Freehold Raceway brought to a close its 171-year history in harness racing, with a large crowd gathered despite the misty rain that persisted throughout the day to say goodbye on Saturday, Dec. 28.
In the day's top purse event, John Calabrese and Grafenberg won the $21,739 American Harness Drivers Club final. The pair prevailed as the odds-on favourite, despite being parked out for much of the way. After getting away third, Grafenberg went first-over, driving through a middle half of 1:01.3. From there, Grafenberg powered away in the lane, scoring by 3-3/4 lengths in 2:01.3 over Awol Hanover (Steven Reisenweaver) and Winneress (Anthony Verusso). Grafenberg is trained by Vincent Stallworth for ower Jaypaul Hoover.
Joseph Lee took the $14,493 AHDC consolation, using a first-over journey to score by a length in 2:01.3 over Limerence (Dawn Anderson) and Masster Blue (Paul Minore).
In the Freehold finale, Ts Raider II (pictured above) and driver Johnathan Ahle scored from off the pace to romp in a $12,753 conditioned pace. Ahle got away fourth from post four, while Blue Collar Man (Austin Siegelman) cut the quarter in :27.3. Ts Raider II flushed the cover of Bargain Shopper (Vincent Ginsburg) to the half in :57 before launching three-wide at three-quarters in 1:26.1. From there, the Rachelle Morris trainee powered away by 5-3/4 lengths in 1:55.4 over Bargain Shopper and Passa Grille Beach (Jim Marohn Jr.).
Freehold Raceway would like to thank the fans, horsepeople and employees for their many years of dedication to the Afternoon Delight.
The following is a ‘thank you’ letter from Howard Bruno, General Manager of Freehold Raceway, which appeared in the Saturday, Dec. 28 Freehold program.
To Our Loyal Customers, Horsemen and Employees,
As the sun begins to set on a remarkable 171-year odyssey, it’s one final opportunity to thank the people who have made Freehold Raceway so memorable.
To our valued customers, thank you for joining us today and the untold times over the years. As we close the doors on this chapter, we want to extend our deepest gratitude for your unwavering loyalty. It has been our pleasure to get to know so many of you, and we truly valued every minute of it. Thank you for being a part of our journey. We wish you all the best and hope all your future bets finish ‘in the money.’
To our horsemen and the decades before you, thank you for your enduring dedication and support of harness racing in New Jersey. Your hard work, passion and spirit are synonymous with the equine community. We know there are no days off in this industry and we admire all that you do.
To our employees, as we come to the end of an era with the closure of the racetrack, we want to express our sincere appreciation for your hard work, perseverance and devotion. Each of you has contributed to making this place special, and we are deeply grateful for your commitment to excellence in every role. While this is a challenging moment, please know that your efforts have made a lasting impact, and there is reason to be proud of everything we’ve accomplished together.
Additionally, thank you to the New Jersey Racing Commission for their tireless efforts to maintain integrity in our sport. Their dedication to fair competition and upholding ethical standards is appreciated by all involved within the industry.
From our host communities, we would like to extend a special welcome to Freehold Borough Mayor Kevin Kane and Freehold Township Mayor Anthony Ammiano. We thank them for their unwavering support of Freehold Raceway since its inception. Their leadership and dedication continue to make a lasting impact within their respective municipalities.
To everyone who made Freehold Raceway so extraordinary, we wish you all the best in your future endeavors and hope our paths may cross again.
(With files from Freehold Raceway)