After being banned for nearly half a century, thoroughbred horse racing in New Jersey came back to life with a vengeance in 1942. Thus began the "Golden Age" of racing in the Garden State, a period when huge crowds cheered on champion horses and the sport's popularity was at its zenith. Meet the four men - Amory L. Haskell, Eugene Mori, John B. Kelly, Sr. (the father of Princess Grace of Monaco) and former New York Jets owner David "Sonny" Werblin - who were the driving forces behind Monmouth Park, Garden State Park, Atlantic City Race Course and the Meadowlands. Linda Dougherty offers an in-depth history of the sport's evolution from 1942 through the mid-1990s, focusing on the men, the beautiful racetracks and the excitement of those early years. Join Dougherty as she sheds light on one of New Jersey's most venerable sports traditions.Within this book are the following sections: Garden State Park - Built largely with wood during the early years of World War II by Eugene Mori, the Camden racetrack enjoyed big crowds and hosted top horses until it was destroyed by fire in 1977. A new glittering Garden was later rebuilt and hosted both thoroughbred and harness racing until it closed for good in 2001.Monmouth Park - Known as the "Jewel of the Jersey Shore," Monmouth has a long and storied history that dates back to 1870. Although the state banned pari-mutuel wagering at the turn of the century, a new Monmouth reopened in 1946 under the guidance of Amory L. Haskell. Atlantic City Race Course - Celebrities, politicians and a slew of equine stars came to the "World's Playground" during the 1940s through the 1960s. John B. Kelly, Sr., an Olympic rower and father of Princess Grace of Monaco, was the driving force behind the picturesque south Jersey oval.Meadowlands - Built in the north Jersey marshlands just a few miles from Manhattan, Meadowlands Racetrack hosted "big nights under the lights" for both harness and thoroughbred racing. David A. "Sonny" Werblin, best known for his ownership of the N. Y. Jets, helped bring the Big M to life.
About the Author: Linda Dougherty has been covering thoroughbred racing in New Jersey for more than two decades, writing for Daily Racing Form, The Blood-Horse, The Trentonian, Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred, The Horse of Delaware Valley and The Racing Biz.com. A New Jersey native, Dougherty is a longtime member of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Association and has also owned and bred thoroughbreds. She lives with her husband, two daughters and two dogs in Philadelphia.