ocala, Florida
Ocala, Florida
Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...
.
John Franks success in Thoroughbred racing saw him become the leading owner at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana
Bossier City, Louisiana
Bossier City is a city in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States.As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 61,315. Bossier City is closely tied to its larger sister city Shreveport, located on the western bank of the Red River. The Shreveport-Bossier City metropolitan area is the...
for eighteen consecutive years from 1982 through 1999. Nationally, he earned the American Eclipse Award for Outstanding Owner
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Owner
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Owner is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor for racehorse owners. Created in 1971, it is part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually.Past winners: -References:* *...
in 1983, 1984, 1993, and 1994. As at 2007, his four wins remain the most of any owner. In 1993 and 1994 he led all American owners in earnings from racing. Seven times he was the leading owner in races won, taking the title in 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1994.
Franks was the owner and/or breeder of more than a dozen horses who earned more than $1 million in their racing careers including Answer Lively
Answer Lively
Answer Lively was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse owned and bred by John Franks, a Louisiana oilman and winner of a record four Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Owner....
, winner of the 1998 Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Breeders' Cup Juvenile
The Breeders' Cup Juvenile is a Thoroughbred horse race for 2-year-old colts and geldings raced on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships....
who was voted American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt. His other horses of note included Royal Anthem
Royal Anthem (horse)
Royal Anthem is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire bred in the United States.-Background:A son of Theatrical, Royal Anthem's grandsire was Nureyev and his damsire was U.S...
, Sharp Cat
Sharp Cat
Sharp Cat was an outstanding American Thoroughbred filly racehorse who won fourteen of her twenty-one starts of which seven of her wins were Grade 1 events. She was a daughter of the two-time leading sire in North America, Storm Cat, and out of Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, In Neon.Sharp Cat was...
, Heatherten and Kissin Kris. In poor health, in 2002 the seventy-seven-year-old Franks undertook a liquidation of his horse racing and breeding operations. He died on December 31, 2003 at the WK Pierremont Heath Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. In his memory, three racetracks
Race track
A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...
have named races for John Franks.