Franks horses to sell at Evangeline

More than 100 horses from the Estate of John Franks will be auctioned during the Evangeline Downs 2-year-olds in training and paddock sale at the track Sunday. The total catalog is 158 horses, and the sale will begin at 10 a.m. An under-tack show will be begin at noon Saturday.

Franks, a racing giant who lived in Louisiana, died Dec. 31. Among the horses making up the Franks consignment is Kiss a Native, a Grade 2 winner of more than $1 million.

The Evangeline Downs auction is in its second year, and it is put on in conjunction with Stemmans Inc. There are 41 juveniles cataloged to the sale, and they are eligible for the $75,000 John Franks Memorial Sales Stakes at five furlongs at Evangeline on July 31.

Evangeline Downs will open for racing on April 1. A new facility is being built at the track's slots casino site in Opelousas, and racing operations will move there in 2005.