Moonlightandroses wins Richard Gant Memorial

The friends and family of the late Richard Gant came out in full-force to Freehold Raceway on Friday (March 15). Dressed in maroon and light blue, they flocked to the winners circle after race eight, named the “Richard Gant Memorial Race” to honor the long-time harness racing horseman.

Gant passed away at the age of 89 in August 2023. He owned, trained, and drove for 25 years at tracks all over the mid-Atlantic including Freehold Raceway. He loved the horses so much that he stayed working in a friend’s barn even after retirement.

Meeting the Gant family and friends in the winner’s circle was Moonlightandroses (Deuce Seelster), an Al Annunziata trainee.

The 8-year-old mare comfortably sat the pocket and then rocketed up the passing lane in the stretch to win it. Brett Beckwith was at the controls to win for his third time on the ten-race card.

MOONLIGHTANDROSES REPLAY

Beckwith wasn’t the only driver to score three, though. Tyler Miller has had hot hands lately; he won five races at Freehold last weekend and is on track to do just as much damage this weekend, with three wins under his belt after the first half of Freehold’s Friday-Saturday racing action concluded this afternoon.

Continued live racing at Freehold will take place tomorrow (March 16) starting at 12:30PM. Two themed races will take place in races seven and nine, the Irish-Heritage race and International Women’s Day race. Jessica Paquette, the announcer at the thoroughbred track Parx Racing, will be guest announcing to add on to the festivities.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Katie Eick, for Freehold Raceway