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

RICHARD GRANT, 89, DIES

USTA Communications Department • September 4, 2023

Richard Allan Gant, 89, of Dover, Del., died Aug. 30, 2023, with family present ...

 

COLUMBUS, OH -- September 2, 2023 -- Richard Allan Gant, 89, of Dover, Del., died Aug. 30, 2023, with family present.


He was born and raised in Brick, N.J., and he proudly served in the United States Navy for four years active and four years inactive duty. One thing that he didn’t like about the Navy was waiting for his food so his wife, Marie, made sure that he didn’t have to wait throughout their 64 years of marriage.


He had an excavation company before embracing his “need for speed” with everything from fast cars (including one that he flipped on its roof) to speed boats to race horses.


He was an owner, trainer, and driver for 25 years. He raced all over the mid-Atlantic states including Freehold Raceway, Atlantic City Raceway, Garden State Raceway, the Meadowlands, Liberty Bell, Brandywine, Pocono Downs, Dover Downs, Harrington, Ocean Downs, and others. He had many wonderful owners that were also his good friends.


Even in retirement, he continued to work at his friend’s farm until he was no longer able to do so.


He had a generous heart and was “never happy ’til he was broke” as his mother would say.


He was a member of the USTA and NJ Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association. For 60 years, he was a member of American Legion Post #348 and a mason at Durand Lodge #179.


He enjoyed playing cards, making duck decoys, and doing jigsaw puzzles.


He is survived by his wife, Rose Marie “Reese” Gant; sister-in-law, Helen King and family; daughter, Sandra (Dan) Ambrose and granddaughter, Alexandra Marie; son, Ross (Marcy) and grandchildren, Cally Amanda and Ryan Austin (aka, “little RG”; and brothers, Larry (Susan) and Ron (Linda) and their children.


The family hopes to have a memorial race at Freehold Raceway on his birthday, March 15, 2024.

By Hambletonian Society July 8, 2025
Thirteen trotters entered the 12th edition of the Hambletonian Maturity G1, which will race for $425,000 on a stake-heavy Meadowlands Pace night card on Saturday, July 12 ...
By Meadowlands Racetrack July 8, 2025
Dining options are still available for this Saturday, July 12th – Meadowlands Pace Night ...
By Meadowlands Racetrack July 8, 2025
In the wake of the news that original 7-5 morning-line favorite Louprint will be out of action for at least several weeks, this is now the field for the $656,000 Meadowlands Pace, an open event for 3-year-olds that takes place at The Meadowlands on Saturday, July 12, 2025, with post position, horse, driver, trainer and updated morning-line odds ...
By Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager July 7, 2025
A crowd of 270 people gathered Sunday evening at the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame to celebrate the induction of the Hall of Fame class of 2025 ...
By Frank Cotolo, for The Meadowlands July 6, 2025
Last season’s Hambletonian Oaks winner Warrawee Michelle, one of three mares in the field and a rank outsider in the wagering, won the $230,000 Stan Bergstein Graduate Series 4-Year-Old Open Trot on Saturday night (July 5) at The Meadowlands ...
By Ray Cotolo, for The Meadowlands July 6, 2025
Off a grinding return-to-form effort in defeat in the last preliminary, driver Dexter Dunn took authority with Sabonis for a slam-dunk 1:47.3 victory in the $230,000 Stan Bergstein Graduate Series Pace on Saturday night (July 5) at The Meadowlands ...
More Posts