Columbus, OH — Dennis J. Watson Sr., 74, of Lakewood, N.J., died March 4, 2024.

Mr. Watson was born Jan. 13, 1950, in Clinton, N.J. He was fostered by James and Mammie Robertson with 15 foster brothers and sisters. He attended the Manchester Township school system.

When he was 15 years old, Mr. Watson went to work with Sonny Dancer for 12 years where he gained his interest in the horse industry. He became the top trainer at Liberty Bell Racetrack in Philadelphia, Pa.

Due to his love for horses he soon began to purchase rescue horses that some deemed useless and was able to get those horses back to racing condition.

He was a trainer, owner and driver at Freehold Raceway for many years, and he could be identified by the colors of yellow, black and white. He became the second leading driver at Freehold. He ranked among the top 10 trainers in wins at Freehold on multiple occasions, including finishing second in 2010.

He also worked at Tullo Farm and Big Sky Farm in Howell, N.J., for many years as a trainer. He frequently raced at the Meadowlands, Monticello Raceway in New York, Harrah’s Philadelphia in Chester, Pa., Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, N.Y., Delaware Downs and Johnson Park Raceway.

As a driver, Mr. Watson was a two-time winner of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Pace at Monticello Raceway, capturing the event in 2008 and 2013.

As a trainer, Mr. Watson recorded 377 victories since the inception of official trainer stats in 1991, accumulating $2.57 million in purses.

Mr. Watson’s top horse in recent years was Lyons Steel, who was a Grand Circuit winner at MGM Yonkers Raceway and finished fourth in the 2021 MGM Borgata Pacing Series final.

While working at Nitto, formerly called Permacel Company, in Lakewood, N.J., he was credited with the development and strategic design used on the master machine that produced industrial tape used by many car manufacturers.

In 1985, he married Theresa Terry and they resided in Freehold before relocating to Lakewood, N.J. Dennis and Theresa were not just husband and wife but best friends and the rhythm to each other’s heartbeat. Their union grew with and through the love of God which has encouraged many others to trust and believe God. Their faith in God allowed them to have 39 beautiful and loving years of marriage. From this union they had Tonia Marie Watson.

Mr. Watson was a devoted husband, father and friend to those in his life. He will be forever missed and loved by those who knew and loved him and his sense of humor.

In 1995, he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior under the late Bishop Archie Craddox whom he served as an Armor Bearer. Bishop Archie Craddox was father, mentor and friend to Mr. Watson, who instilled in him how to be a husband, an honorable man of God, a giver and a faithful tither. Mr. Watson remained a dedicated Deacon and Usher at Praise Temple Ministries under Bishop John Craddox until he transitioned to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Mr. Watson is survived by his wife, Theresa; sisters, Eartha Mae Williams, Bernice, McLinda Hayes, and Barbara Williams-Artis; brothers, Osborne (May Pearl), Richard Hayes, Butch Robertson, Billy Jenkins and Jimmie Newman; children, Adriane (Ronald) Daniels, Pamela (Timothy) Bland, Ricardo Benson, Shavon (Qawi) Brown, Denise (Eugene) Barlow, Johnnie (Anna) Hughes, Tonia Watson-Bryant (Rubin), Anthony (Stephanie) Terry and Latonya Marsh. He was preceded in death by maternal mothers, Mamie Robertson and Verna Lee Turner; sons, Eric Fish and Dennis Jr.; and brothers, Tommy Lester and Lecious Swain.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday (March 16) at Praise Temple Ministries, 3617 State Route 33, Neptune Township, N.J., where Mr. Watson was a deacon. Viewing from 9-11 a.m. with funeral service to follow. Burial will be at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold, N.J.