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Hall of Fame trainer Frankel dies at 68

Bobby Frankel trained 10 champions (Debra Kral/Horsephotos.com) Hall of Fame horseman Bobby Frankel, a five-time Eclipse Award winner whose exceptional list of pupils included 10 champions and Belmont S. (G1) winner Empire Maker, died at his home in Pacific Palisades, California, early Monday morning. The Brooklyn native, 68, succumbed to complications from lymphoma. He had not made any public appearances for the past six months as he battled his illness. By his own admission a successful horseplayer after being introduced to the sport in the early 1960s, Frankel embarked on a training career in the middle of that decade and scored his first significant victory in the 1970 Suburban H. with Barometer, a horse he had claimed for $15,000. He built his early career on claiming runners, winning the first of his 30 training titles at Saratoga in 1970. He relocated to Southern California in 1972, where he made an immediate impact by winning the Hollywood Park training title. As the years passed Frankel's barn transitioned from one consisting of bread-and-butter horses to stakes winners and champions, aided by an infusion of stock from high-profile owners such as Edmund Gann, Jerry Moss, Bert and Diana Firestone, and Stavros Niarchos. More recently, Frankel has been best known for training the American contingent of Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms as well as for the multiple Eclipse Award-winning Stronach Stables. Except for the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness S. (G1), Frankel scored at least one victory in virtually every other significant race in the United States. He was most prolific in grass stakes, winning the Matriarch S. (G1) and Gamely S. (G1) eight times each, the Eddie Read S. (G1) seven times and the Charles Whittingham Memorial (G1) six times. Among main track events, he registered six wins in the Pacific Classic (G1) and four wins apiece in the Woodward S. (G1) and Metropolitan H. (G1). He won six Breeders' Cup events, most recently in the 2008 Filly & Mare Sprint with Ventura (Chester House).

Arguably his best runner was 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, who cemented year-end honors with an electrifying score in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Lone Star Park over a deeply talented field. Frankel also conditioned 1993 champion older male Bertrando; 2005 champion turf male Leroidesanimaux (Brz); 2007 champion older female Ginger Punch; the champion turf mares Possibly Perfect, Wandesta (GB), Ryafan and Intercontinental (GB); and the champion sprinters Squirtle Squirt and Aldebaran.

Frankel's best opportunity to win the Kentucky Derby was in 2003, when the Juddmonte homebred Empire Maker started favorite at Churchill Downs following scores in the Florida Derby  (G1) and Wood Memorial S. (G1), but the regally-bred son of Unbridled battled foot issues throughout Derby week and wound up second to Funny Cide. After skipping the Preakness, Empire Maker came back to deny his gelded rival Triple Crown glory in the Belmont S. Despite winning two of three matchups against Funny Cide that season, that rival was named champion three-year-old male. Frankel also trained 2000 Derby runner-up Aptitude.

A sampling of other major runners conditioned by Frankel include Al Mamoon, Beat Hollow (GB), Champs Elysees (GB), Chester House, Denon, Exbourne, Flute, Garthorn, Honest Lady, Keeper Hill, Lido Palace (Chi), Marquetry, Megahertz (GB), Milwaukee Brew, Pay the Butler, Peace Rules, Precious Kitten, Sightseek, Skimming, Starine (Fr), Tates Creek, Theatrical (Ire), Tinners Way, Vineyard Haven and You.

Frankel also trained two current stars of the breeding shed, Broodmare of the Year Toussaud and Medaglia d'Oro, the sire of Rachel Alexandra.

Frankel won the Eclipse Award as leading trainer in 1993 and from 2000 through 2003, inclusive. He won a world-record 25 Grade 1 races in 2003 and won a collective 29 training titles at the five major Southern California meetings.

Over his career, Frankel won 3,654 races from 17,657 starters with earnings of $227,947,775. He ranks second only to D. Wayne Lukas on the all-time money list.

"Bobby Frankel was one of the greatest trainers in Thoroughbred racing history," National Thoroughbred Racing Association President and CEO Alex Waldrop said. "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."

A 1995 Hall of Fame inductee, Frankel, who was twice divorced, is survived by his daughter Bethenny, a reality television celebrity on the show "Real Housewives of New York." A memorial service will be held at Hillside Memorial Park in Los Angeles on Tuesday at 3 p.m. (PST).

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