Franks sale catalog sharply rises

Reflecting the surge of interest in horse ownership in slots-rich Louisiana, a total of 174 lots will be offered at the John Franks Memorial 2-year-olds in training and paddock sale at Evangeline Downs on March 13. The figure is an increase of almost 90 percent from last year's sale.

The sale will offer 139 2-year-olds and 35 older horses. A preview gallop show is scheduled for March 12.

Named for the late Louisiana oilman and Eclipse Award winning owner-breeder, the Franks sale will offer a pair of $100,000 sales stakes next summer for its graduates. Both will be run in August at Evangeline.

Charlotte Stemmans Clavier, president of Stemmans Inc., the administrator of the sale, said "We have 2-year-olds from such prominent sires as Smoke Glacken, Silver Deputy, and El Corredor, who each stand in Kentucky and command a stud fee of $30,000."

Other marquee stallions represented in the sale include Stormy Atlantic, Holy Bull, Labeeb, Mizzen Mast, Halo's Image, and Royal Anthem. Top local sires Wire Me Collect, Leestown, Gold Tribute, and Littlebitlively, who raced under the Franks colors, are also well represented.