Robert Frankel wasn’t just an expert on horse racing. He was proficient in
other fields, or so he thought. Like most race trackers, one thing he
never lacked was an opinion.
Agent Scott McClellan, who represents rising star Joe Talamo, recounted this tale.
“We were drawing the races at Hollywood Park and Bobby asked me
to go back to his place in Pacific Palisades afterwards to get something
to eat and play Miss Pacman, ‘and then we’ll come back to the races.’
“The draw was done early and we jumped in his car and went to
some burrito place. Then we come to this driveway at his house. He gets
out and says, ‘This bleeping gardener; I’m bleeping tired of the guy.
Look at the grass. It’s all brown. They come in here and leave in five
minutes and look at the grass. I’m getting a new gardener.’
“Then he says, ‘Scotty, I’m going to teach you something. You
know how I’m going to get a new gardener?’ I said, ‘No.’ He says, ‘I’m
going to get Tasha the dog, I’m going to put her on a leash and I’m
going to walk through Pacific Palisades, all over, up and down, and as
soon as I see the best-looking yard in the city, I’m going to ring the
door bell, and I’m gonna say, Who the bleep is your gardener? That’s
smart. That’s how I’m going to get a new gardener.’”
Frankel never was one to dog it, especially when it came to green grass. Both he and his horses loved it.