Ben F. Whitaker
Ben Franklin Whitaker was a Dallas, Texas oilman with producing properties throughout the state of Texas, an owner of the Hotel Whitmore in Dallas, and a major owner and breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses including two National Champions.
Ben Whitaker served with the United States Navy in World War I.
Ben Whitaker began racing horses under his wife's name in the 1930s with stables based at Garland, Texas. His horses competed at the Arlington Downs racetrack located between Fort [Worth, Texas|Fort Worth] and Dallas but after racing was banned in the state of Texas he relocated his operations to Lexington, Kentucky.
During his time in racing, Ben Whitaker employed trainers Jack Howard, "Blackie" McCoole, and future National [Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame] inductee Jimmy Conway who was in charge from 1946 until Whitaker's death in 1954. The owner of horses that won 231 races, among Whitaker's top runners were:
- Requested - purchased for $1300 - at two he won seven stakes races. Sire of Champion, Miss Request.
- My Request - won 16 stakes races at age two through five including the Wood Memorial
- Miss Request - American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly
- Grecian Queen - American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly