BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

The Yonkers Trot is coming to Freehold Raceway. The addition of this trotting Triple Crown race to Freehold’s summer/fall stakes schedule means that two of harness racing’s Triple Crown races will be held at the historic half-mile oval.

Since 1998, Freehold has hosted the Cane Pace, the first jewel of the Pacing Triple Crown. This year’s Cane Pace is Sept. 5, with eliminations, if necessary, on Aug. 27.

Now, with the $390,000 (estimated) Yonkers Trot coming aboard on Aug. 20, the raceway will hosting the middle leg of the Trotting Triple Crown.

Don Codey, the general manager of Freehold Raceway, welcomed the addition of the Triple Crown event.

“The Yonkers Trot is steeped in harness racing history and tradition,” he said. “Such a rich and prestigious event is certain to be well-received by Freehold’s considerable fan base.”

The accompanying $114,000 (est) Hudson Filly Trot will be contested on Aug. 20 and will be raced in divisions.

Yonker Raceway has been the home of the Yonkers Trot since the race’s inception in 1955. But for the second straight year, due to construction of a video lottery terminal at the New York racing facility, the raceway had to transfer the Trot to another harness track.

Last year, the race was held at Hawthorne Park in Illinois and was won by Windsong’s Victory, who went on to become only the seventh trotter to claim the Triple Crown.

If necessary, eliminations for the Yonkers Trot will be held on Aug. 13 at Freehold.

There is some local history involved with the Yonkers Trot. It is the only Triple Crown race won by a woman driver, Freehold Raceway’s own Jackie Ingrassia. In 2003, the Allentown driver made history piloting Goalfish to victory.

Freehold’s leading driver, Hall of Famer Cat Manzi, the second winningest driver of all time, with more than 11,000 wins, won his first Triple Crown race at Yonkers Trot in 1994 with Bullville Victory. He’s also won the Cane Pace (1996 with Scoot To Power).

The Yonkers Trot has secured its place in harness racing lore by producing some of the greatest winners in the sport’s history. Nevele Pride (1978), Super Bowl (1972) and Mack Lobell (1987) are among past champions who helped cement their legacies with victories there. Scott Frost, the very first winner back in 1955, went on to be the first Trotting Triple Crown winner.

The drivers who have put their name on the trophy is a Who’s Who of the sport including Stanley Dancer (with a record six wins), Billy Haughton and John Campbell.

The other legs of the Triple Crown are the Hambletonian and the Kentucky Futurity.

The Hambletonian, which dates back to 1926, is the first leg of the Crown and will be held on Aug. 6 at the Meadowlands, giving the Garden State three Triple Crown races this year.

The Kentucky Futurity, the last leg of the Trotting Triple Crown, will be Oct. 1 at the Red Mile in Lexington, Ky. They’ve been racing the Futurity at the Red Mile since 1893.

The Cane Pace will start things off in the Pacing Triple Crown race. It is followed by the Little Brown Jug in Delaware, Ohio, on Sept. 22 and the Messenger Stakes at Harrington, Del., on Oct. 17.

Freehold’s summer/fall meet starts on Aug. 11.