Frances A. Genter (February 17, 1898 – November 24, 1992) was a major figure in American

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...

horse racing. She is best known as the owner of

Unbridled Unbridled (March 5, 1987 – October 18, 2001) was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1990 Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic. He retired with a career record of eight wins, six places, and six shows in 24 starts, ...

, the 1990

American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse The American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971. The award originated in 1936 when both ''Turf & Spo ...

and winner of the 1990

Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, almost always on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The competition is a Grade I stakes race for three-yea ...

and

Breeders' Cup Classic The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the s ...

. Part of horse racing lore took place at the 1990 Kentucky Derby when trainer

Carl Nafzger Carl A. Nafzger (born August 29, 1941, in Plainview, Texas) is an American Hall of Fame horse trainer. Before he was involved in horseracing he was a championship rodeo bull rider. Nafzger trained Unbridled who won the 1990 Kentucky Derby and ...

called the race aloud to the petite 92-year-old Mrs. Genter because her eyesight was failing & she could not see as her horse headed down the stretch en route to winning the race. The staff of

Blood-Horse Publications Blood-Horse Publications is an American multimedia publishing house focused on horse-related magazines headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky. It began in 1916 through its flagship magazine, ''The Blood-Horse''. From 1961 to 2015, Blood-Horse Publica ...

selected the scene for its book ''Horse Racing's Top 100 Moments''. Born on a farm near

Wyalusing, Pennsylvania Wyalusing is a borough in Bradford County, Pennsylvania. It is part of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The population was 596 as of the 2010 census. History The history of Wyalusing dates back centuries. It was originally known as ''M'chwihilusing ...

, while in her teens the family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. She and her husband, Harold, became involved in the sport of horse racing in 1940. After her husband's death in 1981 she continued buying, breeding and racing Thoroughbreds with her son-in-law, Bentley Smith, managing the operation for her. Beyond her racing success with Unbridled, over the years Mrs. Genter won numerous top races in the United States including the 1986

Breeder's Cup Sprint The Breeders' Cup Sprint is an American Weight for Age Grade I Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older. Run on dirt Corrected grade for Santa Anita sprintover a distance of 6 Furlongs ( mile), the race has been held annually si ...

with the colt,

Smile A smile is a facial expression formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. Some smiles include a contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes, an action known as a Duchenne smile. Among humans, a smile expresses d ...

. Among her other top runners was

My Dear Girl My Dear Girl (foaled February 17, 1957 in Florida) was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. Background My Dear Girl was bred by Ocala Stud Farm, owned by a nine-person syndicate headed by Bruce Campbell that was in just its second year o ...

, voted the 1959

American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly The American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a female horse in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971. The award originated in 1936 when both ...

. Mrs. Genter was voted the

Eclipse Award for Outstanding Owner Eclipse Award for Outstanding Owner is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor for racehorse owners. Created in 1971, it is part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually. Past winners: *1971 : Buddy Fogelson, Mr. & Mrs. E. E. Fo ...

in 1990 and the following year received the Mr. Fitz Award from the

National Turf Writers Association The National Turf Writers Association (NTWA) is an American association of journalists, columnists and other writers involved with reporting on the horse racing industry. The organization was founded by prominent sports writer Joe Hirsch who serve ...

that is awarded to an individual who most exemplifies the spirit of horse racing.

External links

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Genter, Frances A. 1898 births 1992 deaths People from Wyalusing, Pennsylvania American racehorse owners and breeders Owners of Kentucky Derby winners Eclipse Award winners Sportspeople from Minneapolis