Born in Camagüey, Cuba, Freddy Smith rode and won at racetracks across the United States. He had his best years in 1939 and 1940. Although he won the 1939 Metropolitan Handicap aboard Joseph Widener's colt, Knickerbocker, he had the greatest success of his career that same year riding Col. Edward Bradley's future Hall of Fame colt, Bimelech. Smith was the leading jockey at Chicago's Arlington Park in 1940, and in 1942 won the Arlington Handicap aboard Rounders, defeating 1941 Triple Crown winner, Whirlaway.
