Freehold Raceway
Encyclopedia
Freehold Raceway is a half-mile racetrack in Freehold Borough
, New Jersey
. Established in 1853, it is the oldest harness racetrack in the United States
and is located at the intersection of U.S. Route 9 and Business Route 33 in Freehold.
Freehold Raceway is 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 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
.
The Monmouth County Agriculture Society was formed in 1853 to hold an annual fair with harness racing in the Township of Freehold. It has been researched that racing was held at the same site as early as the 1830s.
Freehold Borough, New Jersey
Freehold is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 12,052. It is the county seat of Monmouth County....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Established in 1853, it is the oldest harness racetrack in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and is located at the intersection of U.S. Route 9 and Business Route 33 in Freehold.
Freehold Raceway is the home of the Cane Pace
Cane Pace
The Cane Pace is 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....
, a harness horse race
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
run annually since 1955
1955 in sports
-American football:* NFL Championship – Cleveland Browns won 38-14 over the Los Angeles Rams* Oklahoma Sooners - college football champions.-England:* First Division - Chelsea win the 1954-55 title.* FA Cup - Newcastle United beat Manchester City 3-1....
. In 1956
1956 in sports
1956's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* The men's Olympic Gold Medal:** Downhill: Toni Sailer, Austria** Slalom: Toni Sailer, Austria** Giant Slalom: Toni Sailer, Austria* The women's Olympic Gold Medal:** Downhill: Madeleine Berthod, Switzerland...
the race joined with the Little Brown Jug
Little Brown Jug (horse racing)
The Little Brown Jug is a harness race for three-year-old pacing standardbreds hosted by the Delaware County Agricultural Society since 1946 at the County Fairgrounds in Delaware, Ohio. The race takes place every year on the third Thursday after Labor Day. Along with the Hambletonian, a race for...
and the Messenger Stakes
Messenger Stakes
The Messenger Stakes is an American harness racing event for 3-year-old pacing horses. It was organized in 1956 at Roosevelt Raceway in Westbury, New York to join with the Cane Pace and the Little Brown Jug to create the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers...
to become the first leg in the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers
Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers
The Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers consists of the following horse races:#Cane Pace, held at Freehold Raceway in Freehold, New Jersey#Little Brown Jug, held at the Delaware County Fair in Delaware, Ohio...
.
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
Freehold Raceway Mall
Freehold Raceway Mall is a super-regional, high-end mall in Freehold, New Jersey, United States. The mall's anchor stores are JCPenney, Lord & Taylor, Macy's, Nordstrom and Sears. The mall is managed by The Macerich Company and has of gross leasable area, making it the second largest shopping...
opened up across the street, and was, until 2007, decorated with harness racing motif.
In 2005, Freehold was also the temporary home of the Yonkers Trot
Yonkers Trot
The Yonkers Trot is a harness race for three-year old trotting standardbreds held at Yonkers Raceway in New York. In 2008, it was the first leg of the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters. In 2009, the order of the events has been changed and Yonkers Trot will be the second leg of the Triple...
, part of the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters
Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters
The Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters consists of the following horse races:*Hambletonian, held at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey*Yonkers Trot, held at Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, New York...
, while renovations took place at Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers Raceway, founded in 1899 as the Empire City Race Track, is a one-half-mile standardbred harness racing dirt track and New York state-approved slots racino located at the intersection of Central Park Avenue and Yonkers Avenue in Yonkers, New York near the New York City border...
.
The Monmouth County Agriculture Society was formed in 1853 to hold an annual fair with harness racing in the Township of Freehold. It has been researched that racing was held at the same site as early as the 1830s.