Hall of Fame trainer Frank Yewell Whiteley Jr., the hard-nosed “Fox of
Laurel” and conditioner of superstars Ruffian and Forego, died Friday in Camden,
South Carolina, at the age of 93.
A native of Centreville, Maryland, where he grew up on a farm owned by his
father, who was also the county sheriff, Whiteley would often sneak off to ride
horses for his uncle, Harmon, at shows and fairs. He got his trainer’s license
at Marlboro, Maryland, in 1936, starting a 49-year career.
“I never worked under another trainer and I didn’t read (Hall of Fame
trainer) Preston Burch’s book, either,” he once said.
Whiteley conditioned top grass runners Bronze Babu and Polarity in 1962 and
1963, and then took on his first “serious” horse in Chieftain. The following
year, he managed Chieftain’s half-brother, Tom Rolfe, who delivered Whiteley’s
first classic winner when he won the 1965 Preakness S. Tom Rolfe was named
champion three-year-old male of that season.
Two years later, he trained Horse of the Year Damascus, who won the Preakness,
Belmont S., Travers S., Wood Memorial S., Dwyer H., Bay Shore S., American
Derby, Leonard Richards S., Aqueduct S.,
Woodward S., and Jockey Club Gold Cup S.
“I worked for him and his son, David,” fellow Hall of Fame trainer Shug
McGaughey said. “Frank Whiteley was just a wonderful horseman, who did it the
grass-roots way, and there just aren’t that many around any more. When they got
sick, he gave them aspirin. When they needed to be iced, he hosed them.
“He was a fun guy to work for, and he had great stories. He wasn’t easy, but
the reason he wasn’t easy was because he was teaching you.”
In 1974, Whiteley took charge of what many believe to be his greatest horse,
Ruffian. Her ascent to the top of the sport and her tragic death following
injuries sustained in a July 6, 1975, match race against Foolish Pleasure were
well documented and subsequently made into a television movie, “Ruffian,” which
aired on ABC on June 9, 2007. Actor Sam Shepard portrayed Whiteley.
“He was one of the best horsemen I’ve ever been around,” said Hall of Fame
jockey Jacinto Vasquez, who was aboard Ruffian in the ill-fated match race. “I
met him in 1963, and he was like a father to me. We spent a lot of time
together, sometimes from 5:30 in the morning to 6 at night.
“He had been very sick the last few months and was in and out of the
hospital.”
In 1976, Whiteley took over the training of champion Forego and helped him to
another Horse of the Year title.
Whiteley was inducted in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in
1978. In later years, Whiteley would break young horses for top outfits,
including the Phipps Stable.
Beginning in 1965, he wintered his horses at Marion duPont Scott’s training
Center in Camden, South Carolina, which set a trend with other horsemen that
continues to this day. In recognition of his contribution to the Thoroughbred
racing industry and the economy of the city of Camden, in 2003 the city council
honored him with “Frank Whiteley Day” and awarded him a key to the city.
In addition, that same year the Governor of South Carolina awarded him the
Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor.
The “Frank Whiteley Room” at the Camden Archive houses a permanent collection
founded in his honor.
Whiteley is survived by his sons — David, who followed in his footsteps as a
successful trainer of a number of graded stakes winners, and Alan, who worked in
construction. Funeral arrangements are pending.