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

Hightstown, NJ — Throughout its history, the site of Freehold Raceway has been home to countless memorable moments, horses and horse people.

Harness racing at Freehold was formally established in 1853, although the site is believed to have hosted races 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, called “The Pride of Monmouth County,” was a world champion in harness, for carriage and under saddle. He died in 1864, but his name remained associated with the track for another five decades.

Among the many notable moments at Freehold was the first triple-dead heat win in victory race history, which occurred on October 3, 1953, when Patchover, Payne Hal and Penny Maid crossed the finish line together. It happened in the second race of the day and resulted in a three-way payout for the daily double.

In September 1964, Speedy Scot, the previous year’s Trotting Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year, visited Freehold for a $15,000 semifinal in the Harness Tracks of America trotting series. Speedy Scotsman and driver Ralph Baldwin won in 2:02.3, beating the course record by one and two fifths of a second. Baldwin received a $1,000 bonus for setting a track record.

Four years later, Cardigan Bay capped his career by winning the $15,000 Freehold Special in front of 11,104 fans to become harness racing’s first millionaire. The victory, with Stanley Dancer in the sulky, lifted the 12-year-old pacer’s lifetime earnings to $1,000,837. (Dancer had started his own career at Freehold, making his driver debut in 1945 at the age of 17 and later scoring the first win of his Hall of Fame career at the track. When Dancer passed away in 2005, his funeral included . one last kilometer around the oval).

Dancer enjoyed 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 air-supported “bubbles” were added for extra protection during bad weather. In November 1986, a new $12.5 million grandstand was opened at the field.

In 1988, Freehold hosted its first ever time trial, with 4-year-old trotter Mack Lobell and driver John Campbell circling the oval in 1:56 on what was described as “an unfavorably crisp” November afternoon. The time equaled Mack Lobell’s half-mile track world record and lowered Freehold’s track record by two seconds. It was also nearly four seconds faster than any pacer traveled on today’s regular 12-race card. The time trial was considered a booster for Mack Lobell’s next start in the March of Dimes International Trot.

The Breeders Crown visited Freehold on four occasions over the years, for a total of 10 events. The first was in 1986 when JEF’s Spice and trainer Bill O’Donnell won the 3-year-old filly. (Incidentally, Campbell held a national record eight wins on the day.) The other came in 1989, when Matt’s Scooter and Mike Lachance took the Open Pace.

Four years later, Expensive Scooter and Jack Moiseyev won the 2-year-old filly, Electric Slide and Lachance won the 2-year-old filly, Immortality and Campbell won the 3-year-old filly, and Life Sign and Campbell won the 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 time of 1:53.1).

Freehold also started the start of two Pacing Triple Crown-winning efforts when Blissfull Hall in 1999 and No Pan Intended in 2003 captured the Cane Pace on the central New Jersey oval.

Other notable horses to compete 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-olds pacers. The Helen Dancer Memorial for sophomore female pacers saw Roses Are Red, Three Diamonds, Naughty But Nice, Stienam’s Place, Galleria and Southwind Tempo among its champions. 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 lone mare in the eight-horse field and stopped the timer in 2:03.3 over the 1-1/16 miles distance, just one-fifth of a second off the world record.

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

Austin Siegelman, who has been Freehold’s leading driver three of the last four years, entered Friday with a seven-win lead over second-place Tyler Miller and a 10-run cushion over third-place Jim Marohn Jr. (even former champion).

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