Franklin Groves, 87

 

 Franklin N. Groves, longtime American Saddlebred owner with his late wife Carolyn, passed away in Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 12 at the age of 87.

 Owners of North Ridge Farm, Wayzata, Minnesota, the Groves family, including son Skip and daughters Cathy and Betsy, enjoyed great success in the show ring under the direction of trainers Jack Nevitt and Ed Teater. Some of their celebrated stars included twice World’s Grand Champion Five-Gaited CH Belle Elegant and world’s champions Irish American, Sultan’s Supremacy, Too Much, Denmark’s Spitfire, Seymour’s Southern Heir and the world’s champion Hackneys, Whiplash and Dun-Haven Daydream, among others.

 Besides enjoying the show ring, the Groves family established a breeding program with the World’s Champion Five-Gaited Stallion Irish American and Super Supreme, the 1970 ASHA Kentucky Futurity Two-Year-Old Fine Harness World’s Champion and full brother to CH Lilli O’Lee.

 Groves was also a major player in the Thoroughbred world. After selling North Ridge Farm the family purchased Man o’ War Farm just outside of Lexington, Kentucky where they enjoyed great success racing and in sales. He bred more than 65 stake winners and in 1989 won the eclipse award in recognition for outstanding achievement in breeding of thoroughbreds.

 Survived by his children Catherine Anderson, Franklin Groves, Jr. and Elizabeth Richardson; grandchildren Camille, Thomas, Jennifer, Tabitha, Lindsay, Christopher, Brian and Tara and eight great grandchildren.