Respected former central districts racing administrator Bill Freeman passed away this week.
He served as secretary of the Manawatu Racing Club for nearly three decades until his retirement in 1992, when he was succeeded by Allan Fenwick.
“Bill was very much old school and back then secretaries promoted their own meetings, travelling and cajoling trainers to bring their horses to Awapuni,” Fenwick said. “He was a very popular figure and had a wealth of knowledge and genuinely shared it.
“He started off at the Wellington Racing Club and subsequently became a stipendiary steward. He did that for quite a time before he came to Manawatu.
“During his time it became known as the Awapuni Partnership and Bill was also secretary for the Rangitikei Racing and the Marton Jockey Club, who both relocated to race at Awapuni. When he retired, he was also secretary of the Feilding Jockey Club.”
Freeman also raced horses with success for many years from the Stratford stable of the recently-retired trainer Dick Bothwell.