OT: Freehold Raceway Dead at 171

[RUhasarrived]

And another one bites the dust.
The 20th Century has seen the diminution of harness racing to a much greater extent than has been the decline of thoroughbred racing.Perhaps this is due to harness racing being conducted mostly at night,which once gave its blue collar supporters a chance to attend live racing and that these blue collar supporters' jobs no longer exist,jobs that could support a horse racing habit.Whatever the cause,it was a nice funeral this afternoon at Freehold.

 

[ashokan]

Delis littered with lotteries, online sports betting all over the place - how much can people keep gambling on? I like the Triple Crown races a lot (saw Secretariat live at Belmont as a youngster) but wont go to a track again.

 

[MADHAT1]

Sad to see how the Trotters are slowly being erased.

 

[King of S]

The Afternoon Delight, no more 😒.

 

[Plum Street]

Delis littered with lotteries, online sports betting all over the place - how much can people keep gambling on? I like the Triple Crown races a lot (saw Secretariat live at Belmont as a youngster) but wont go to a track again.

It has gotten crazy

The lotto machines are bad

 

[ashokan]

It has gotten crazy

The lotto machines are bad

Throw in the weed and state govs doing what Capone did.
Young guys get caught-up in this stuff the most

 

[Plum Street]

Throw in the weed and state govs doing what Capone did.
Young guys get caught-up in this stuff the most

I think if you get caught up in it ….thats on you

A little fun on the side with recreational money is what it is for

 

[tom1944]

I am not a fan of some people cannot handle it so no one can do it view.

 

[Plum Street]

I am not a fan of some people cannot handle it so no one can do it view.

Same with drugs and alcohol too !!!

 

[Mr_Twister]

Going the way of dog tracks.

 

[dfr1966]

I was there yesterday, great crowd. I've been going there since I was 18, I remember when the grandstand burned down and they had a "tent meet".

RIP

 

[tom1944]

Same with drugs and alcohol too !!!

Yes

I would like to see drugs purchased legally instead of on the street. I consider it similar to buying legal liquor instead of moonshine.

While it is not good it is safer than the street version.

And for the record I do not partake in gambling, alcohol or drugs at all.

 

[RocktheRac]

I attended yesterday also. Bittersweet. I first attended the track in 1980 when I was 18. In 1984 there was a fire that destroyed the grandstand. Rebuilt and hosted 4 Breeder Crown events. Loved the afternoon racing where you could smell the track on a breezy day. In 1998 the track was purchased by Penn National Gaming and Greenwood Racing (owners of Parx Casino). It went downhill ever since with the popularity of harness racing dropping. They didn't put one penny into this track. The ghosts of Cardigan Bay, Albatross, Willie Mays. Tambourine, Willie Boots, Whitewater Canyon, Hello Linda, Wild About Harry all were in attendance. Popular drivers Anthony and Carmine Abbatiello, Cat Manzi, Jack Moiseyev, Herve Filion, Bill Popfinger, Harold Kelly, Sly DeCample were some of the fan fav drivers. Ray Baynes had a stable down the road always incorporating Brickyard into the naming of his horses. I could still see The Porter Gray going 3 wide in the final turn to make his patented late closing move. Though I haven't attended that much in the past 10 years, it was always a treat to go the Jersey Freeze across Rt 33 for an ice cream or vanilla shake afterwards. Attendance was estimated at over 1,000. Alot more than the avg weekend attendance but far from the heydays. It was a showery damp day but the crowd went to watch along the apron for the Final Mile. They cheered as the horses went by the first time and even louder when they came down the stretch. The winners circle was filled with fans, owners, caretakers. Tears flowed as the played Au Lang Syne. The final race was won by the favorite T Raider's II. Plans for the track may be housing developments. Farewell Freehold Raceway.

 

[WhiteBus]

Freehold had the same issue as Atlantic City. Bad cards, low attendance the majority of the the time.
Atlantic City had the United Nations Handicap a Grade 1 Turf race and had big attendance for that mostly, including myself on numerous occasions. Freehold had the Cane Pace briefly but no national big race of their own. In the end they both closed as the land was more valuable then the business.

 

[ru66]

Belmont or Agueduct by day, Roosevelt or Yonkers by night -- at least NY Stste saved Yonkers by putting in casino . I used to make it a point to visit as many tracks as possible as I traveled on business.

 

[Plum Street]

Belmont or Agueduct by day, Roosevelt or Yonkers by night -- at least NY Stste saved Yonkers by putting in casino . I used to make it a point to visit as many tracks as possible as I traveled on business.

Corporate expense account ! That’s what I am talking about