GET TO KNOW TRAINER LAWRENCE “CUMMY” FREEMANTLE

Military Move one of best horses to date

KINGSTON, Jamaica - THE name of Lawrence Freemantle has been around Caymanas Park and the racing industry for many years now. Freemantle has made racing his life’s work, and he tells his story and also gives his thoughts on his profession as a race horse conditioner.

QUESTION: (Q)

Lawrence Freemantle: (LF)

Q: How and when did you get into horse racing?

LF: In the year 1980 I came to the track for the first time and I was immediately bitten by the racing bug. On that eye-opening day, I was introduced to racing by a friend by the name of Michael from Clarendon, and I was brought to the races by him at the tender age of 11. I went back home in the afternoon and what I saw left me quite fascinated. That first time at the track left a strong impression on me that shortly afterward, like a week later, I came back to the track to a trainer by the name of Ivan Smith. God bless his soul. From then on, I began to learn the rudiments of racing around Smith.

Later on, I moved on from Smith to other stables while learning on the move, until about 1983 when I got a groom’s licence from trainer Roderick Forbes and just kept on learning while walking through ropes to get to the greener pastures. During that period, I worked with trainers Henry Harrison Sr and Willoughby Simpson, and the latter...knew how to condition a horse, back then. I was also at Philip Feanny, and it goes on. At the back end of 1994, I joined up with trainer Tony Kirlew and we had a good relationship.

I eventually got my trainer’s licence at the back end of 2001 after graduating on September 29, and by October 25 won my first race as a graduated trainer. I was the first graduate of my batch of 29 to register a victory and the name of my first winner was a horse by the name of King of the Band.

I took hold of my career from then on and to date, I have streamlined a wonderful career. I have trained some good horses and have had some caring owners.

Q: Which is the best horse that you have trained?

LF: I have trained some good horses but for me, Military Move stands out. I brought him up from a yearling and won five Overnight Allowance races with him, however with King of the Band I won 12 races. And there were also From Russia With Love, One Son, and Mr Skill who did well under my care.

Q: Which is the best horse you have seen race at Caymanas Park?

LF: I would say Eros. He was so versatile that he could have run distances from 1000 to 1820 metres without any fuss.

Q: In your view who is the best trainer you have seen at Caymanas Park?

LF: I will say Kenneth Mattis. There are two stalwarts in Feanny and Wayne DaCosta but Mattis was grass roots – a man who wind up horses. The man whom I have great respect for is Willoughby Simpson. He is the finest trainer I ever [saw] come about who is a stalwart in grooming, conditioning, and overall preparation of a horse for racing.

Q: What can you say about the returns from racing to trainers, jockeys, grooms, and stable hands?

LF: Supreme Venture is not the worst promoter of racing at Caymanas Park; they are doing good. The only thing that they are short of is more money to take care of the horses to increase their life expectancy. They are looking to channel racing in the right direction but we the stakeholders are left smouldering at the back.