Bobby Frankel, 1941-2009

[Kasept]

Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel has passed away this morning at age 68.

Getting to know Frankel was one of the rare privileges I've been afforded working in racing. He was one of a kind, and the game will be greatly diminished by his absence. Rest in peace..

[Danzig]

my condolences to his family and friends. rip

[joeydb]

Very sorry to hear this news. Rest in Peace.

[MisterB]

Sad stuff, RIP Bobby

[GBBob]

Condolences to family and friends and RIP Bobby...very sad news

[dalakhani]

RIP Bobby Frankel

[Bogey]

Very sad news, Rest in peace

[_ed_]

Very sad to hear.

[randallscott35]

Too young

[Duvalier]

Very sad to hear. Rest in peace.

[ARyan]

Very sad, RIP Bobby.

[Antitrust32]

RIP Bobby..

[Habersham000]

We have lost such a great horseman and nice guy....RIP Bobby

[ninetoone]

Sad news. RIP.

[tomm5647]

Very sad to hear this news. I knew that he wasn't well but did not want to hear this. My sincere condolences to his family.

[richard]

So sad . Too soon . Great trainer .

[brianwspencer]

That's awful news. Condolences to his family and friends :(

[videogirl10]

very sad to hear. is there anywhere we can send our condolences?

[Echo Farm]

Rest in Peace, Mr. Frankel.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/53469/hall-of-famer-bobby-frankel-dies-at-68

[Coach Pants]

He's scratching horses in heaven. R.I.P.

[NTamm1215]

RIP to Bobby Frankel, one of the all-time greats in our great game.

NT

[robfla]

condolences to family and friends.

[CSC]

Bobby will be missed.

[Travis Stone]

Suddenly a Horse of the Year debate seems meaningless... very sad news, but I'm glad he was able to die at home. One of the greatest handlers this game has ever seen. RIP.

[Sightseek]

He was my absolute favorite trainer. The love he had for all animals just radiated from him when he spoke about them.

I only had the pleasure of speaking to him once and when I told him that Sightseek was my all-time favorite horse his face lit up and softened as he spoke about what an incredibly kind animal she is.

RIP Mr. Frankel - racing lost a true Champion of a trainer.

[Heels1989]

Very sad news. Our game has lost one of its best. RIP Mr. Frankel.

[Silver Squire]

Bobby was the best - very happy to hear that he was able to be at home....

[MaTH716]

Just awful news, my condolences to his family.

RIP Bobby.

[docicu3]

Hopefully he is at peace now that was a rough sounding last few months....God Bless.

[Arletta]

I remember the trainer I worked for sharing a shedrow with him back in the late 80's, back when he only had maybe 20 horses. It was great to see him rise to the top like he did and acquire some great champions over the years as well as being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

R.I.P Bobby.

[onebadbeast]

R.I.P. Bobby, you will be missed......great dog lover and trainer of Megahertz, one of the best.

[Buckpasser]

Remembrances:I remember when Bobby Frankel was a trainer at Aqueduct, before he moved out west, probably some time in the early 1970's and he had a horse named Dagger Counter, a speed ball who would do 1:10 for 6F. He won a $7,500 Allowance and paid something like $8.00, and Frankel followed that with a $15,000 Allowance in which Dagger Counter came in 7th by 4 lengths. Because the Morning Telegraph did not at that time list the dollar amounts of an Allowance Race, only what type of race it was, Bobby dropped Dagger Counter back in an $7,500 Allowance at odds of 8-1. The horse won easily. Bobby must have been laughing all the way to the bank. BTW I bet him and had a big smile on my face.

RIP Bobby - we will all miss you - You were good for the game.

[smuthg]

RIP Mr. Frankel...

[jwkniska]

RIP Bobby. The game lost one of the good ones today.

[scat daddy]

Amazing how they take the great ones way to early...however I bet he is having one hell of a conversation with Woody Stephens.

RIP..Great trainer with class unmatched!

Scat

[santana]

I have been following the game the game for a very long time. I cant remember another trainer, that when he had a horse entered, i ALWAYS took a second and 3rd look. It didnt matter who the horse was.
RIP Bobby, you will be missed.

[Riot]

Did his own thing, and loved the animals. Gone too young.

[Thunder Gulch]

One of the very best ever.

[pgiaco]

RIP Bobby. The game lost a great trainer and a great lover of animals.

[PeteMugg]

I have been following the game the game for a very long time. I cant remember another trainer, that when he had a horse entered, i ALWAYS took a second and 3rd look. It didnt matter who the horse was.
RIP Bobby, you will be missed.


Agree with this. He had 'em right and knew where to run 'em.

R.I.P. Mr. Frankel, a good one gone.

[booner]

RIP Mr. Frankel. My condolences to his family and friends.

[dellinger63]

He'll be missed for sure!!! RIP and condolences to his family and many friends including Steve B.

[brockguy]

I liked him a lot. RIP

[dylbert]

Deepest sympathies to the Frankel family & his friends.

[Round Pen]

God Bless You Bobby thanks for all the Wonderful memories

[cmfhb411]

Another member of our racing family has left us too soon.
My condolences to Bobby's family and friends.
And may he rest in peace.

[geeker2]

RIP Bobby :tro: :tro: :tro:

[ArlJim78]

damn that's too bad. A great trainer he was.

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Just found out.....RIP Bobby :(

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

rip bobby f had the pleasure of meeting him at steves bbq in 06.. he loved the smoked meat sand..great trainer.

[prudery]

Ah Bobby Frankel-- a true character and a lover of the horse as well as a great horseman--even in his last thoughts to give to equine charities in lieu of flowers ...

I have a personal connection with Bobby that will live on unfadingly ...

I was the odd schoolgirl not simply horse crazy, but racing crazy, and as soon as I was of age and allowed to work, my best friend and I sought jobs at the track ...

Women--or girls in our case--were rare at the track then and given short shrift ... You had to prove yourself daily ...

Neither one of us grew up riding or even around horses, but Frankel hired us as a team--the entry ...

He made you work, but if he saw you had a feel and love for horses, his gruff side got toned down ...

He was at Aqueduct then--the low rent district--with a barn full of claimers, yet they all were treated as individuals and with great care ...

A favorite was an old grey gelding stakes horse, Baitman, who thought he was two, blasting around the shedrow dragging his handlers ... Because he was not really a mean horse and a good breadwinner, Bobby never allowed any more than mild corrections with the horse ...

When we showed up, we always got Baitman to hotwalk, because the male workers could get frustrated with him, and we didn't---Frankel got a kick out of that ...

My favorite memory of Bobby however was not at the track ..,.

My friend and I took night art classes during this period and afterwards hitchiked home so we could eavesdrop at the apartment of a certain gentleman jockey who lived off Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills ...

We were such regulars with our thumbs out, that we had repeat rides---Burt another night schooler who drove a 1940s Packard, and Hydee the taxi driver who made us stand up in the cab so the meter wouldn't register ..,.

One night we were long on the side of the ride when a Cadillac signalled to pull over--at last a ride and a fancy one ... But suddenly there was a huge crash--the car behind plowed into the rear of the Caddy ...

Out popped the driver---it was Bobby Frankel who saw his hotwalkers hitchiking in all their hippy glory ...

He turned his head to see if the driver behind would stay put ... " Get in the car ", he said, but we knew--as New Yorkers--what was coming ...

" Get in the car " he repeated, still calm ... Then out came his arm, finger pointing at the driver behind, and the inevitable insults and expletives burst forth ...

We didn't know whether to laugh or not, because the juxtaposition of words and reactions were such theatre .

One more time he ordered us into in the car calmly, had a few more words for the driver cowering behind, surveyed the unwanted sculpture on the Caddy's rear fender, waved the other driver on, and drove off with us ...

He took us to Far Rockaway to his parents house--where I believe he still lived--and had us in to meet the folks for a schmooz and a snack, and drove us home .

Sort of surreal ..

I saw him two years ago with a woman at Saratoga and we looked at each other with recognition ... Now I am sorry I did not speak to him ...

He was truly one of racing's good guys with a real love for the horse as a sentient being, not just a racehorse or a money maker .,..

Godspeed Bobby ...

[freddymo]

Ah Bobby Frankel-- a true character and a lover of the horse as well as a great horseman--even in his last thoughts to give to equine charities in lieu of flowers ...

I have a personal connection with Bobby that will live on unfadingly ...

I was the odd schoolgirl not simply horse crazy, but racing crazy, and as soon as I was of age and allowed to work, my best friend and I sought jobs at the track ...

Women--or girls in our case--were rare at the track then and given short shrift ... You had to prove yourself daily ...

Neither one of us grew up riding or even around horses, but Frankel hired us as a team--the entry ...

He made you work, but if he saw you had a feel and love for horses, his gruff side got toned down ...

He was at Aqueduct then--the low rent district--with a barn full of claimers, yet they all were treated as individuals and with great care ...

A favorite was an old grey gelding stakes horse, Baitman, who thought he was two, blasting around the shedrow dragging his handlers ... Because he was not really a mean horse and a good breadwinner, Bobby never allowed any more than mild corrections with the horse ...

When we showed up, we always got Baitman to hotwalk, because the male workers could get frustrated with him, and we didn't---Frankel got a kick out of that ...

My favorite memory of Bobby however was not at the track ..,.

My friend and I took night art classes during this period and afterwards hitchiked home so we could eavesdrop at the apartment of a certain gentleman jockey who lived off Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills ...

We were such regulars with our thumbs out, that we had repeat rides---Burt another night schooler who drove a 1940s Packard, and Hydee the taxi driver who made us stand up in the cab so the meter wouldn't register ..,.

One night we were long on the side of the ride when a Cadillac signalled to pull over--at last a ride and a fancy one ... But suddenly there was a huge crash--the car behind plowed into the rear of the Caddy ...

Out popped the driver---it was Bobby Frankel who saw his hotwalkers hitchiking in all their hippy glory ...

He turned his head to see if the driver behind would stay put ... " Get in the car ", he said, but we knew--as New Yorkers--what was coming ...

" Get in the car " he repeated, still calm ... Then out came his arm, finger pointing at the driver behind, and the inevitable insults and expletives burst forth ...

We didn't know whether to laugh or not, because the juxtaposition of words and reactions were such theatre .

One more time he ordered us into in the car calmly, had a few more words for the driver cowering behind, surveyed the unwanted sculpture on the Caddy's rear fender, waved the other driver on, and drove off with us ...

He took us to Far Rockaway to his parents house--where I believe he still lived--and had us in to meet the folks for a schmooz and a snack, and drove us home .

Sort of surreal ..

I saw him two years ago with a woman at Saratoga and we looked at each other with recognition ... Now I am sorry I did not speak to him ...

He was truly one of racing's good guys with a real love for the horse as a sentient being, not just a racehorse or a money maker .,..

Godspeed Bobby ...


Very sweet...Congrats you served yourself well!

[prudery]

Twas for Bobby--a mensch ...

[The Devil]

R.I.P. Bobby

[ateamstupid]

Very sad. As a younger racing fan, he was the trainer in my formative years. RIP Bobby.

[dagolfer33]

Very sad news. Condolences to Steve and all who were close to him. RIP

[SkinnyKid]

R.I.P Mr. Frankel My condolences to his family and friends.

[pdrift1]

God Bless And R.I.P Bobby :(

[free25]

RIP Bobby!!! Our game will miss you for sure...

[Zaf]

Very Sad. RIP Bobby.

[declansharbor]

Sad news indeed. May his legacy live on! R I P

[chucklestheclown]

Many of us would not love racing the way we do today if not for Bobby Frankel and his contemporaries. R.I.P.

[Pedigree Ann]

Remembrances:I remember when Bobby Frankel was a trainer at Aqueduct, before he moved out west, probably some time in the early 1970's and he had a horse named Dagger Counter, a speed ball who would do 1:10 for 6F. He won a $7,500 Allowance and paid something like $8.00, and Frankel followed that with a $15,000 Allowance in which Dagger Counter came in 7th by 4 lengths. Because the Morning Telegraph did not at that time list the dollar amounts of an Allowance Race, only what type of race it was, Bobby dropped Dagger Counter back in an $7,500 Allowance at odds of 8-1. The horse won easily. Bobby must have been laughing all the way to the bank. BTW I bet him and had a big smile on my face.

RIP Bobby - we will all miss you - You were good for the game.

I remember when he was at that stage, considered one of the canniest claiming trainers in the business. Many expressed doubt that he could make the jump up to training better, elite-type stakes horses when he started upgrading his stable. He sure showed them.

[mclem0822]

One of the greats of all time. RIP

[HaloWishingwell]

My first memories was his handling of MARQUETRY during those point system series for older horses. In between there were many others but I'm happy he got to experience the thrills of GHOSTZAPPER.

[DaTruth]

Racing lost a true giant of the game today.

[Rupert Pupkin]

He will definitely go down as one of the all-time greats. He truly had a gift. His instincts were second to none. He will be missed.

[pointman]

Just saw this, very sad news. RIP Bobby.

[MisterB]

Steve B and friends did a great job. Steve and Steve where awesome. Thanks for the great stories. I am so sad this had to happen, you people have lifted my spirits.

Thx
mb

[Left Bank]

When they name a race after him,I hope it's a good one,maybe on the grass for fillies and mares,G-1

[Coach Pants]

When they name a race after him,I hope it's a good one,maybe on the grass for fillies and mares,G-1And it would only be fitting if the whole field scratched. At least for the inaugural.

[Merlinsky]

I only just now heard about it. This is so sad. I was hoping somehow we'd get to see him again. Sure it's great seeing things like Zenyatta's Classic win but having Bobby back healthy this year would've been a real highlight to me and I bet we all thought we could will it into happening. My sympathies to his family. I hope Bethenny's feeling ok. This must be a terrible strain.

[asiarush]

It was nice to meet you Bobby

[dellinger63]

What a photo

http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww148/Dellinger63/10937_175952182419_175882182419_286.jpg

[Rupert Pupkin]

Here is a great picture of Bobby and Ginger Punch:

http://drf.com/images/Frankel_111809.pdf

By the way, some of those statistics are incredible.

[docicu3]

Here is a great picture of Bobby and Ginger Punch:

http://drf.com/images/Frankel_111809.pdf

By the way, some of those statistics are incredible.

I've been reading his history these last couple days for obvious reasons but am stunned by how a guy goes from the grandstand to the inner world of the backstretch with what appears to be nothing but his own will. How does that happen in this game? Amazing stuff....

[pick4]

I was sad to hear that Bobby Frankel fought leukemia and passed away because of the disease. I've seen a close friend who passed away from the same illness and he was 24.

Frankel came across as a curmudgeon. However when you look at how his hired help were loyal to him and worked for him for years makes me realize he was a pretty good man. I think the tributes by fellow horsemen, jockeys, and racing writers validates that he was a good guy.

RIP Mr. Frankel

[Sightseek]

Old Friends is opening a satelite farm outside of Saratoga Springs that will be open to the public, it will be called:

Old Friends at Cabin Creek: The Bobby Frankel Division and will feature a Frankel tribute.

[chucklestheclown]

HRTV is having a special Sunday night.

[Stickhorse]

My favorite eulogy
http://www.racehorsereport.com/

[Arletta]

My favorite eulogy
http://www.racehorsereport.com/

Good 'ole Jude... Wondered what happened to him.

[TouchOfGrey]

My favorite eulogy
http://www.racehorsereport.com/

That was beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

[Merlinsky]

I wasn't able to be online much Monday to follow the ATR tribute to Bobby, and I decided last night to start going through it. I'm now about 1.5 hrs in and wow, it's hard not to well up. Beautiful job, Steve. I love the outlet you gave so many people to remember him and work through their mourning.

[Kasept]

I wasn't able to be online much Monday to follow the ATR tribute to Bobby, and I decided last night to start going through it. I'm now about 1.5 hrs in and wow, it's hard not to well up. Beautiful job, Steve. I love the outlet you gave so many people to remember him and work through their mourning.
M,

Thanks very much.. Have had a lot of heartening feedback from the effort. Becoming friendly with Frankel the last 4 years was a source of pride for me, and to be able to offer the tribute to him Monday will always be a high point for the show in my mind.

[herkhorse]

My favorite eulogy
http://www.racehorsereport.com/

:tro:

[Arletta]

A great piece from HRTV on Bobby.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/videos/watch/1E8944BE-43E0-4087-AA89-FA5D9E900BD5