Freehold Raceway
| Location | Freehold Borough, New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°15′18″N 74°17′15″W / 40.254999°N 74.28762°WCoordinates: 40°15′18″N 74°17′15″W / 40.254999°N 74.28762°W |
| Owned by | Penn National Gaming and Greenwood Racing |
| Date opened |
1830s (informally) 1854 (officially) |
| Course type | Harness Racing |
| Notable races | Cane Pace |
| Official website | |
Freehold Raceway is a half-mile racetrack in Freehold Borough, New Jersey, and is the oldest racetrack in the United States. 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[1][2]
Freehold Raceway is currently 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 1984, an electrical fire destroyed the main building. Racing was then held under tents until the new building was completed in 1985.
In 1990, the 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).[3]
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.
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. There are two harness tracks in New Jersey, Freehold Raceway and The Meadowlands. New Jersey has always drawn the top horses, trainers, and drivers in the world. There are several farms and training centers located near Freehold Raceway which stable hundreds of standardbred racehorses.
See also
References
- ↑ Jerry Cheslow (January 26, 1992). "If You're Thinking of Living in Freehold Borough". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
- ↑ Barbara Pepe (2003). "Freehold: A Hometown History". Arcadia Publishing. p. 81.
- ↑ Penn National Enters into Agreement with Greenwood New Jersey