When did Freehold Raceway open? Timeline of 170 years of harness racing at Jersey Shore
It was announced Thursday morning that Freehold Raceway will cease operations Dec. 28.
Harness racing has taken place at the historic racetrack since at least the 1850s.
More: Landmark Freehold Raceway to cease operations at end of year; no word on future plans for site
Here’s a brief history of the Shore landmark:
Freehold Raceway through the years
December 1853 – Monmouth County Agriculture Society was formed to hold an annual fair with harness racing in the Township of Freehold. Annual membership fee would be $1 and a one-time payment of $10 would permit a person to be a life member. It has been researched that racing was held at the same site as early as the 1830s.
1854 – The society rents a 10-acre plot of land from Hudson Bennett for a sum of $50 a year. That land is currently the site of Freehold Raceway. The first fair meet after expenses showed a balance of $286.06.
1863 – A trotter named George M. Patchen, the “Pride of Monmouth County”, set the world record for trotting-under-saddle with a two-mile mark of 4:56 at age 14.
December 1895 – 52 local men held a meeting and formed the Freehold Driving Club, leasing the track for $174 a year. The club held frequent trotting meetings and trials on the track until 1902, when the Freehold Driving Club was incorporated and purchased the grounds for $4,500. At this time, a golf course was also developed on the grounds.
1960 – Fred Fatzler sells Freehold Raceway to Harold and Bernard Sampson of Milwaukee for a reported $5,000,000. After racing steadily for nearly 14 years, slowly increasing the number of racing days each season, Freehold grew in popularity, featuring the best drivers and horses in the sport. On August 11, 1962 a record crowd of 13,206 patrons wagered $758,719. The meet ended that year with total wagering at a record $25,152,981.
May 4, 1984 – Freehold Raceway grandstand and dining room is destroyed by an early evening fire caused by an electrical short in an odds board.
1965 – Gibraltar Pari-Mutuel of Canada buys Freehold Raceway from Harold and Bernard Sampson for a reported $8,000.000.
Sept. 25, 1990 – Kenneth Fischer, owner of local Gaitway Farm in Englishtown, NJ, becomes the first harness horse owner to own the track in 30 years.
Dec. 13, 1994 – International Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., parent company of Garden State Park in Cherry Hill, NJ, announces that it has exercised an option to purchase Freehold Raceway for $23 million.
Jan. 29, 1999 – Freehold Raceway is purchased for $46 million by Pennwood Racing. Pennwood is a partnership between Penn Gaming and Greenwood Racing.
Source: Freehold Raceway
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