From tables loaded with memorabilia to eight Hall of Fame inductees in the crowd, it was a fitting evening of catching up and remembering the old times at Harrah’s Philadelphia Friday evening (August 11) for the Garden State Park Reunion Night.

Hosted by Harrah’s Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association as part of the Summer Series of Racing and Remembering, hundreds of race fans came out to the track and were treated to an evening of live harness racing, live music, mechanical bull rides, outdoor BBQ and terrific memorabilia show and contest with hundreds of pieces on display.

“I enjoyed reconnecting with people from Garden State that I had not seen in some time,” said Hall of Famer John Campbell, now the president and CEO of the Hambletonian Society. “I particularly enjoyed the memorabilia and the race replays that were running on the big TV. It brought back great memories of all the tremendous horses and top-notch races that Garden State hosted over the years.”

Campbell was one of eight inductees of the Harness Racing Hall of Fame that were in attendance, meeting fans, employees and horsemen and women that all worked, raced or wagered on the harness meets at Garden State Park. Other Hall of Famers in attendance included Cat Manzi, Ron Gurfein, Marvin Bachrad, Leon Zimmerman, Moira Fanning, Jerry Connors and Steve Wolf.

Missing from the lineup was another Hall of Famer, Robert ‘Bob’ Quigley, the former president of Garden State Park who could not make the trip from Florida due to hip replacement surgery.

“If not for my surgery,” Quigley said, “I would have been at Harrah’s for the Garden State Park Reunion Night. I send my deepest regards and well-wishes to everyone who made it out. So many great people, employees and horsemen and women I would love to have seen again. I hope everyone had a great time.”

Conducting interviews throughout the night was Steve Ross, the former advertising and promotions manager. Other guests were Jay Farrar, who headed simulcasting at the track, race office official Al Kraszewski, publicist Gen Sullivan, former driver Jimmy Larente Jr., track photographer John Pantalone of World Wide Racing Photos and other horsemen and women, plus numerous former employees, including pari-mutuel tellers (some who were still working right at Harrah’s Philadelphia), admissions personnel and more.

Perhaps the ‘hit guest’ of the evening was none other than former track announcer Larry Lederman, who called the sixth race on the card, which was the Bill Fidati Memorial, a tribute to the former head of publicity at Garden State Park.

“We are really pleased with our Summer Series of Racing and Remembering,” said Barry Brown, director of racing at Harrah’s Philadelphia. “Last month’s Liberty Bell Park Reunion Night was great and tonight’s Garden State Park Reunion was even stronger with much more memorabilia than expected. It was great that we had to add more tables for the show and contest.

Philadelphia sports radio icon and avid racing fan Jody McDonald, of WIP, was the judge for the memorabilia contest. The top prize, a $150 wagering voucher, was awarded to Dennis Sanford, a big harness racing fan from Woodlynne, NJ for his collection of every collector’s glass giveaway, both Standardbred and Thoroughbred, from Garden State Park.

Second prize of a $100 voucher went to former employee Connie Scerati of Mt Laurel, NJ for her collection of GSP uniforms and pins, many of which she wore and, of course, saved over the years. Third place with a $50 voucher went to Al Kraszewski, who is currently the assistant race secretary at Ocean Downs in Maryland, for his autographed win photo of the great Secretariat, who won at Garden State Park as a two-year-old.

The Summer Series of Racing and Remembering will conclude on Friday, September 8 with the Brandywine Raceway Reunion Night, which will start at 6:30 p.m. In addition to the memorabilia show and contest, live racing and other activities, the first 400 fans to purchase a Harrah’s Philadelphia race program will get a free Summer Series commemorative t-shirt.

“I know we will be needing more tables for the memorabilia show for this night,” said Barry Brown. “We really look forward to this final Friday night of live racing as Brandywine Raceway was such a fixture here in the Delaware Valley and the track was located just down the road from Harrah’s Philadelphia.”

(Harrah’s Philadelphia / PHHA)