by Judy Musa

“And they’re off!” These words start the Kentucky Derby each May and lead to the most exciting two minutes in sports. The Derby, run for the 150th time earlier this month at Churchill Downs, is a race with a global following and local ties. Horses bred, raised, and trained right here in Monmouth County, New Jersey at the recently preserved Overbrook Farm in Colts Neck have taken part in the Derby. Most notable was Irish War Cry, who also had connections to Monmouth Park Racetrack. 

Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) is proud to have played a key role in permanently preserving one of the many horse farms in Colts Neck that would otherwise offer prime real estate for 30 or more single family homes – Overbrook Farm, a 235-acre thoroughbred horse breeding and training farm. As we celebrate the Kentucky Derby and the opening of Monmouth Park Racetrack earlier this month, join us for a closer look at this special farm.  

Irish War Cry’s Birthplace and Monmouth County’s Horse Racing Roots

Overbrook Farm was the birthplace of Irish War Cry, a multiple stakes-winning thoroughbred that was a contender in the Kentucky Derby in 2017 and finished second in the Belmont Stakes. Irish War Cry was bred by Isabelle de Tomaso, the daughter of Amory Haskell, founder of the Monmouth Park Racetrack and the man for whom New Jersey’s most famous and prestigious thoroughbred race – the Haskell Invitational – is named.  

It may come as a surprise that New Jersey, the nation’s most densely populated state, also claims the most horses per square mile in the country. It is not surprising that New Jersey appreciates horses for their economic and land preservation contributions. According to the Rutgers Equine Science Center, 7,100 facilities house 42,500 horses and employ 13,000 people across New Jersey. Not only does the equine industry provide an estimated $1.1 billion in economic impact, but it also supports our agricultural roots and open space preservation efforts. 

Slow Gait to Preserve Overbrook Farm 

Land preservation can be a long, slow race to get to the finish line. It requires the patience of the landowner(s) to work with organizations like MCF, government agencies, municipalities, and other partners to make the transaction equitable for all. Conversations began with the Overbrook Farm family owners nearly two decades ago, with the heavy lift to achieve permanent protection taking place over the past six years.  

Located adjacent to Dorbrook Recreation Area (a Monmouth County Park) and Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Earle, Overbrook Farm represents a unique place in Monmouth County due to its equestrian history and its boast of significant environmental and agricultural attributes. 

Due to its proximity to NWS Earle, Overbrook Farm was eligible for preservation through the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program run by the US Department of Defense (DOD). The US Navy, Monmouth County, MCF, and Colts Neck Township collaborated to purchase the conservation easement, with matching funds through the REPI program, as part of our inaugural public-private partnership in 2023 to preserve 255 total acres in Howell and Colts Neck.  

The Green Benefits of Horse Country 

Overbrook Farm’s property provides habitat for threatened, endangered, and critical species including mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, and flowering plants. The NJ DEP– Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ) program has identified core wildlife habitat contiguous to Overbrook Farm on existing preserved lands like Dorbrook Recreation Area and the area’s natural woodlands, much of which are in NWS Earle.

New Jersey is facing increasing habitat loss and fragmentation of green space from steady urbanization, a dense network of roads, and the many impacts of our changing climate. This compromises the resiliency of plant and wildlife populations, making it important to preserve lands like Overbrook Farm that support the important connectivity for our natural ecosystems.

Multiple streams and brook tributaries traverse Overbrook Farm with waters that lead to the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers. Hockhockson Brook, a Category 1 stream, and its tributaries extend throughout the property. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) identifies Category 1 streams for their exceptional ecological water supply and fisheries resources. Since many Colts Neck residents rely on wells for their water needs, and Overbrook Farm falls within the state’s ground-water recharge area, keeping this private farm preserved also supports clean waterways, one of the pillars of MCF’s focus.  

Geologically, the fertile soil and geological make-up at Overbrook Farm are of statewide importance. This prime farmland features the best attributes for producing various crops and includes geological properties that prevent erosion and protect from flooding. Additionally, the farm incorporates leaf mulch as a soil amendment and means of carbon storage.  

Winning the Race for Preservation 

The combined equestrian, agricultural, and ecological attributes of Overbrook Farm and its significant acreage for our area, validate the need for this important land to remain a preserved property, safe from development forever. With only about 20,000 acres of land available for preservation in Monmouth County (equal to the size of Colts Neck Township overall), this 18-year process added another 235 acres to our permanently protected spaces. While it is not the Race for the Roses, it is still a first-place win for Monmouth County residents. 

“As an elected member of the Colts Neck Township Committee and past mayor, the mission of land preservation has been of the utmost importance toward protecting our open space and environment and supporting our farming community. Preserving Overbrook Farm was wholeheartedly supported by the Township Committee, and we are most grateful to our partners for securing this purchase and continuing to help Colts Neck preserve our open space and protect our environment,” said Sue Fitzpatrick, Colts Neck Township Committeewoman. 

Overbrook Farm Photos: Jena Cosimo