There were a few dozen people near the rail. A few more were inside on the standee level, getting bets down in the final minutes before the 3 p.m. post time. A high-rollers room is in the back, but there were few rollers, high or otherwise. Late tomorrow afternoon, track announcer Larry Lederman, the man of a thousand voices, will call the last live race at Garden State Park. Simulcasting will continue until May 29.
Plans are in the works for condominiums, offices, shops and restaurants.
In the beginning, Eugene Mori, a brilliant businessman from Vineland, N.J., had a vision. Even in the midst of World War II, it was a vision that worked. More than 30,000 people were at the old Garden on Opening Day. That first year, Whirlaway, winner of the 1941 Triple Crown, came to the Garden to win the Trenton Handicap. In 1948, Citation won the Jersey Derby smack in the middle of winning the Triple Crown.