More about Mike Fredericksen...

Mike began his career in the horse world as a youngster in grade school,  breaking ponies. He  assisted  a rodeo stock contractor while in high school, bronc riding and later competing in quarterhorse match races.  His love for racing extended into the thoroughbred world, where he competed on world class tracks with fellow jocks Willie Shoemaker, Laffit Pincay Jr., Eddie Delahoussaye and Bill Hartack. 

Over his nine year career as a professional jockey, he won over 500 races and rubbed shoulders with ‘fame & fortune’; but soft spoken and mild mannered Fredericksen said “it made no difference to him”.

Working for five years as a racetrack Outrider at New Mexico and Arizona tracks, was another venture of Mikes'.  As a hobby he was an active member of Team Penning for eight  years, and competed and won matches across the States with his horse, Doctor Sen Bad Billy (Doc).

Retiring from racing in 1973, stallion handling and broodmare managing would be the next career pursuit for this talented horseman.  In Kentucky he was privileged to be tutored by Kirk Shiner DVM and worked in the breeding industry with such well known establishments as North Ridge Farm, Dayspring and Wimborne Farms of Kentucky and in Kansas City, Stonecrest Farm. It was here that Mike raised and broke Perfect Drift, a five time Breeders’ Cup contender who amassed earnings of over $4.5 million while winning 11 major races.  Managing the thoroughbred farm operations he found challenging and always very rewarding.