Harold Kelly dies at age 85

Harnessracing.com has reported that harness racing driver Harold Kelly, who drove more than 4,500 winners with $19.3 million in purses in his career, died Monday night, Oct. 19. He was 85.

Mr. Kelly retired from driving in 2002, when his home track of Freehold Raceway for almost 50 years, honored him with Harold Kelly Day. In his later years he worked for Hall of Fame trainer Joe Holloway.

Mr. Kelly was on or near the top of the driver's standings at Freehold, from the mid-1950's through to the mid-1990's, winning his first of several driving titles at the central New Jersey oval in 1960. 

Mr. Kelly's best season for winners was 1987 when he collected 292. His best year for earnings came in 1988 when he drove horses that won an aggregate of $1.96 million.

Mr. Kelly's best streak came in the late 1980's when another Freehold legend, Stanley Dancer, asked him to drive for his stable.

The duo combined to win a number of rich and prestigious races, including the $863,250 Sweetheart final with Concertina at the Meadowlands in 1988.

Both Dancer and Concertina come quickly to Mr. Kelly's mind when reminiscing about his long career. 

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