Penn National is closing Freehold, oldest racetrack in U.S.

Freehold Raceway, the harness track in central New Jersey that has played host to horse racing for nearly 200 years, will close Dec. 28, the final day of its current meeting.

An official with Penn National Gaming, the Pennsylvania-based casino company that operates the track, confirmed Thursday morning.

"This was an extremely difficult decision, especially given the historical importance of Freehold to the local community and the New Jersey racing industry," track general manager Howard Bruno said. "Unfortunately, the operations of the racetrack cannot continue under current conditions, and we do not see a plausible way forward."

Known as the Afternoon Delight because it was one of the few harness tracks that conducted daytime racing during the explosion of simulcasting in the 1980s and 1990s, the half-mile course in Freehold, N.J., first conducted horse races as early as the 1830s and was formally established in 1853. 

"We regret to inform you that (Freehold) will be closing its racetrack," according to a Thursday layoff notice that an employee provided to Horse Racing Nation. "The layoffs that result will begin Dec. 28, 2024. We expect you will be laid off on that date or during a 14-day period beginning on that date. ... This layoff will be permanent. The location, in its entirety, will be permanently closed."

The closure of the track extends to its off-track betting parlors known as Favorites. Those operations are tied to the racing license, which Penn National is not seeking to renew in 2025.

The track-record holders at Freehold include pacer Riyadh and trotter Pine Chip. Legendary announcer Larry Lederman also called at Freehold, including an exhibition between Zippy Chippy and Paddy's Laddy in 2001 that infamous maiden Zippy Chippy won.

Freehold joins Garden State Park in 2001 and Atlantic City Race Course in 2015 as the third horse track to close in New Jersey this century. Its shuttering leaves Meadowlands in East Rutherford and Monmouth Park in Oceanport as the only horse-racing facilities in the state.