The Freedman family's success in Australian racing is a multi-generational phenomenon, with a long and distinguished history

Members of this esteemed racing dynasty have achieved remarkable success in the world of thoroughbred horse racing. They have secured eight victories in the prestigious Melbourne Cup, six triumphs in the Caulfield Cup, and four feature race wins at the renowned Royal Ascot meeting in England. Additionally, they have claimed victories in virtually every major race on the Australian racing calendar. The Freedman history in racing goes back to the turn of the 20th century when Anthony Freedman's great grandfather, Bill "Midge" McLachlan emerged as one of the best young riders in the country. McLachlan was apprenticed to the famed trainer Richard Wootton. In late 1902, he left with Wootton and his two sons, Frankie and Stan, to try their luck in South Africa, which was booming on the back of the Johannesburg gold strikes. McLachlan returned to Australia and quickly became one of the star riders. He won his first Melbourne Cup in 1909 on Prince Foote, and then followed with another the following year on the imported Comedy King. When Westcourt beat Lingle in the 1917 Melbourne Cup, McLachlan became the first jockey to ride three winners of Australia's most famous race.

It was on Tony Freedman's insistence that Lee, a fledgling trainer at Warwick Farm, and his brothers, make the move to Melbourne after the family was unable to secure stables at Randwick. In 1983, he bought the stable complex once owned by trotting stalwart Skipper Taylor, on the banks of the Maribyrnong River, adjacent to the famous Flemington racecourse. Lee Freedman has trained the likes of Makybe Diva, Subzero, Miss Andretti and Super Impose. Those are just a handful of champions that the master trainer has put his name to, and his life is decorated heavily with trophies, cups and sashes of every race imaginable on two continents. In 1989 they won the first of five Melbourne Cups with Tawrrific. The brothers also trained the quinella when Super Impose ran second. In 1992 they won their second Melbourne Cup with the grey Subzero. From 1993 they won the first of four consecutive Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill with the filly Bint Marscay. They won in 1994 with Danzero; 1995 Flying Spur; and 1996 Merlene. In 1995 they Won their third Melbourne Cup with Doriemus, who also won the Caulfield Cup. In 2003, Lee Freedman was inducted in the Australian Racing Hall Of Fame.

In 2007 Lee Freedman trains his first European Group winner when Miss Andretti won the Group 2 King's Stand Stakes (1000m) at Royal Ascot. In 2017 Anthony again took solo charge of Freedman Racing when Lee heads to Singapore to train and won the Singapore trainers’ premiership in 2018. At the age of 64, Lee returned to Australia and based himself at the Gold Coast Turf Club, Lee securing twenty stables at Aquis Park to embark on a new chapter in the sun-kissed state. Under Lee Freedman’s move to Queensland, the Freedman family will have training operations in three states.

Lee’s brother Anthony has enjoyed great success in Melbourne where he co-trains with son Sam. Other brothers Richard and Michael are in a training partnership in Sydney and Will Freedman, Richard’s son, trains at Scone after taking out a license in 2020.