Frank 'Bobby' Springer, who developed War Emblem, dies at age 74

Retired trainer and horsemen Frank “Bobby” Springer died at his home in Tulsa, Okla., on July 7.

Springer, 74, might have been most widely known for training a Kentucky Derby winner, War Emblem, though his fame would have been far greater had he trained the colt when he actually won the 2002 Derby. Springer developed War Emblem as a 2-year-old and saddled him in his first seven starts, but when War Emblem won the Illinois Derby at Sportsman’s Park, earning a 112 Beyer Speed Figure, his owners, the Reineman family of Chicago, sold him to Ahmed bin Salman’s Thoroughbred Corp. and War Emblem was transferred to trainer Bob Baffert.

In his first start for the Thoroughbred Corp., War Emblem won the Derby by four lengths. He wnet on to take the Preakness and Haskell.

Springer had plenty of other good runners, such as Gracious Granny, Starry Dreamer, Pretty Gale, Lady of Peace, Cosmic Chris, and Home of Stars.

Born in Littleton, Colo., in 1947, Springer was the son of Ben Springer, a clocker, horse identifier, and outrider. Springer made a go at becoming a jockey despite being too large for the profession, working as an exercise rider for some prominent Midwestern horsemen, such as Jack Van Berg.

He worked about 10 years as an assistant to trainer Harvey Vanier before going out on his own in 1975 with a small string. Springer, who summered in Chicago and wintered in New Orleans, stopped training in 2016 and retired with 559 winners, according to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club.