Donna Freyer

The name Donna Freyer is familiar in the racing industry for many reasons. The owner and operator of Custom Care Equine, a breaking and training facility in Camden, South Carolina, Freyer has blazed trails throughout her life.

The New Jersey native graduated from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire just a few years after its inception as a coeducational institution. She founded one of the first all-female ownership groups in racing, Fast Women LLC. The Donna Freyer Stakes for 2-year-old fillies who have spent at least 90 days training in South Carolina was named her honor.  It is run annually at Parx Racing.

“Donna is an excellent horsewoman.  She has insight into yearlings and is very patient in getting babies ready for the track.  When a 2-year-old gets to the track under Donna’s tutelage, it has a great foundation and is ready for the next step.  She’s also super with layups and has brought many older horses back for me, including most recently graded stakes winner Social Paranoia.”

  • Stuart Grant, The Elkstone Group

“Donna Freyer is very successful in many facets of the Thoroughbred industry, including founding the Fast Women LLC as well as her training operation in Camden, South Carolina. I’ve always found Donna to be very accurate with the description of horses she has sent us in the past, which is a credit to her horsemanship and reliability. She is a true horsewoman.”

  • Christophe Clement, Multiple Graded Stakes Winning Trainer

“Donna and I have trained horses here in Camden for decades. Donna is a big supporter of the Thoroughbred industry here in South Carolina, as well as the South Carolina breeding program. She has also done a great job of bringing more women to the game through ownership syndicates. Her passion for our sport and the animals are a big asset to South Carolina and our industry.”

  • Kevin Kahkola, Shadwell Stables
“Donna Freyer has meant a lot to the South Carolina Thoroughbred industry.  She has been a longtime mainstay in Camden overseeing her Custom Care Equine operation.
Donna has served for many years as a Vice President of the South Carolina Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.  For several years, SCTOBA sponsored 2-year-old stakes races for horses that trained at least 90 days in our state.  In recognition of Donna’s efforts to promote the sport, the fillies division was named the Donna Freyer Stakes in her honor.
She cares for horses in training and those retired.  Donna and Kip Elser started the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation in South Carolina.
In 2013 Donna put together a partnership called Fast Women.  This allowed women to get introduced to the sport and involved as owners.”
  • Jack Sadler, SCTOBA and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners 

“One of my owners is Stuart Grant, who also owns Camden Training Center. Donna breaks most of his horses for him, including Iowa Derby winner Top Line Growth. I spent a few days in Camden and got to know Donna a little bit and was impressed with the way her operation works. I’m very happy to be a part of Donna’s team.”

  • Kelly Rubley, Multiple Graded Stakes Winning Trainer