Rutherford's Mal Burroughs, Harness Racing Hall of Famer, dies at 83

Rutherford’s Mal Burroughs, Harness Racing Hall of Famer, dies at 83

Posted by author September 21, 2024 Horse Racing

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New Jersey native Mal Burroughs, a member of the Harness Racing Hall of Fame, died on Sept. 20 at the age of 83.

Burroughs was the only amateur to ever achieve the “Hambo double” by winning the Hambletonian and Hamletonian Oaks, according to the United States Harness Writers Association.

Burroughs, who formerly lived in Rutherford, died at his home in Huntington, New York.

He was described as a “self-made man” in his obituary, growing a construction business from a single used dump truck. His company worked on “excavation of the World Trade Towers site and, more importantly to racing, the building in the swampland of northern New Jersey of the racetrack named The Meadowlands” in the 1970s.

Burroughs’ passion for harness racing started in the 1970s as an owner, and he began driving his horses in the early 1980s, according to the Harness Racing Hall of Fame. He eventually teamed with trainer Jimmy Takter, also a hall of famer, and the duo went on to great success.

In 1994, Burroughs drove his horse Gleam to win the Hambletonian Oaks at the Meadowlans Racetrack. In 1997, Burroughs and Malabar Man captured the Hambletonian and the Orsi Mangelli in Italy. Malabar Man was named 1997 Horse of Year, and was elected to the Living Horse Hall of Fame in 2008.

Earlier this year, Burroughs was elected to the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in recognition not only of his racing success but for his contributions off the track. He was involved with the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, the Hambletonian Society, and the Harness Horse Youth Foundation.

Burroughs is survived by his wife, Janet, his daughters, Gail Annecchino and Melanie Emporellis (Jimmy); grandchildren Kyle Annecchino, Kaitlyn Wade (Kyle), great-grandson Oliver and “Honorary son “Peppi Garcia” (Kiki). He is predeceased by two sons, Gary Burroughs and Malvern Burroughs Jr., according to his obiturary.

Funeral services will be Monday, Sept. 23, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Calhoun-Mania Funeral Home in Rutherford. A funeral mass will take place at Rutherford’s Church of Saint Mary, followed by Interment at Hillside Cemetery in Rutherford.