John A. Franks
John Franks | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Haughton, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | December 31, 2003 (aged 78) Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, racehorse owner and breeder |
| Known for | Founder of Franks Petroleum Inc.; leading Thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder |
John Franks (April 21, 1925 – December 31, 2003) was a notable American entrepreneur and influential figure in Thoroughbred racehorse ownership and breeding. A native of Haughton, Louisiana, he completed a degree in geology at Louisiana State University. In 1957, he launched Franks Petroleum Inc., a company that achieved considerable success before he diversified into real estate through Franks Realty LLC. In 1989, he sold his petroleum business to Sonat Inc..
Thoroughbred racing
Franks began his involvement in horse racing in 1976, creating one of North America's foremost stables, which included a horse farm located in Shreveport, Louisiana as well as breeding operations in Ocala, Florida.
At Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana, he maintained dominance as the leading owner for eighteen straight years from 1982 through 1999. On the national stage, Franks secured the American Eclipse Award for Outstanding Owner four times (1983, 1984, 1993, and 1994), holding the record as of 2007. He topped U.S. owners in racing earnings during both 1993 and 1994 and ranked first by number of wins seven times between 1983 and 1994.
Among his stable were more than a dozen horses that each earned over $1 million, including the 1998 Breeders' Cup Juvenile champion and American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt, Answer Lively. Other distinguished horses in his ownership or breeding program included Royal Anthem, Sharp Cat, Heatherten, and Kissin Kris. Due to deteriorating health, Franks began winding down his racing and breeding enterprises in 2002. He died on December 31, 2003, in Shreveport. Multiple racetracks commemorate his impact through memorial events.
In honor of his achievements, Franks was inducted into the Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame in 1992.