Champion Riverina trainer Richard Freyer has died aged 69 after a long illness.
A licensed trainer for 47 years and the winner of 16 successive NSW Southern Districts premierships, Freyer was more widely known for the deeds of Leica Falcon, the one-time favourite for the 2006 Melbourne Cup.
"Richard was a prolific Cup winner and won eight Albury Cups, 12 Corowa Cups, 10 Berrigan Cups and a National Sprint in Canberra with Prince Tone," SDRA chairman of stewards John Davidson said.
A Group Two winner of the Winning Edge Presentation Stakes, Leica Falcon finished an unlucky fifth in the 2005 Caulfield Cup and went on to run fourth in the Melbourne Cup won by Makybe Diva.
In the lead-up to the Melbourne Cup, Freyer told the ABC's 7.30 Report the whole community was right behind them.
"When we went to the Cup there were people on the side of the road waving to us wishing us good luck as we drove from the stables through the town," Freyer said.
Leica Falcon suffered a tendon injury before the 2006 Cup and the following year was stranded in his Corowa stable when equine influenza stopped NSW horses travelling to Victoria.
Freyer's last winner was Autocrat at Narrandera on July 23.
He is survived by his daughter Kylie and son Rick who is also a trainer.
His funeral service will be held at St John's Church in Corowa at 11am on Saturday.
