Stanley Dancer

Stanley Dancer was a famous horse jockey in the 1960-1980’s. I don’t follow horse racing, so I wasn’t aware of who he was. A tribute to him at the Meadowlands is available in youtube for viewing.  

He’s buried in Freehold NJ, a town in the central part of the state. Manalapan Cemetary is off Route 537. It's an old cemetery with graves going back to the 1800s. Stanley Dancer can be found toward the front near the street entrance. His gravesite caught my eye because it has a bold plaque on the front. His accomplishments on the track are also listed.  

Stanley Dancer was the first jockey to make a million dollars as a driver. He rode three triple crown horses. 

He owned a farm in New Egypt, NJ where he trained horses. A website search showed he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Jockeys never make the cover of Sports Illustrated. When he died, the Meadowlands held a vigil for him.

It’s fitting that you can see the Freehold Raceway from his grave. 

He was an amazing equestrian and I glad I took time to research him.