Front Royal, Va., farrier Albert F. “Frankie” Walther Sr., passed away Monday, May 10, 2021. He was 77.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 15, at Maddox Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Panorama Memorial Gardens at Waterlick. There will be a celebration of Walther’s life after the interment.
He was a farrier for more than 60 years. He shod for several large farms in Loudoun and Fauquier counties including Springhill Farm, Buckland Farm, Blue Ridge Farm and White Oaks Farm. Some of his accomplishments include shoeing Secretariat as a yearling and Pleasant Colony through his triple crown bid. In his later years, Walther had a horse shipped to Virginia from the owner of Secretariat to shoe and correct. He shod for several clients that included Washington Mill Co., Domino sugar, Thomas English Muffins, Mars candy bar and Busch beer, to name a few. He worked the Warrenton Horse Show and was a farrier for several steeplechase races over the years.
Walther enjoyed being with his grandchildren, fishing, hunting, cooking and telling stories to his family and friends.
The family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m., Saturday, May 15 at the funeral home.
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- Kentucky Derby Museum Honors Secretariat’s Owner: The Kentucky Derby Museum will name its new stable area after the owner of a Thoroughbred racing icon.
- Kentucky Derby Museum Horseshoe Sets World Record: A replica horseshoe commissioned by the Kentucky Derby Museum, Secretariat Festival and Secretariat.com led the 1973 Triple Crown winner to again rewrite the record books 40 years after his final race.
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