There wasn’t a dry eye in the winner’s circle after John James Urbanski scored his first driving win in the sixth race at Freehold Raceway on Saturday, Sept. 14.
Those who follow Freehold racing know the Urbanski name well. Harness racing is a family affair for the Urbanskis. Brothers Ned and John as well as John’s two children, Alex and John James, can all be seen throughout a Freehold program on any given day. All four of them train but beginning in February 2024, John James has appeared on the program at Freehold as driver 15 times. Mostly driving his own horses or horses for his father, 22-year-old Urbanski has started to put his name out there as a new up-and-coming driver. He joined the amateur ranks and has made starts at Ocean Downs, Harrah’s Philadelphia and even The Meadowlands.
His first win eluded him until today when he drove Real McCoy (who he owns and trains) in his first start after being claimed. It was an American Harness Drivers Club trot, going for a purse of $10,135. The pair drew post position two.
Urbanski said, “I saw the one horse lacking off the gate so I figured I should go for the lead. I liked the way that my horse felt all week. I figured that was gonna be a good play for me.”
He was right. He made the lead and set the pace for the rest of the mile at 10-1 odds.
“Turning for home, I stepped on the gas. I heard the yells from the guys behind me get quieter and quieter and I knew I had it won.”
He crossed the wire with a huge grin on his face. The time for the mile was 1:59.4.
Urbanski has been in the barn for as long as he can remember. His father’s operation runs right out of their backyard and they all work together to get it all done as a family. After countless stalls cleaned, miles on the road, early mornings, late nights, and horses fed, jogged, trained and raced, it is moments like this that remind horsemen why they do what they do. Urbanski also spent time working at the Per Engblom stable all while still helping his family with their stable to even further his harness racing education.
“This makes all the work that I have done worth it. That feeling is so unbelievable. It’s the best feeling in my life,” said Urbanski.
Urbanski’s sister Alex, uncle Ned and girlfriend Holly ran to the winner’s circle with tears in their eyes and, of course, lots of hugs were in order. Real McCoy stood like a champ in the winner’s circle as the family celebrated a dream-come-true moment. Urbanski’s proud parents experienced the thrill from home and regretted that they couldn’t be there. According to Urbanski, a celebratory dinner is in the cards for the family.
Urbanski’s win was just one of many upsets on the 10-race card, with four race winners coming in at odds of 10-1 or greater. Pulling off an 11-1 upset in the other AHDC division, Yogi Sheridan drove Lionhead to a front-stepping score in 1:59.4 for owner/trainer Terry Morgan.
The AHDC presented a $2,000 donation to the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of New Jersey (SPHO-NJ) during the race card. AHDC President Anthony Verruso led the presentation of the cheque to Jim Giorgianni, Treasurer of the SPHO-NJ, in the winner’s circle after the fourth race. Club members Joe Faraldo, John Calabrese, Tony Beltrami, Mike Polansky and William Clark Jr. joined in the presentation along with Karen Fagliarone, Race Secretary at Freehold Raceway.
“Standardbreds are such versatile animals beyond the racetrack,” said Verruso. “We want to help however we can to give our equine athletes robust options for a life after racing.”
The SPHO-NJ is a non-profit focused on pleasure and competitive riding. The organization also hosts the National Standardbred Horse Show every fall at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Allentown, New Jersey.
As amateurs, the AHDC provides donations to various charitable causes through the drivers’ purse earnings from their sanctioned races.
The card also included two $13,514 divisions of the New Jersey Sire Stakes Standardbred Development Fund paces for three-year-old colts and geldings. The first of which was won by Royal Desire and Johnathan Ahle in a blistering 1:52.2 for Kathleen and Donald La Montagne in an early non-betting race. Arbitrage Hanover took the second division in 1:53.1 with Jim Marohn Jr. in the bike for Brett Pelling.
Racing returns at Freehold Raceway next Thursday-Saturday with first post at 12:30 p.m.
(With files from Freehold Raceway and AHDC)