Yet another earthquake hits harness racing

Earthquakes are measured on several scales.

The Moment Magnitude (Mw) scale is used by the United States Geological Service to measure an earthquake’s size while the Richter scale (ML) is still used for smaller quakes recorded locally.

Factors in earthquake measurement might be the size (magnitude), the distance from the epicenter and the depth, usually as shallow as three miles up to six miles but some as deep as 150 miles or more.

Just a few weeks ago, our Mane Attraction questioned whether there is a crack in our sport’s foundation—a few members of our BDHP (Broken Down Horse Players) group describing it as a minor earthquake!

This hullabaloo started when Penn Gaming closed Freehold Raceway’s sports book just as the lucrative NFL season was beginning…and so many “punters” wondered why.

It didn’t cause too much or a stir and, in earthquake terms, maybe a 1.5 or 2.0 quake with not much damage noticed.

But earthquakes tend to have aftershocks…and some can be quite devastating.

Since casinos have come into play over the last couple of decades, pari-mutuel racetracks seemed to have a stronger foundation, resistant from any earthquakes that may come along.

But, as noted, cracks in the foundations of some racetracks have resulted in earthquakes in the form of closures coming into play, destroying thousands of livelihoods, surrounding businesses and economic stability in their regions.

That 1.5 “earthquake” with the closing of Freehold Raceway’s sports book has developed into a magnitude 7 quake—a catastrophic event—with the announcement of the closing of this historic raceway at the end of the year.

Not only will racing cease, simulcasting will also come to a halt as Pennwood—Penn Entertainment and Greenwood, the two owners—see continuing as unviable.

To them, it matters not that, besides drivers and trainers, caretakers, farriers, outriders, veterinarians, equine dentists, the racing secretary, clerk of the course, paddock judge, handicapper, announcer, track kitchen employees, track maintenance personnel, the starting judge and driver, judges, photo finish operators, television simulcasting crews…many more…will be left at the starting gate—some having given the majority of their lives to an industry they love and an industry they were promised a lifelong sanctuary when their “parent” company took over to protect them, as any parent does.

“This is a magnitude 7 earthquake for many of us,” said one person on the promise of anonymity.

“There are those that will have to sell their homes, if they have one, or try moving somewhere that might be affordable. Many lives are being upended now.

“This is a tragedy…and not just for me!

“I know they’re raking in the big bucks…but even that is not enough! It’s all greed!”

And what about surrounding businesses that will suffer devastating circumstances…local area farms, training facilities, feed companies, sawdust sellers, supply companies with everything and bridles to sulkies and jog carts.

There are 1,000 services that are affected, not to mention area restaurants, lodging, pharmacies, barbers…you name it.

Of course, this is nothing new.

Those who professed to be enamored with, say, the historic Roosevelt Raceway were quick to sell the property…leaving the great legacy of George Morton Levy in the dust to be forgotten.

When horsemen took to the streets in Florida in 2004 to get the amendment passed to allow casinos in Broward County, it was with the understanding that racing would be protected.

With land values skyrocketing and political dollars playing the part, that sure went out the window, didn’t it?

The Van Lenneps, who invested millions of dollars to build Pompano (the city and the tracK)—or “THE POMP” as it’s called this very day—well, their legacy, too, has been buried as the rubble from their building destroyed was carted away by dump trucks.

One-by-one, barely noticeable it has been, this PARTIAL list of racetracks closed is staggering.

Take Atlantic City Racecourse (after 69 years), Balmoral Park (after 89 years), Bay Meadows (74 years), Garden State Park (59), Hollywood Park *75), Jackson Raceway (60), Maywood (69), The Rock (103), Sportsman’s Park (70)—there are more…more than 30.

But back to Freehold…They had an opportunity to open their sports book in 2018…and didn’t until 2020—LATE 2020!

Many say it was neglect that has led to this closure.

Neglect will do it every time.

Might there be any interested buyer that would step up to the plate and keep Freehold alive?

Freehold Raceway, in these eyes, is a historic landmark with evidence of racing there almost 200 years ago.

It officially opened in December of 1853 with the Monmouth County Agricultural Society formed to hold their annual fair featuring harness racing.

(By the way, the annual membership fee was $1 with a $10 payment enabling life membership.)

There have been many historical moments at the track, too—one being the trotter George M. Patchen that set a two-mile mark under saddle of 4:56…as a 14-year-old back in the early ’60’s—1860’s!

As we all were growing up, Freehold was the track that belonged to Carmine Abbatiello and his brother, Anthony, Harold Dancer, Jr., and a “bit” later, Herve and Eddie Lohmeyer and Harold Kelly.

It’s being erased from our rich history because of neglect, and nothing was done to prevent it from that neglect and being erased from history.

While casinos and legislatures have proven to be positive in Ohio, Pennsylvania (so far), Kentucky, Indiana and in spot venues in New York, they have proven devastating to some tracks and the many, many thousands of people that, now, face an uncertain future as the bottom line and shareholders become the top priority.

Promises have been unkept and we are at the mercy of those that now control the purse strings so no more promises—or lives—are broken.

What is especially frightening is the reality that, when something like this happens, it shows that it can happen anywhere and everywhere putting our lives and harness racing’s future in jeopardy.

Is there any solution? Who knows! But it looks doubtful.

May The Horse Be With You.

by John Berry, for Harnesslink