• REMINDERS

    2025 RACE DATES

    MEADOWLANDS

    Post Time 6:20


    January 3rd - February 13th

    Friday & Saturday


    August 2nd Speacial Post Time Noon


    October 24th - December 27th

    Friday & Saturday

  • REMINDERS

    2025 RACE DATES

    MEADOWLANDS

    Post Time 6:20


    January 3rd - February 13th

    Friday & Saturday


    August 2nd Speacial Post Time Noon


    October 24th - December 27th

    Friday & Saturday

STANDARDBRED BREEDERS & OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY

Representing the drivers, trainers, caretakers, breeders and owners of New Jersey

64 Business Route 33

Manalapan, NJ 07726

Phone: 732-462-2357

Fax: 732-409-0741

STANDARDBRED BREEDERS & OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY

Representing the drivers, trainers, caretakers, breeders and owners of New Jersey

64 Business Route 33, Manalapan, NJ 07726 

Phone: 732-462-2357 | Fax: 732-409-0741

BACK

THE FIRST OF MANY FOR JOHN URBANSKI

Katie Eick, for Freehold Raceway • September 15, 2024

here wasn’t a dry eye in the winner’s circle after John James Urbanski scored his first driving win in the sixth race at Freehold on Saturday (Sept.14) ...

FREEHOLD, NJ -- September 14, 2024 -- There wasn’t a dry eye in the winner’s circle after John James Urbanski scored his first driving win in the sixth race at Freehold on Saturday (Sept.14). 


Those who follow Freehold racing know the Urbanski name well. Harness racing is a family affair for the Urbanskis. Brothers Ned and John as well as John’s two children, Alex and John James, can all be seen throughout a Freehold program on any given day. All four of them train but beginning February 2024, John James has appeared on the program at Freehold as driver fifteen times. Mostly driving his own horses or horses for his father, 22-year-old Urbanski has started to put his name out there as a new up-and-coming driver. He joined the amateur ranks and has made starts at Ocean Downs, Harrah’s Philly, and even the Meadowlands.


His first win eluded him until today where he drove Real McCoy (who he owns and trains) in his first start after being claimed. It was an American Harness Drivers Club trot. The pair drew post position two. Urbanski said “I saw the one horse lacking off the gate so I figured I should go for the lead. I liked the way that my horse felt all week. I figured that was gonna be a good play for me.” 


He was right. He captured the lead and set the pace for the rest of the mile at 10-1 odds. “Turning for home, I stepped on the gas. I heard the yells from the guys behind me get quieter and quieter and I knew I had it won.” He crossed the wire with a huge grin on his face. The time for the mile was 1:59.4.


Urbanski has been in the barn for as long as he can remember. His father’s operation runs right out of their backyard and they all work together to get it all done as a family. After countless stalls cleaned, miles on the road, early mornings, late nights, and horses fed, jogged, trained, and raced- it is moments like this that remind horsemen why they do what they do. John also spent time working at the Per Engblom stable all while still helping his family with their stable to even further his harness racing education.


“This makes all the work that I have done worth it. That feeling is so unbelievable. It’s the best feeling in my life”, Urbanski said.


Urbanski’s sister Alex, Uncle Ned, and girlfriend Holly ran to the winner’s circle with tears in their eyes and, of course, lots of hugs were in order. Real McCoy stood like a champ in the winner’s circle as the family celebrated a dream-come-true moment. Urbanski’s proud parents experienced the thrill from home and regretted that they couldn’t be there. According to Urbanski, a celebratory dinner is in the cards for the family. 


Urbanski’s win was just one of many upsets on the ten-race card, with four race winners coming in at odds of 10-1 or greater. The card also saw an Austin Siegelman grand-slam and two divisions of NJSS SDF paces for 3-year-old colts and geldings. The first of which was won by Royal Desire and John Ahle in a blistering 1:52.2 for Kathleen and Donald LaMontagne in an early non-betting race. Arbitrage Hanover took the second division in 1:53.1 with Jim Marohn Jr in the bike for Brett Pelling. 


Racing returns at Freehold Raceway next Thursday-Saturday with first post at 12:30pm.

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations March 30, 2025
Maxim Hanover’s driver wouldn’t have minded trying to win on the front end, but in the end, a two-hole trip did the trick as the Robert Cleary trainee took the Saturday night feature at The Meadowlands, a $17,500 high-end conditioned pace ...
By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations March 29, 2025
After Landia pulled off a 41-1 upset in the 13th race at The Meadowlands Friday night, no one held a winning 20-cent Pick-6 ticket, so fans of the bet that’s offered on races eight through 13 will be shooting for a carryover of $5,029 on Saturday night ...
By Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager March 28, 2025
Lydeo is a relative newcomer in trainer Doug Dilloian Jr.’s stable, but the 6-year-old female pacer has made a favorable impression in a short period of time ...
By Meadowlands Media Relations March 27, 2025
Since the tragic event that took the life of 27-year-old Hunter Myers in a race at The Meadows (Pa.) on March 19, it seems like just about everybody from every facet of the harness racing industry has pitched in to support Hunter’s fiancé, Chloe Fisher, and young son, Hayden Myers ...
By Meadowlands Racetrack March 25, 2025
The Meadowlands Racetrack stands united with the entire racing community in mourning the loss of Hunter Myers, who tragically passed away last week from a head injury as a result of an accident at The Meadows ...
By USTA Communications Department March 24, 2025
Forty-eight United States Trotting Association directors met on the afternoon of March 8, 2025, during the USTA’s annual meeting to receive and discuss the report of the board’s ad hoc investigative committee ...
More Posts
Share by: