{{Short description|New Zealand jockey (1871–1967)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox horseracing personality |name = Freeman Wright Holmes |honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|size=85%}} |image= |caption = |occupation = Jockey |fullname = Freeman Wright Holmes |birth_place = Ashburton, South Canterbury, New Zealand |birth_date = {{Birth date|1871|06|06|df=y}} |death_date = {{Death date and age|1967|02|21|1871|06|06|df=y}} }} '''Freeman Wright Holmes''' (6 June 1871–21 February 1967), better known as '''Free Holmes''' was an outstanding horse man who was involved with both thoroughbred and standardbred racing. He was born in Ashburton, South Canterbury, New Zealand.<ref name="DNZB Holmes">{{DNZB|title=Freeman Wright Holmes|first= Ron|last= Bisman|id=3h33|accessdate=23 April 2017}}</ref>
He is notable for being both a champion driver and formerly a champion jockey. He won a unique double of the New Zealand Cup in 1888 for thoroughbreds, at Riccarton, riding Manton, and in 1919 driving Trix Pointer to win the NZ Trotting Cup at the Addington Raceway.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.addington.co.nz/timeline.asp?Case=1&ID=1919 |title=Unique double for Free Holmes |access-date=2009-05-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016124908/http://www.addington.co.nz/Timeline.asp?Case=1&ID=1919 |archive-date=2008-10-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As a jockey, he also won the 1894 Grand National Hurdles and 1895 Great Northern Hurdles and Great Northern Steeplechase with Liberator.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://live.harnesslink.com/www/Article.cgi?ID=61988 |title=Free Holmes jockey and driver |access-date=2009-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820041843/http://live.harnesslink.com/www/Article.cgi?ID=61988 |archive-date=2011-08-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was also an expert in the management of thoroughbred horses. He successfully trained and owned horses both over the fences and on the flat.
He was known as "The Grand Old Man of Trotting".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://harnesslink.com/new-zealand/a-z-new-zealand-cup-t/|title=A - Z New Zealand Cup : T - Harnesslink|date=3 November 2020}}</ref> and "Old Free" in the trotting fraternity. He also rode and drove trotters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.addington.co.nz/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017235841/http://www.addington.co.nz/Timeline.asp?Case=6&ItemId=273&AlphaId=14&CategoryId=1|url-status=dead|title=The Home of NZ Harness Racing|archivedate=17 October 2008|website=Addington Raceway & Events Centre}}</ref> He won two Auckland Trotting Cups.
His son Maurice Holmes was also a driving legend.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hrnz.co.nz/news/who-is-maurice-holmes/|title=Who is Maurice Holmes?|website=www.hrnz.co.nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/racing/racing-holmes-achieves-goals-first-two-winners|title=Racing: Holmes achieves goals with first two winners|first=Tayler|last=Strong|date=8 June 2011|website=Otago Daily Times }}</ref>
==Major wins== ''Standardbreds'' * 1936 Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Evicus * 1935 Auckland Trotting Cup Graham Direct * 1934 Auckland Trotting Cup Roi L'Or * 1932 New Zealand Free For All Roi L'Or * 1922 New Zealand Free For All Trix Pointer * 1919 New Zealand Trotting Cup Trix Pointer
''Thoroughbreds'' * 1895 Great Northern Steeplechase Liberator * 1895 Great Northern Hurdles Liberator * 1894 Great Northern Hurdles Liberator * 1888 New Zealand Cup Manton * 1888 New Zealand Derby Manton
==See also== * Harness racing in New Zealand * Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Holmes, Free}} Category:1871 births Category:1967 deaths Category:New Zealand jockeys Category:New Zealand racehorse owners and breeders Category:Sportspeople from Ashburton, New Zealand Category:New Zealand harness racers Category: New Zealand racehorse trainers