New Jersey has a rich tradition of both Thoroughbred and harness racing that stretches back to the mid-19th century. Harness racing began at Freehold Raceway in the 1830s and continued well into the 21st century. Thoroughbred racing also took root during that era. Although the current Monmouth Park did not open until 1946, when the state re-authorized pari-mutuel betting, earlier tracks bearing the Long Branch or Monmouth names were active on the Jersey Shore as early as 1870. Garden State Park, which operated from 1942 to 2001, hosted both Thoroughbred and harness racing, while Atlantic City Race Course was another popular venue from 1946 until its closure in 2015. Notably, Kelso—one of the greatest racehorses in history—made his debut at Atlantic City.
Today, both forms of racing remain integral to the state’s sporting landscape. Thoroughbreds take center stage every summer in the Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park in Red Bank, a highlight of the Jersey Shore season. Steeplechase fans flock to the Far Hills meeting each October, anchored by the prestigious American Grand National. And though Freehold Raceway closed at the end of 2024, harness racing continues to thrive at the Meadowlands, one of the premier venues on the national harness racing circuit.
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New Jersey Race Tracks
Most Thoroughbred racing happens at Monmouth Park in Red Bank, New Jersey. This Jersey Shore destination runs a long summer season, opening in mid-May and continuing through the middle of September. The track hosts both dirt and turf racing, and offers a full season of exciting stakes races as well.
Meadowlands also offers a brief Thoroughbred meet through early- to mid-October called Monmouth at Meadowlands. These races always draw large, exciting fields. There is also a day of steeplechasing in mid-October at Far Hills, complete with pari-mutuel betting.
Meadowlands is the heart of modern harness racing in New Jersey, and runs all year long except for the weekends in October when the Monmouth at Meadowlands turf meet is happening. Meadowlands offers some of the best purses and toughest competition in harness racing anywhere in the country, and it is a must-watch for any serious Standardbred bettor!
New Jersey Horse Races
The flagship race at Monmouth Park is the million-dollar Haskell (G1), a mid-July race that is one of the major destinations for three-year-olds. The first top-tier sophomore dirt route race after the Triple Crown, it always draws a mix of stars from the series of three-year-old classics as well as other runners who want to contend for a place in the spotlight through the second half of the year. Some of horse racing's biggest stars have won the Haskell. That includes five horses who went on to Horse of the Year honors: Holy Bull, Point Given, super-filly Rachel Alexandra, Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, and Authentic.
The most prestigious turf race at Monmouth is the United Nations. It held Grade 1 status through 2023, but was downgraded to Grade 2 beginning in 2024. Some of the most important classic winners of the United Nations include Round Table, T. V. Lark, Dr. Fager, Fort Marcy, and Halo. In more recent years its best winners have included English Channel, Main Sequence, Big Blue Kitten, and World Approval.
The signature race at the Far Hills Steeplechase meet is the American Grand National. This Grade 1 over fences always has a strong bearing on the champion steeplechase horse of the year, and its winners have included McDynamo, Good Night Shirt, Divine Fortune, Demonstrative, and fan favorites Mr. Hot Stuff and The Mean Queen.
On the harness side, the Meadowlands hosts many of the most important and historic races in the sport, including the Hambletonian for three-year-old trotters, as well as the Cane Pace and the Meadowlands Pace for three-year-old pacers. The Meadowlands is also a regular venue for the Breeders Crown, the end-of-year championships in harness racing, having hosted races in 20 different years, most recently in 2024.
Off Track Betting in New Jersey
As of 2025, there are 11 off-track betting (OTB) locations across New Jersey, all regulated by the New Jersey Racing Commission. In addition to wagering opportunities at Monmouth Park, the Meadowlands, and the Borgata Casino, bettors can choose from a wide range of dedicated venues, including McLoone’s Woodbridge Grille, Freehold Raceway OTB, Monmouth Park OTB, several Favorites locations (Gloucester Township, Toms River, Egg Harbor, Hillsborough, and Woodbridge), and Winners Bayonne. Together, these locations ensure that horse racing fans throughout the state have convenient access to betting on races from around the world.
