Harold Kelly, who drove more than 4,500 winners with $19.3 million in purses in his career, passed away on Monday night (Oct. 19) at the age of 85.
Kelly retired from driving in 2002, when his home track of Freehold Raceway for almost 50 years, honoured him with 'Harold Kelly Day.' He worked for Hall of Fame trainer Joe Holloway in his later years.
Kelly was on or near the top of the driver's standings at Freehold, from the mid-1950s through to the mid-1990s, winning his first of several driving titles at the central New Jersey oval in 1960.
Kelly's best season for winners was 1987 when he collected 292. His best year for earnings came in 1988 when he drove horses that won an aggregate of $1.96 million.
Kelly's best streak came in the late 1980s when another Freehold legend, Stanley Dancer, asked him to drive for his stable.
The duo combined to win a number of rich and prestigious races, including the $863,250 Sweetheart final with Concertina at the Meadowlands Racetrack in 1988.
Both Dancer and Concertina came quickly to Kelly's mind when he had been previously asked to reminisce about his long career.
"I've driven a lot of nice horses over the years, but the best one would have to be Concertina," Kelly said in a story published by the United States Trotting Association in 2002. "I have a lot of people to thank, so many who have helped me along the way.
"But Stanley (Dancer) is the one who gave me my biggest break. For a few years he let me drive all of his best horses."
In addition to the Sweetheart final, some of the major races Kelly won are the Hambletonian Oaks, the Lady Suffolk, the Lou Babic Memorial and the Molly Pitcher.
Kelly has also driven many of Freehold's best and most popular horses over the years.
Horses such as Alvoc, Caramore, My Bill Forwood and Mr JW - familiar names to longtime Freehold fans - were handled by Kelly.
When asked which horse was his all-time favourite, Kelly had no hesitation. "That would be State Time," he replied. "He was good, hard-knocking and honest, and he was always there week after week."
State Time raced for 13 years, winning 24 races while banking $216,914 in purses. Kelly also trained State Time.
In recognition of his many accomplishments, Kelly was inducted into the Jersey Shore Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.
Arrangements will be posted when available.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Harold Kelly.
(Harnessracing.com)