Over the course of its history, the site of Freehold Raceway has been home to countless memorable moments, horses, and horsepeople.
Harness racing at Freehold was formally created in 1853, although the location is believed to have hosted racing as early as the 1830s. The area’s first star, trotting stallion George M. Patchen, made such an impression that the track in its early days was known by his name. Born in 1849, George M. Patchen, called “The Pride of Monmouth County,” was a world champion in harness, to wagon, and under saddle. He died in 1864, but his name remained associated with the track for another five decades.
Among the many notable moments at Freehold was the first triple-dead-heat for win in harness racing history, which occurred on Oct. 3, 1953, when Patchover, Payne Hal, and Penny Maid reached the finish together. It happened in the day’s second race and resulted in a three-way payout for the daily double.
In September 1964, Speedy Scot, the previous year’s Trotting Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year, visited Freehold for a $15,000 semifinal of the Harness Tracks of America trotting series. Speedy Scot and driver Ralph Baldwin won in 2:02.3, breaking the track record by one and two-fifths seconds. Baldwin received a $1,000 bonus for setting a track record.
Four years later, Cardigan Bay capped his career by winning the $15,000 Freehold Special in front of 11,104 fans to become harness racing’s first millionaire. The victory, with Stanley Dancer in the sulky, lifted the 12-year-old pacer’s lifetime earnings to $1,000,837. (Dancer had started his own career at Freehold, making his debut as a driver in 1945 at the age of 17 and later getting the first win of his Hall of Fame career at the track. When Dancer passed away in 2005, his funeral service included one last mile around the oval).
Dancer enjoyed another big moment at Freehold in 1972, when he guided Albatross to a 17-length win in the $25,000 Battle of Monmouth Pace. Albatross’ time of 1:57.3 lowered the track record by four-fifths of a second.
An electrical fire in May 1984 destroyed Freehold’s grandstand and dining room. Racing resumed two months later with wagering offered under tents and the following year two air-supported “bubbles” were added for extra protection during inclement weather. In November 1986, a new $12.5 million grandstand was opened at the track.
In 1988, Freehold hosted its first ever time trial, with four-year-old trotter Mack Lobell and driver John Campbell circling the oval in 1:56 on what was described as “an unfavorably crisp” November afternoon. The time equaled Mack Lobell’s world record on a half-mile track and lowered Freehold’s track record by two seconds. It also was nearly four seconds faster than any pacer traveled on the day’s regular 12-race card. The time trial was considered a tightener for Mack Lobell’s next start in the March of Dimes International Trot.
The Breeders Crown visited Freehold on four occasions over the years, for a total of 10 events. The first was in 1986 when Jefs Spice and driver Bill O’Donnell won the three-year-old filly trot. (Campbell, incidentally, tied a national record with eight wins on the day.) The second came in 1989 with Matt’s Scooter and Mike Lachance taking the Open Pace.
Four years later, Expensive Scooter and Jack Moiseyev won the two-year-old colt pace, Electric Slide and Lachance won the two-year-old filly pace, Immortality and Campbell won the three-year-old filly pace, and Life Sign and Campbell won the three-year-old colt pace.
In 1994, Campbell won the Open Trot with Pine Chip, Stig Johansson won the Mare Trot with Armbro Keepsake, Paul MacDonell won the Open Pace with Village Jiffy, and Lachance won the Mare Pace with Shady Daisy (in a world-record 1:53.1).
Freehold also kicked off the start of two Pacing Triple Crown-winning efforts as Blissfull Hall in 1999 and No Pan Intended in 2003 captured the Cane Pace at the central New Jersey oval.
Other standout horses to compete at Freehold over the years included Abercrombie, Hot Hitter, Niatross, Nihilator, Goalie Jeff, Artsplace, Western Hanover, Cams Card Shark, Art Major, and Rocknroll Hanover — all winners of the James B. Dancer Memorial for three-year-old pacers. The Helen Dancer Memorial for sophomore female pacers saw Roses Are Red, Three Diamonds, Naughty But Nice, Stienams Place, Galleria, and Southwind Tempo among its champions. The Dexter Cup for three-year-old trotters counts American Winner and Mr Lavec among its winners.
Moni Maker made her only trip to Freehold during her U.S. Horse of the Year season of 1999, winning a leg of the Classic Open Trot Series. She was the lone mare in the eight-horse field and stopped the timer in 2:03.3 for the distance of 1-1/16 miles, just one-fifth of a second off the world record.
Drivers to win titles at Freehold have included a number of Hall of Famers, such as Anthony Abbatiello, Carmine Abbatiello, Bob Farrington, Bill Popfinger, Herve Filion, Eddie Lohmeyer, and Cat Manzi. Others with multiple titles have included Moiseyev, Harold Kelly, Andy Miller, and a third Abbatiello — Carmine’s son, Eric.
Austin Siegelman, who has been Freehold’s leading driver three of the past four years, entered Friday with a seven-win lead over second-place Tyler Miller and 10-race cushion over third-place Jim Marohn Jr. (himself a former champ).
The curtain comes down on Freehold’s final season of racing with an 11-race card Saturday. Many participants from Freehold’s past and present will be remembered and honoured during the afternoon.
Racing begins at 12:30 p.m. with doors opening at 11 a.m. There will be food trucks on the apron for the fans that choose to join in-person. For the afternoon’s complete entries, click here.
(with files from USTA)