OWNER-BREEDER FRANK P. WRIGHT PASSES

Happy winner’s circle after the Safely Kept. Trainer Robin Graham is at far right, owner Frank Wright third from left.
  • userFrank Vespe
  • dateJanuary 13, 2021

Frank Patterson Wright, a longtime owner, breeder, and force in the Maryland Thoroughbred industry, passed away January 10. He was 95.

Wright, a lifelong Marylander, is survived by his wife Ginny, daughter Liz, and son-in-law Charles Holman.

Wright worked for many years for Avis Truck Rental, eventually becoming a Vice President there, and owned York Truck Rental, which was built of a couple of Avis franchises. He sold the business and retired in 1985, which gave him the time to ramp up his involvement in racing.

Racing and breeding primarily under Mrs. Wright’s name – as Mrs. Frank P. Wright – the Wrights amassed 173 victories as owners from 2000 to the present. Their horses earned nearly $5.5 million in that time.

Wright also served on the board of directors of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association and Maryland Million, Ltd.

The best of the Wright runners was likely Valay Maid. Racing from 1989 through 1991, the daughter of Carnivalay, for whom Wright paid $5,200 at auction, won a pair of Grade 2 events and was second in the 1990 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, then as now a Grade 2.

Overall, Valay Maid won nine of 20 career starts and earned $641,442.

Of more recent vintage, the Wrights’ best runner was Lady Sabelia. A homebred, the daughter of Majestic Warrior won 11 of 20 career starts and earned $740,465. Her best moment came in the 2015 running of the Barbara Fritchie Stakes, then a Grade 2, when she won by a length-and-a-half as the co-second choice.

Other hard hitters from the Wright operation included the multiple stakes winners Polish Pride and Yankee Wildcat, both trained by Tim Tullock, now the on-air analyst for the Maryland Jockey Club, and the multiple graded stakes-placed Blue Sky Princess.

Blue Sky Princess, like Lady Sabelia and most of Wright’s runners of recent years, was trained by Robin Graham.

The last runner in the Wrights’ name was Expect Talk, who finished fifth in a claiming race December 12 at Laurel. The last winner came on February 14, 2020, when that same runner broke her maiden.

The funeral services and interment are private.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider donations to St. John Episcopal Church, Western Run, 3738 Butler Road, Reisterstown MD 21136 or Gilchrist Hospice, 11311 McCormick Road, Suite 350, Hunt Valley, MD 21031.

Arrangements are by ECKHARDT FUNERAL CHAPEL, P.A., Owings Mills, MD, and online condolences may be offered at www.eckhardtfuneralchapel.com

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