The friends and family of the late Richard Gant came out in full force to Freehold Raceway on Friday, March 15. Dressed in maroon and light blue, they flocked to the winner's circle after race eight, named the “Richard Gant Memorial Race” to honour the long-time horseman.
Gant passed away at the age of 89 in August of 2023. He owned, trained and drove for 25 years at tracks all over the mid-Atlantic, including Freehold Raceway. He loved the horses so much that he stayed working in a friend’s barn even after retirement.
Meeting the Gant family and friends in the winner’s circle was Moonlightandroses, an Al Annunziata trainee. The eight-year-old mare comfortably sat the pocket and then rocketed up the passing lane in the stretch to win it in 2:00.1. Brett Beckwith was at the controls to win for his third time on the 10-race card.
Beckwith wasn’t the only driver to triple on the Friday card. Tyler Miller has had hot hands lately; he won five races at Freehold last weekend and is on track to do just as much damage this weekend, with three wins under his belt after the first half of Freehold’s Friday-Saturday racing action concluded on Friday.
Continued live harness racing at Freehold will take place on Saturday, March 16, starting at 12:30 p.m. Two themed races will take place in races seven and nine, the Irish Heritage race and International Women’s Day race. Jessica Paquette, the announcer at the Thoroughbred track Parx Racing, will be guest announcing to add to the festivities.
(Freehold Raceway)