Willard C. Freeman

Willard C. Freeman
Willard C. Freeman
Occupation	Jockey / Trainer
Born	February 23, 1929; Providence, Rhode Island
Died	April 17, 2013 (aged 84); Saratoga Springs, New York
Career wins	1,043
Major racing wins
	Bougainvillea Handicap (1954, 1991); Narragansett Special (1959); Queens County Handicap (1963); Excelsior Handicap (1964); Polly Drummond Stakes (1964); Jim Dandy Stakes (1967); Kent Stakes (1967); Astoria Stakes (1968, 1977); Fashion Stakes (1968); Frizette Stakes (1968); Matron Stakes (1969); Acorn Stakes (1969); Alabama Stakes (1969); Cotillion Handicap (1969); Coaching Club American Oaks (1969); Ladies Handicap (1969); Mother Goose Stakes (1969); Beldame Stakes (1970); Diana Handicap (1970, 1971); Jockey Club Gold Cup (1970, 1971); Nassau Stakes (1970); Top Flight Handicap (1970, 1971); Hempstead Handicap (1971); Interborough Handicap (1972, 1980, 1981); Firenze Handicap (1973); Distaff Handicap (1975); Lamplighter Stakes (1976); Lexington Handicap (1976); Pennsylvania Futurity Stakes (1976); Leonard Richards Stakes (1977); Round Table Handicap (1977); Beaugay Handicap (1978); Fort Marcy Handicap (1978); Sword Dancer Handicap (1978); Arkansas Derby (1982); Evan Shipman Handicap (1982); Modesty Handicap (1982); Mount Vernon Stakes (1983); NYSS Fifth Avenue Stakes (1986); Rothmans International (1989); Kingston Stakes (1989); Niagara Handicap (1990); Ontario Derby (1991); Canadian Turf Handicap (1992); Washington, D.C. International Stakes (1993); New York Derby (1993); Dwyer Stakes (1995)
Significant horses
	Buckhar, Shuvee, Hodges Bay, Gala Performance, Cold Comfort, Show Off, Understudy, Net Ball

Willard Clark "Mike" Freeman (February 23, 1929 - April 17, 2013) was an American Thoroughbred horse racing steeplechase jockey and very successful trainer in flat racing. He is best remembered as the trainer of Anne Stone's Shuvee, a two-time National Champion, a Filly Triple Crown winner and a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee. ^[2] ^[3]

Widely known by the nickname Mike, racing in North America he won a number of the top races including the Jockey Club Gold Cup in 1970 and 1971 with Shuvee which marked the first time a filly had ever won the race in its fifty-three year history. Among his other top wins, Freeman won the prestigious 1989 Rothmans International in 1989 and the Washington, D.C. International Stakes in 1993. ^[4] ^[5]

At the time of his death Willard Freeman and his wife Iris had for many years owned Chime Bell Farm in Aiken, South Carolina.

^ "Willard C. Freeman". Equibase. 2019-07-22. Retrieved 2019-07-22.
^ "W.C. 'Mike' Freeman Dies, Trained Shuvee". The Blood-Horse. 2013-04-18. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
^ "Shuvee". Racingmuseum.org. 1975-01-01. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
^ "Willard C. 'Mike' Freeman, Trainer of Shuvee, Dead". Paulick Report. 2013-04-19. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
^ "How a little cotton wool put supermare Shuvee on the path to greatness". Thoroughbred Racing Commentary (TRC). 2015-09-29. Retrieved 2019-08-01.

[1] "Willard C. Freeman". Equibase. 2019-07-22. Retrieved 2019-07-22.

[2] "W.C. 'Mike' Freeman Dies, Trained Shuvee". The Blood-Horse. 2013-04-18. Retrieved 2019-08-02.

[3] "Shuvee". Racingmuseum.org. 1975-01-01. Retrieved 2019-08-01.

[4] "Willard C. 'Mike' Freeman, Trainer of Shuvee, Dead". Paulick Report. 2013-04-19. Retrieved 2019-07-31.

[5] "How a little cotton wool put supermare Shuvee on the path to greatness". Thoroughbred Racing Commentary (TRC). 2015-09-29. Retrieved 2019-08-01.

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