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Freehold Raceway

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Coordinates: 40°15′18″N 74°17′15″W / 40.254999°N 74.28762°W / 40.254999; -74.28762
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This article is about the racetrack. For the shopping mall that was named after it, see Freehold Raceway Mall.
Freehold Raceway
Grandstand from the east side
LocationFreehold, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Coordinates40°15′18″N 74°17′15″W / 40.254999°N 74.28762°W / 40.254999; -74.28762
Owned byPenn Entertainment
Greenwood Racing
Date opened1830s (informally)
1854 (officially)
Race typeHarness
Course typeDirt
Notable racesCane Pace (1998-2010)
Official website

Freehold Raceway is a half-mile (0.80 km) racetrack in Freehold, New Jersey, and is the oldest racetrack in the United States, as well as being the oldest of the three horse racing venues located in New Jersey.

Freehold Raceway is one of only two harness racing venues located in New Jersey, the other being Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment in East Rutherford, which has been home to harness racing's biggest stage, the Hambletonian, since 1981. There are several farms and training centers located near Freehold Raceway which stable hundreds of standardbred racehorses.

It was announced in September 2024 that Freehold Raceway will cease operations at the end of the 2024 racing year, with the final program slated to be on December 28. No plans for the site were announced.[1]

History

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Horseraces have been taking place at Freehold Raceway since the 1830s. The Monmouth County Agricultural Society was formed on December 17, 1853, and in 1854 they began holding an annual fair with harness racing at Freehold Raceway[2][3]

In 1984, an electrical fire destroyed the main building. Racing was then held under tents until the new building was completed in 1986.

In 1990, Freehold Raceway Mall opened up across the street, and was, until 2007, decorated with harness racing motif.

In 1998, Freehold was acquired by a joint venture of Penn National Gaming and Greenwood Racing (owner of Parx Casino and Racing).[4]

From 1998 to 2010, Freehold Raceway was the home of the Cane Pace, a harness horse race run annually since 1955; in 1956 the race joined with the Little Brown Jug and the Messenger Stakes to become the first leg in the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers.

In 2005, Freehold was also the temporary home of the Yonkers Trot, part of the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters, while renovations took place at Yonkers Raceway.

Track officials announced in September 2024 that the raceway will close on December 28 of that year. At the time of its closure, it was the oldest horse racing track in the United States.[5]

Race Schedule

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Freehold Raceway has two meets per year; they race from New Years Day until the end of May, then reopen in September and race until the middle of December.

Triple Dead Heat

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An extremely rare photo finish triple dead heat, recorded in a 1953 harness race at Freehold Raceway

Freehold Raceway was the site of the first ever photo finish triple dead heat win in a harness race. Double, triple and even quadruple dead heats were more commonly awarded in horse racing when finishes were judged by the naked eye in real time. With the advent of photo finish technology in the second quarter of the 20th century, there was a significant decrease in dead heats.

During a harness race on October 3, 1953, the noses of horses Patchover (driven by Ed Myer), Payne Hall (F. Albertson) and Penny Maid (E. Beede) passed the finish line at exactly the same time.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Edelson, Stephen (19 September 2024). "Landmark Freehold Raceway to cease operations at end of year; no word on future plans for site". Ashbury Park Press. Gannet. app.com. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  2. ^ Jerry Cheslow (January 26, 1992). "If You're Thinking of Living in Freehold Borough". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  3. ^ Barbara Pepe (2003). Freehold: A Hometown History. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 81. ISBN 9780738524184.
  4. ^ "Penn National Enters into Agreement with Greenwood New Jersey". RGT Online. November 6, 1998. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  5. ^ "Oldest horse racing track in US is closing. Freehold Raceway shutting down on Dec. 28". Associated Press. September 19, 2024. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  6. ^ Pepe, Barbara (2003). Freehold: A Hometown History. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 84. ISBN 0-7385-2418-2. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
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