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Hall of Famer trainer Bobby Frankel died early Monday morning of lymphoma. He was 68.
His death doesn’t come as a surprise. Frankel hadn’t been seen at a Southern California or New York race track —- where he based his operations —- for months.
In these parts, Frankel was known as “Mr. Pacific Classic.” After Best Pal won the inaugural Pacific Classic in 1991, Frankel won the next four runnings of Del Mar’s first —- and only —- $1 million race with Missionary Ridge, Bertrando and Tinners Way (twice).
After four years of watching others win it, Frankel came back to win the 2000 and 2001 runnings of the race with Skimming, giving him six Pacific Classic victories in 11 years. Not a bad batting average.
I will never forget one year when Del Mar hosted a hall of fame luncheon before one of the runnings of the race. Frankel held court with the media for more than an hour. To this day, it’s one of the best interview sessions I’ve ever been involved with.
Frankel told us stories of growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y., the early years in the business and his favorite horses. I still remember sitting there thinking this guy is quite a character and a person passionate about his job.
Now, there were other times Frankel wasn’t so cooperative. I remember getting up at 5 a.m. one morning to call Frankel’s barn in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., about a horse he had running at Del Mar —- he would split his barn in the summers while wintering at Santa Anita every year —- and getting the royal brush off with a few choice curse words thrown in.
That was Bobby. He could be nice one moment and gruff the next. I know the feeling. I can be the same way, too, but there was never any doubting Frankel’ s abilities to train horses.
He was one of the best. He will be missed.
Maybe Del Mar should reconsider reviving that hall of fame and making Robert Frankel its first inductee. It would only be fitting for a man known as Mr. Pacific Classic.