Longtime broadcaster, media personality and harness racing participant Dave Brower of Parsippany, N.J. passed away on Thursday (Oct. 7) at the age of 53.

Dave was a fan of harness racing since childhood when his dad would bring him to the original ‘new’ Meadowlands Racetrack back in the late 1970s while growing up in nearby Passaic, New Jersey, just five minutes from the Meadowlands Racetrack.

While attending classes at St. John’s University he also rubbed horses on the backstretch for Rick Farrington, John Conte and Randy Perry during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s along with working as an intern in Meadowlands' publicity department under Ellen Harvey. 

After graduating with a degree in journalism in 1991 he held many positions in and around the top floor of the Meadowlands, operating the teletimer, serving as chart caller for Sports Eye and then graduating to the morning line oddsmaker and program comments producer. 

As the in-house television and simulcast broadcasts grew, Brower got more opportunities to work in front of the camera, co-hosting TVG’s 'Drive Time at the Meadowlands' with Gary Seibel. That duo would eventually reunite on CBS SportsNet to host the live Hambletonian Day television coverage.

Brower served as The Meadowlands' morning line oddsmaker, handicapper, and broadcaster for 16 years from 1987 to 2011 and then again from 2017 until the time of his passing while away on assignment at The Red Mile. He was preparing for a huge weekend of racing at Lexington but was found unresponsive in his hotel room after no one had heard from him Friday morning.

“Dave Brower’s level of expertise and professionalism was unmatched in the sport of harness racing, and all of us at The Meadowlands were in complete shock when we heard of his passing,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “While we grieve his passing, we also want to send our condolences to his family and many, many industry friends.”

In addition to multiple TV credentials, Brower was a published author, penning Harnessing Winners in 2009.

“Sitting next to Dave Brower for the last five years has been the greatest pleasure of my entire career,” said Dave Little, Brower’s TV partner since 2017. “He and I got to be friends in the mid-1990s when I was in my first go-round in the Big M’s TV department. We have spent so much time together over the years and know just about everything there is to know about the other. I cannot imagine going on camera in a few weeks and not having him beside me.”

Brower To Be Remembered At Big M

The Meadowlands announced on Wednesday that there will be a Celebration of Life ceremony for Dave Brower at the New Jersey racetrack on Saturday, Nov. 12 and anyone who appreciated his dedication to the sport of harness racing is welcome to be there.

“We were pleased the Brower family wanted to have Dave’s memorial at the track where he was such a popular figure,” said Settlemoir. “This will give all of Dave’s family and friends a chance to exchange stories in the place where he was such an impactful personality.”

“We think The Meadowlands is the perfect place to have Dave’s celebration of life,” said Brower’s sister, Laura. “He loved his job, but even more than that, he loved all of the people at the track, those who worked there, as well as the fans.”

 “Dave loved it when there were big races on a card,” said Little. “So having this night for him when the Kindergarten finals are taking place is appropriate. It’ll be great to have his family, the horsemen and all the fans there to pay tribute to my great friend, but when it’s time to go on-camera, I will be missing him terribly.”

Brower will be honoured before the race card, beginning at approximately 5:45 p.m.

Please join Standardbred Canda in offering condolences to the family and friends of Dave Brower.

(with files from USHWA, Meadowlands)