A look back at Freehold through the years – US Trotting News

Hightstown, NJ — Throughout its history, the grounds of Freehold Raceway have been home to countless unforgettable moments, horses and horse people.

Harness racing in Freehold officially began in 1853, although it is believed the site hosted racing as early as the 1830s. The area’s first star, the trotting stallion George M. Patchen, made such an impression that the track was known by his name in its early days. Born in 1849, George M. Patchen, known as “The Pride of Monmouth County,” was a world champion in harness, in a team, and under saddle. He died in 1864, but his name remained associated with the route for five decades.

Among the many notable moments at Freehold was the first triple dead heat for victory in harness racing history, which occurred on October 3, 1953, when Patchover, Payne Hal and Penny Maid reached the finish together. It happened in the second race of the day and resulted in a triple payout for the Daily Double.

In September 1964, Speedy Scot, last year’s Trotting Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year, visited Freehold for a $15,000 semifinal of the Harness Tracks of America harness racing series. The fast Scot and driver Ralph Baldwin won in 2:02.3, breaking the course record by one and two-fifths of a second. Baldwin received a $1,000 bonus for setting a winning record.

Four years later, Cardigan Bay capped his career by winning the $15,000 Freehold Special in front of 11,104 fans, becoming harness racing’s first millionaire. The victory with Stanley Dancer in the sulky increased the 12-year-old pacer’s lifetime earnings to $1,000,837. (Dancer had begun his own career at Freehold, making his debut as a driver in 1945 at age 17 and later earning the first victory of his Hall of Fame career on the circuit. When Dancer died in 2005, so was his last-mile memorial service around the oval).

Dancer had another big moment at Freehold in 1972 when he guided Albatross to a 17-length victory in the $25,000 Battle of Monmouth Pace. Albatross’ time of 1:57.3 lowered the course 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 betting offered under tents, and the following year two airborne “bubbles” were added to provide additional protection in inclement weather. In November 1986, a new $12.5 million grandstand opened at the track.

In 1988, Freehold held its first-ever time trial, with four-year-old trotter Mack Lobell and driver John Campbell lapping the oval in 1:56 on a November afternoon described as “unfavorably chilly.” The time equaled Mack Lobell’s half-mile world record and lowered Freehold’s course record by two seconds. It was also nearly four seconds faster than any pacer running on the day’s regular 12-race card. The time trial was considered more difficult for Mack Lobell’s next start in the March of Dimes International Trot.

The Breeders Crown visited Freehold four times over the years for a total of ten events. The first was in 1986 when JEF’s Spice and driver Bill O’Donnell won the three-year-old fillies’ trot. (Campbell, by the way, set a national record with eight wins that day.) The second came in 1989, when Matt’s Scooter and Mike Lachance took over the open pace.

Four years later, Expensive Scooter and Jack Moiseyev won at the 2-year-old filly pace, Electric Slide and Lachance won at the 2-year-old filly pace, Immortality and Campbell won at the 3-year-old filly pace, and Life Sign and Campbell won at the 3-year-old filly pace 3 year old colt.

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 spearheaded two attempts to win the Pacing Triple Crown when Blissfull Hall captured the Cane Pace at the New Jersey Central Oval in 1999 and No Pan Intended in 2003.

Other outstanding horses that competed at Freehold over the years included Abercrombie, Hot Hitter, Niatross, Nihilator, Goalie Jeff, Artsplace, Western Hanover, Cam’s Card Shark, Art Major and Rocknroll Hanover – all winners of the James B. Dancer Memorial for 3 year old pacemaker. Helen Dancer Memorial winners for sophomores included Roses Are Red, Three Diamonds, Naughty But Nice, Stienam’s Place, Galleria and Southwind Tempo. The Dexter Cup for 3-year-old trotters counts American Winner and Mr Lavec among its winners.

Moni Maker made her only trip to Freehold during her Horse of the Year season in 1999, winning a leg of the Classic Open Trot Series. She was the only mare in the eight-horse field and clocked in 2:03.3 for the distance of 1-1/16 miles, just a fifth of a second off the world record.

Drivers who won titles at Freehold included a number of Hall of Famers, including Anthony Abbatiello, Carmine Abbatiello, Bob Farrington, Bill Popfinger, Herve Filion, Eddie Lohmeyer and Cat Manzi. Others with multiple titles included Moiseyev, Harold Kelly, Andy Miller and a third Abbatiello – Carmine’s son Eric.

Austin Siegelman, who has been Freehold’s leading driver three times in the last four years, entered Friday’s race with a seven-race lead over second-place finisher Tyler Miller and a 10-race lead over third-place finisher Jim Marohn Jr. (himself a former champion). Start.

The curtain comes down on Freehold’s final racing season with an 11-race card on Saturday. The race begins at 12:30 p.m. (EST). For the afternoon’s full entries, click here.