Frankel Remembered During His Reign of 2003

I'm looking back at the Feb. 20, 2004, issue of The Blood-Horse MarketWatch awestruck at the numbers representing Bobby Frankel's racing year in 2003. He won 13.6% of the 353 graded stakes run in North America that year and won 35% of the grade I races. Frankel had 25 grade I wins and 48 graded stakes wins. Out of his 189 stakes starts in 2003, 163 were starts in graded stakes. It is likely to be a long time before another trainer has a year like Frankel did in 2003. — Eric Mitchell

            Graded         Stakes       Total                       Earnings
Year   Stakes Wins     Wins        Starts     Earnings     per Start

2000    22 (18%)*       32 (23%)       369     $10,239,071     $27,748
2001    37 (28%)*       49 (28%)*      390     $14,607,446     $37,455
2002    43 (25%)*       60 (28%)*      480     $17,748,340     $36,976
2003    48 (29%)*       53 (28%)*      411     $19,143,289     $46,577
2004    44 (27%)*       51 (27%)       491     $15,605,911     $31,784
2005    30 (21%)        39 (23%)       581     $14,493,670     $24,946
                    
In 2003, Frankel set North American records for number of grade I wins (25) and the single season earnings record ($19,143,289). Both records were previously held by D. Wayne Lukas (22 grade I wins; $17,842,358).                    
*Leading North American Trainer by number of wins. In 2000, he tied Bob Baffert by number of graded stakes wins.