Frank A. Alexander (October 18, 1937 – June 26, 2020) was an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer. He is best known for conditioning the horse Cherokee Run to a victory in the 1994 Breeders' Cup Sprint, which earned Cherokee Run the title of American Champion Sprint Horse.
Early Life and Career
Alexander was born in Glen Cove, Long Island, New York. He obtained his trainer's license in 1963. In 1974, he opened a public stable in Maryland. He later returned to New York in 1987, where he remained based for much of his career.
Major Achievements
Over a career spanning more than four decades, Alexander trained numerous graded stakes winners. Among his most notable victories were:
- 1994 Breeders' Cup Sprint – with Cherokee Run
- 1993 Super Derby – with Wallenda
- Additional major wins included the Dwyer Stakes (1993), Pennsylvania Derby (1993), Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (1994), Hopeful Stakes (1998), Mother Goose Stakes (2002), and the Remsen Stakes (2000), among many others.
Retirement and Death
Alexander retired in 2012 after 42 years as a trainer, having amassed 997 career wins and over $28.5 million in purse earnings. He died in Florida on June 26, 2020, at the age of 82.
