Freehold Raceway, the oldest horse racing track in use in the United States, will shutter in December, according to the facility’s operators.
According to a Sept. 19 statement issued to Freehold employees, the venue that dates back to 1853 is unable to keep hosting New Jersey horse racing events.
The decision comes after Freehold apparently ceased NJ sports betting operations in August, which raised some eyebrows. Live racing and simulcasts will end on Dec. 28. The facility is owned jointly by Greenwood Racing and Penn National Gaming, which had provided horse racing since 1999.
“Unfortunately, the operations of the racetrack cannot continue under existing conditions, and we do not see a plausible way forward,” Howard Bruno, general manager of Freehold Raceway, said in a statement.
“We are incredibly thankful for our dedicated employees, horsemen and fan base for their support and patronage for so many years.”
Employees notified of decision to close on Dec. 28
Freehold is the second horse racing track to announce its closing in recent years. In 2016, Atlantic City Race Course in Mays Landing stopped hosting races.
“This was an extremely difficult decision, especially given the historical importance of Freehold Raceway to the local community and the New Jersey horse racing industry,” Bruno said in a statement.
The raceway is registered as a historic landmark in New Jersey. Since its inception, Freehold has welcomed some of the most famous four-legged athletes in history.
As for its sports betting platforms, the online NJ sportsbooks associated with Freehold, including ESPN Bet and betParx, are obviously no longer under the Freehold license. According to August’s revenue report, ESPN now stands with Resorts Atlantic City, while betParx operates under Harrah’s.
Local officials expressed frustration at the decision – and the way Penn National Gaming and Greenwood Racing handled it.
“Management seemed disinterested in promoting or marketing the venue and failed to capitalize on the advent of sports betting in New Jersey,” Freehold Mayor Kevin Kane said in a statement. “The facility had become shopworn and dated with little capital improvement to attract new customers.”
The borough was willing to partner with the racetrack to boost attendance and exposure.
“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,” said Kane.
NJ horse racing takes another hit
The closure leaves the future of harness racing uncertain in this state.
“The Raceway has a long and storied history in the Borough of Freehold but, faced with declining interest in standardbred harness racing, the raceway’s fortunes went into a long, slow decline,” Kane said.
Greenwood Racing, which operates Freehold, promised the final months will go smoothly. All scheduled races will go as planned.
“Freehold officials are working proactively with the New Jersey Racing Commission, state and local officials, and industry stakeholders on all necessary items related to the closure of the facility,” Bruno said.
The New Jersey Racing Commission will oversee the closing of the half-mile track.
“The Commission will work with Freehold Raceway to ensure an orderly shutdown and to safeguard the integrity of racing and wagering during the winddown period,” said Allison Inserro, a spokesperson for the NJRC.
The exit of Freehold Raceway will leave Monmouth Park in Oceanport and Meadowlands in East Rutherford as the only live horse racing tracks in the Garden State.
