Freehold Raceway in NJ to Close After Over 170 Years of Operation
Freehold was acquired by a joint venture between Penn National Gaming (now PENN Entertainment) and Greenwood Racing in 1998.
New Jersey's historic Freehold Raceway, the oldest racetrack in the United States, will cease all live racing and simulcast operations at the end of this year, marking the end of an era after more than 170 years.
Freehold officials confirmed that the remaining live racing schedule for 2024 will be completed, and daily simulcasting will continue until the closure date of 28 December. The decision, announced on 19 September, has led to proactive discussions with the New Jersey Racing Commission, local officials, and industry stakeholders to manage the closure and its impact.
Employees and affected stakeholders have been notified, and track officials have ensured that severance, including compensation under New Jersey's Worker Adjustment and Retraining (WARN) Act, as well as any applicable collective bargaining agreements, will be provided.
Howard Bruno, General Manager of Freehold Raceway, expressed the difficulty of the decision:
“This was an extremely difficult decision, especially given the historical importance of Freehold Raceway to the local community and the New Jersey horse racing industry. Unfortunately, the operations of the racetrack cannot continue under existing conditions, and we do not see a plausible way forward. We are incredibly thankful for our dedicated employees, horsemen, and fan base for their support and patronage for so many years.”
Established in 1853 in the town of Freehold, the racetrack is renowned for its standardbred harness racing for trotters and pacers. It also holds the distinction of being the oldest of the three horse racing venues in New Jersey.
Freehold surrendered its New Jersey sports betting licence on 31 July, following the launch of its Parx-branded in-person sportsbook in 2020 and entry into the online sports betting market in 2021 through a partnership with PlayUp. PlayUp lost its licence to operate in New Jersey in July 2023 after failing to comply with information requests from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE).
Freehold was acquired by a joint venture between Penn National Gaming (now PENN Entertainment) and Greenwood Racing in 1998.
