Falkenstein’s Death Is Investigated

The Los Angeles County coroner’s office is investigating the recent death of Paul Falkenstein, a horseman who bred, owned and trained thoroughbreds for more than 40 years.

Cheryl Goodman, who is working on the case, confirmed that there is an investigation into Falkenstein’s death. Falkenstein, who was 86, died on March 16 at Arcadia Methodist Hospital and, according to Goodman, the autopsy was done on March 24. Goodman said that the cause of death is “pending.” She declined to comment further.

A spokesman for the corner’s office said that autopsy results won’t be known for a month or more.

Falkenstein’s family was unavailable for comment. He is survived by his wife, Florence, and three children from a previous marriage.

Falkenstein, born in Oklahoma, came to California in the 1920s, when he was a teenager, and made his money in cotton. He got as much pleasure out of buying and selling horses as racing them, and his biggest deal was Bold Bidder, whom he sold to John Gaines and his partners for $890,000, which was an enormous sum in 1966.

The year before, Falkenstein bought Bold Bidder--for a price reported as between $40,000 and $50,000--from the Phipps family’s Wheatley Stable after the colt had run last in the Belmont Stakes. Bold Bidder won the 1966 Strub Stakes at Santa Anita under the Gaines ownership and earned $360,092 for the year. He was voted best male handicap horse of 1966. Before his death in 1982, Bold Bidder sired Kentucky Derby winners Cannonade and Spectacular Bid.

Falkenstein won stakes at Santa Anita in the early 1970s with the eponymous Mr. Paul. His favorite horse was I’m Nashville, whom he bred and won stakes with before selling him to Louis Wolfson.

Five years ago, Falkenstein wasn’t finished. He started a company called Miracle Mud, selling trainers a poultice for horses’ legs. Falkenstein sold out to his partner, Alexis Proctor, three years ago.

“Paul was an interesting man who led quite a life,” Proctor said. “He did almost everything. He was like a father to me.”