Soaring Free, Canadian Horse of the Year, Dies at 26
Sam-Son Farm announced Wednesday that Soaring Free, their homebred champion and 2004 Canadian Horse of the Year, died due to complications of old age at the operation’s Ocala, Florida division. He was 26.
The Ontario-bred gelding won 15 of 27 career starts and earned over $2.1 million during his distinguished racing career.
Soaring Free (Smart Strike–Dancing With Wings, by Danzig) collected multiple championship honors, being named Canada’s champion sprinter in 2003 before securing both champion grass horse and Horse of the Year titles in 2004.
Trained by Mark Frostad and primarily ridden by jockey Todd Kabel, who partnered with him for 22 of his 27 career starts, Soaring Free captured eight graded stakes victories. His career highlight came in the 2004 GI Atto Mile at Woodbine.
The champion, affectionately nicknamed “Muffin,” was cared for throughout his career by longtime groom Tracy Smith.
Soaring Free hailed from a distinguished Sam-Son family. His dam, Dancing With Wings, was a half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year Ruling Angel (Vice Regent), champion 3-year-old filly Tilt My Halo (Halo), and stakes winner Tiffany Tam (Tentam)—the latter being the dam of champion sophomore colt and Canadian Classic winner Regal Intention.
The farm confirmed that Soaring Free will be interred at their Florida property.
