by Bob Heyden

Part 1 ishere.

Part 2 ishere.

It’s starting to get real. VERY REAL. There are only single-digit days until the oldest pari-mutuel track in North America, Freehold Raceway, is closing its doors for good on Dec. 28.

This is a track, folks, that opened in 1853 as The Freehold Driving and Golf Club. It was at Freehold in 1967 that the 1-2-3 finishers in the Oct. 14 feature were Talent Show, Shannon Irishman, and Niagara Byrd. She, the latter, was the dam of none other than Niatross who 13 years later dominated in the fifth edition of the James Dancer for sophomore pacing colts and geldings. Niagara Byrd was the only broodmare retained by owner Elsie Berger when she was downsizing a few years prior!

It was at Freehold that “Roll Back the Prices Day” really was just that in October 1976 when everything was 10 cents!

The memories are plentiful. For example, I remember:

• Bobby Blum, Clark Malady, Rheo Filion, Ken Kalikow, Lou Telymonde, Otto Pisani, Lou Sperendi, Jim Larente, Dean Turcotte, Charlie Kavanagh, Steve Oliwa, Mario Merillo, Richard Tullo, Joe Lipari, Joe Andolpho, Mike Gubnitsky, Robert Campbell, John Dekovitch, Pius Augustine, Ron Carbone, Tom D’Altrui, George Lutz, Phil McGee, Arthur Morris, Santo Merillo, Ray Baynes, Alex Kavoleff, James Rathbone, Tom Devitis, Robert Apice, Jim Tirone and Milton “Muggins” Feldman.

• Anthony Abbatiello driving (Farm Nibble), running a successful stable, with all kinds of future human stars crediting their time with Abbatiello as a huge turning point for them. Oh, Abbatiello was no doubt the most influential person for standardbred racing thriving in the Garden State with tireless efforts resulting in the new “Super Track,” The Meadowlands.

• The Yonkers Trot coming to Freehold, NJ, in 2005 with Strong Yankee taking down the Triple Crown leg while construction at Yonkers was finalized.

• As a freshman at Rutgers in the fall of 1974 taking a fellow classmate, a couple of years ahead, by the name of Steve Katz, to a racetrack for the very first time. Katz catapulted that into a strong career/presence at both Lana Lobell and Walnut Hall.

• Often waiting eight-to-10 deep in line to get that day’s program.

• Bernie (did he EVER miss a day?), Jersey Freeze, The Cardigan Bay Room, Speedo’s picks and Lawton’s too, on the bottom of every page.

• Loosh (Lucien Fontaine) telling me about Rum Customer and Hodgen Special going at it in the August 1969 invites.

• Murray Wolf boxing the three favorites in the exacta ($12) in near every race and hoping for $15.80.

• Herve Filion standing up in the sulky after winning the 1979 James Dancer with Hot Hitter. That money helped him set the all-time single season record of $826,490.

• Racing six days a week, it seems like yesterday.

Maybe Brad Trebotica summed it up best. Trebotica is the son of Peter Trebotica, part owner of the very likely HOY Twin B Joe Fresh.

“Oh, the nostalgia of Freehold,” Brad said. “I can still see my dad crossing the finish line like my hero and also cheering for Ed Lohmeyer’s horses while dad played the role of second trainer for him.

“It’s been a family affair at Freehold with my Aunt Nan and Aunt Peggy holding down the admissions fort. My aunts running the simulcast programs to and from The Big M, and Uncle George running the valet parking like a pro for eons. He even roped me into working a parking booth for some extra pocket change.

“And who could forget that epic [1984] fire? I can still picture my 9-year-old self, pedaling my bike across town, eyes wide, watching the flames dance from the track’s top stretch.

“Later I joined the ranks as a teller for a bit.

“Plus, there was always a backyard barbecue for the 4th of July fireworks.

“The drivers, trainers and the horses? Absolute legends! Simulcasting? An absolute hoot!

“I’m going to really miss those days with my dad, meeting friends to make our weekly ‘donations’ over some cold brews. If only the horse lovers ran the show at Freehold. Now we’ll be left wondering what could have been.”