John Franks (April 21, 1925 - December 31, 2003) was an American businessman and a Thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder.
In 1989 he sold his petroleum company to Sonat Inc.[1] In 1976, Franks became involved in the horse racing business and would become a leading North American stable owner with a horse farm in Shreveport, Louisiana plus his own breeding operation in Ocala, Florida.
[3] Franks was the owner and/or breeder of more than a dozen horses which earned more than $1 million in their racing careers including Answer Lively, winner of the 1998 Breeders' Cup Juvenile who was voted American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt.
His other horses of note included Royal Anthem, Sharp Cat, Heatherten and Kissin Kris.
In poor health, in 2002 the seventy-seven-year-old Franks undertook a liquidation of his horse racing and breeding operations.