After 60-Year Run, Garden State Park Nears Finish Line

It has survived everything from an evangelical preacher railing against the sins of gambling to a catastrophic fire that forced its complete rebuilding two decades ago. But historic Garden State Park in Cherry Hill, NJ, home to horse racing for almost 60 years, likely won’t survive into next year because of heightened competition for the gaming dollar.

GSP’s recent race meetings have gone steadily downhill in terms of quality and revenues, and operator Pennwood Inc., which leases the track from owner International Thoroughbred Breeders Inc., says it won’t seek racing dates from the NJ Racing Commission for next year.

ITB, meanwhile, has publicly confirmed that it has a tentative deal to sell the 223-acre property to Epoch Properties of Orlando, FL. Epoch is said to have plans for a mixed-use development for the site, which would be the largest open piece of property in Cherry Hill.