This story was first published on September 30, 2024.
Stacy Fox was devastated to learn that Freehold Raceway, the nation’s oldest racetrack, would be closing its doors in December.
Fox, 46, who now resides in Savannah, Georgia, but was raised in Browns Mills in Pemberton Township in Burlington County, said, “I literally cried because my entire childhood was at the track.”
Her mother worked the nighttime simulcasting switchboard at the Monmouth County track, where her father had been the head accountant for almost 30 years.
Fox recalls riding home with her father after his workday and heading to the racecourse with her mother before her shift. Her father would catch up on work on Sundays, and she would frequently spend those days at the track. She was acquainted with dozens of raceway employees.
She can still clearly recall the excitement of spending time there with her brother and the other two youngest siblings in the family, even after decades had passed. They met the jockeys, petted the horses, strolled around the club thick with cigar smoke, and took a peek inside the track’s money-laden vault.
Regarding her father, who passed away in 2000, Fox remarked, “My dad was a big part of that place.” In October, when she and her mother flew to New Jersey, she made her last trip to the racecourse after learning that it was closing.
It just so happens that the last day of the track, December 28, coincides with her parents’ anniversary.
The horse racing track, which includes harness racing, announced in September that it would stop all live racing and simulcasting at the end of the year.
The closure does not impact Monmouth Park or the Meadowlands, two major tracks in New Jersey.
Howard Bruno, the general manager of Freehold Raceway, stated in the announcement that this was a very tough decision, particularly considering the raceway’s historical significance to the neighborhood and the New Jersey horse racing business.
He stated, “Unfortunately, the racetrack’s operations cannot continue under the current conditions, and we do not see a plausible way forward.” We are immensely grateful to our loyal staff, horsemen, and supporters for their years of patronage and support.
Social media saw hundreds of comments and a flurry of reactions when the closure was announced.
At one more racetrack across the nation, some individuals applauded the end of horse racing, claiming it was best for the horses.
Others bemoaned the prospect of construction on the property.
Many people, who remembered happy times spent at the track as kids with friends and family, were deeply disappointed by the upcoming closure.
Bob Barlow’s stepfather loved being at the track so much that he got a job as an usher at the trackway after he retired. Tracy Hall, Barlow’s stepfather, is shown holding a winning horse following a race while wearing a red jacket.supplied by Bob Barlow
Bob Barlow, who now lives in Connecticut, previously lived in East Windsor in Mercer County and would visit the track as a child with his stepfather, who loved watching the horses race and placing bets.
Barlow said his stepfather, Tracy Hall, once won $800 from betting on the races in one day. Although Barlow doesn t remember the horse s name, he easily recalls the jockey s name: Wilbur.
My stepfather winds up getting up, standing on top of the chair and screaming, Come on Wilbur, come on Wilbur, said Barlow, 72.
The horse won, and Hall was elated. I literally thought he was going to pass out and have a heart attack, Barlow said, he was so excited.
When Hall retired from his security guard position at a research facility, he landed an usher job at the track, allowing him to get paid for something he enjoyed, Barlow said.
If the track wasn t busy, he could place his own bets.
Occasionally, he would be invited onto the field after the race, when the winning horse adorned with a bouquet of flowers around its neck and its owner took photos. He was employee of the month in May 1995, and officials named a race after him, Barlow said.
The track s attendance declined in recent years.
Carl Cito celebrated his 11th birthday at Freehold Raceway’s restaurant, called the Renaissance Room, with his two grandfathers.Provided by Carl Cito
Carl Cito, 26, would regularly visit the track with his two grandfathers his mother s father and his father s father starting when he was about 4, he said.
His father trained and raced horses there, and although Cito still goes to the track now, he notices a difference in attendance.
Before me, it used to be super popular, he said, referring to the time before he was born.
Though he sees some younger people at the track today, it s mostly an aging crowd. My friends from the racetrack are mostly older than me, Cito said.
When the closure was announced, Freehold Borough Mayor Kevin Kane blamed track officials for the shutdown. There has been declining interest in standardbred harness racing, despite the raceway s long and storied history in the borough, he said in a statement at the time.
Track officials didn t try to reverse the trends, Kane previously said.
Freehold is jointly owned by Penn Entertainment and Greenwood Racing.
Management seemed disinterested in promoting or marketing the venue and failed to capitalize on the advent of sports betting in New Jersey, Kane previously said.
The facility had become shopworn and dated with little capital improvements to attract new customers, Kane said. Attempts to meet with management to discuss promotional opportunities, band nights, car shows and other event-based strategies designed to get new customers into the facility were rebuffed.
In September, Stephen Gallo, the borough s business administrator, said the horses will be retained by their owners once the track shuts down.
The borough, which doesn t own any of the property involved, plans to authorize a redevelopment study to determine if the area meets the criteria for an area in need of redevelopment. That could lead to proposals for a new use for the land.
But, the raceway could potentially remain a horse-racing track.
The borough has been in communication with state Sen. Vin Gopal, D-Monmouth, who represents the area, and is seeing if anyone is interested in continuing the raceway s operations, Gallo previously said.
We have received several inquiries from parties interested in racing operations which we are following up on, he previously said.
Freehold Raceway is the nation s oldest and fastest daytime half-mile harness racing track, according to itswebsite. It first opened in 1853.
It features live harness racing for trotters and pacers, and is open seven days and nights a week. It also hosts year-round thoroughbred and harness racing simulcasts from tracks throughout North America.
Stacy Fox remembers growing up at Freehold Raceway both of her parents worked at the track. She was given a mug that’s branded with the track’s name.Provided by Stacy Fox
Fox, who was given a Freehold Raceway-branded mug years ago and has kept the keepsake, said the track is like a security blanket to her. Over the years, she spent many weekends and occasional evenings at the track.
Its closure is heartbreaking, she said.
But, life goes on, the world changes, and things evolve, Fox said. And I guess it s just time for it to close. I guess it s just not what it once was.
But, when it was, it was an amazing place, she added.
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