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Monmouth Park Racetrack

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Monmouth Park Racetrackis an Americanrace trackforthoroughbredhorse racinginOceanport,New Jersey,United States. It is owned by theNew Jersey Sports and Exposition Authorityand is operated under a five-year lease as a partnership with Darby Development, LLC.[1]

Monmouth Park Racetrack
Racetrack logo
Location175 Oceanport Ave.
Oceanport, New Jersey07757
United States
Owned byNJSEA
Operated byDarby Development, LLC
Date openedJuly 30, 1870(154 years ago)(1870-07-30)
Screened onNBC(Haskell Invitational Stakes)
Course typeFlat
Notable racesHaskell Invitational Stakes(G1)
United Nations Stakes(G1)
Molly Pitcher Stakes(G2)
Monmouth Cup(G2)
Official website

Monmouth Park's marquee event is theHaskell Invitational,named after Amory L. Haskell. The Haskell was first run in 1968 as a handicap, but was made into an Invitational Handicap in 1981. It is now a 1⅛-mile test for three-year-olds run in late July. Monmouth Park also now showcases theJersey Derbyoriginally run atGarden State Parkuntil its closure in 2001. The racetrack's season spans from early May toLabor Dayin early September.

History

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Long Branch Racetrack

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The racetrack and part of the stands during the2007 Breeders' Cup

Three different buildings have been called Monmouth Park throughout the years. The originalthoroughbred racingtrack was opened by the Monmouth Park Association on July 30, 1870 inEatontown, New Jerseyto increase summer tourism for communities along theJersey Shore.[2][3]Monmouth Park early on earned the nickname as the "Newmarketof America "due to the excellence of its racing. However, after three years of being open financial issues caused the track to close.

In 1878, the track was bought byDavid D. Withers,George L. Lorillard,James Gordon Bennett, Jr.,andGeorge P. Wetmore.The men spent four years renovating the grounds and grandstand and reopened Monmouth Park in 1882. From 1882 to 1890, the track increased in popularity and as a result, a new racetrack was constructed next to the original. The new racetrack opened in 1890 becoming the second Monmouth Park.[3]However, legislation proposed in 1891 and enacted in 1894 barredparimutuel bettinginNew Jersey,and the track closed its doors. In May 1894, the Township Committee atEatontown, New Jerseyordered the seizure and sale of the Monmouth Park Association'sgrandstandand other property for the payment of back taxes and on May 7 was sold at a public auction.[4][5]

Some of the major races held at the Long Branch track included theChampion Stakes,Junior Champion Stakes,Freehold Stakesand theMonmouth Cup.TheUnited States Department of the Armylater constructedFort Monmouthon the site of the former racetrack.[6]

Monmouth Park Jockey Club

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In 1939, the State of New Jersey re-legalizedparimutuel horse race betting.[7]In 1946, theNew Jersey Legislaturepassed a bill providing for state regulation ofhorse racing.The bill was championed byAmory L. Haskell,who led the legislative charge to once again permit wagering on horse racing in New Jersey andPhilip H. Iselin,aNew York Citytextilemagnate. They also had the backing ofReeve Schley,Joseph M. Roebling,John M. MacDonald,Townsend B. Martin,andJames Cox Brady, Jr.The current Monmouth Park, now called the Monmouth Park Jockey Club, opened on June 19, 1946.[3]Thoroughbred racingwas back at the facility after a 53-year hiatus with 18,724 in attendance.[8]

Monmouth Park Racetrack

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TheNew Jersey Sports and Exposition Authoritypurchased Monmouth Park from its previous owners, the Monmouth Park Jockey Club, in 1985, in a deal valued at $45 million.[9]The NJSEA still retains the corporate name "Monmouth Park Jockey Club".[10]

TheVans Warped Tour,a touring music andextreme sportsfestival, was successfully held at the racetrack in 2010 and 2011. It marks theNew Yorkstop on the nationwide tour, which visits the area during July. In 2012, the festival moved to thePNC Bank Arts Centerin nearbyHolmdel, New Jerseydue to financial considerations.[11]

In 2011, a five-year lease was signed with Morris Bailey, co-owner ofResorts Casino Hotelin Atlantic City, to provide a marketing partnership between the casino and racetrack. The agreement allowed Resorts to sponsor the Haskell Invitational, and possibilities include a merging of loyalty programs as well as bringing entertainers' appearances at the casino to the racetrack. The program is part of a strategy to mesh horse racing with casino gambling.[12]

Monmouth Park Racetrack in 2024 on Haskell day.

In April 2013, Monmouth Park opened the BluegrassMiniature GolfCourse near the Port-au-Peck Avenue entrance. The Course features two 18-hole courses, the Haskell Course and theTriple CrownCourse featuring each hole named after a differentrace horse.[13]

In July 2016, the luxury restaurant Blu Grotto, named after theBlue Grottosea caveon the Italian island ofCapri,opened at Monmouth Park. The restaurant is open year-round and is located near the racetrack's quarter-pole.[14]TheBeer Gardenat Blu Grotto opened in 2017.[15]

On June 14, 2018, the Monmouth Park Sports Book by William Hillsportsbookopened and Monmouth Park became the first location in New Jersey to offersports betting.Monmouth Park had pushed to legalize sports betting, which was legalized by theU.S. Supreme Courtin the caseMurphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association.[16]

On May 16, 2024, Monmouth Park held a ceremonial groundbreaking for a new 16,000 sq ft (1,500 m2) trackside sportsbook operated byCaesars Entertainment.William Hill was acquired by Caesars in 2022 and re-branded the current sportsbook. The new sportsbook will be located at the track's first quarter-pole and host aShake Shack,self-service betting kiosks and indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the racetrack and the infield. The new facility is scheduled to open in 2025.[17]

Physical attributes

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The main track is a one-mile (1.6 km) dirt oval with chutes for 6 furlong and 1¼ mile races.

The long infield chute at Monmouth Park leads to the main turf course and allows for races of up to 1⅛ miles.

Theturfcourse is seven furlongs in circumference, with a diagonal chute for races between 1-mile (1.6 km) and 1⅛ miles. A re-design of the grass course for the 2006 season brought with it a new, second chute to accommodate 5½ furlong sprint or rarely 1 9/16 mile races. Turf races can be run along the hedge, or with the portable rail out 12 feet (dubbed the "Haskell Course" ), 24 feet ( "Monmouth Course" ) or 36 feet ( "Lennox Course" ).[18]

The Stable Area, located directly to the north of the backstretch of the main track, contains a total of forty barns and stables, twelve north of theNew Jersey Transit'sNorth Jersey Coast Line(connected by its own service and access road) and twenty eight on the main complex.

The Wolf Hill Farm, which served Monmouth Park as a private stable and practice facility, was located adjacent to and immediately west of the main complex. Wolf Hill, owned and operated by the Valentino Family from the nearby City ofLong Branch, New Jerseyfeatured barns, stables and a practice track featuring a dirt oval and turf course identical to that at Monmouth Park's main facility only built to 50% scale. The Valentino Family sold Wolf Hill Farm to theMonmouth Park Jockey Clubin 1963 which then became part of the greater Monmouth Park Complex. It was transferred to state ownership in the 1986 takeover by the NJSEA and was eventually sold to theMonmouth County Park Systemin 1998 which now operates the site as Wolf Hill Recreation Area that features a 4-acredog park,an 18-holedisc golfcourse, abaseball fieldand twosoftballfields.[19]While Wolf Hill ceased operating as a farm following the 1963 sale, owners and trainers continued to use Wolf Hill's practice track well into the 1990s. Remnants of the practice were clearly visible on the site until after the 2009 meet. After the 2009 meet, construction began in the Wolf Hill area, eliminating the last of the practice track.[20]

Racing

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Horse racing at Monmouth Park

Breeders' Cup World Championships

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On October 26 and 27, 2007, Monmouth Park hosted theBreeders' Cupfor the first time in its history.[21]
The 2007 Event also marked the first time the event has been held over two days and also the creation of three new races held on Day 1 of the Championships.

Winners of Races:
Day 1
Filly & Mare Sprint-Maryfield
Juvenile Turf-Nownownow
Dirt Mile-Corinthian
Day 2
Juvenile Fillies-Indian Blessing
Juvenile-War Pass
Filly & Mare Turf-Lahudood
Sprint-Midnight Lute
Mile-Kip Deville
Distaff-Ginger Punch
Turf-English Channel
Classic-Curlin

The Classic was marred by a fatal injury suffered by George Washington, the 2006 European 3-year-old champion who had returned to training when his stud career was scuttled by fertility problems. He suffered a dislocated fracture of his right front ankle and was euthanized on the track.

Million Dollar Meet

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In March 2010, it was announced that Monmouth Park would shorten its summer meet, conducting only 50 days of live racing (down from 141 totalthoroughbreddays in the state) for a total of $50 million in purse money for the 2010 meet. This was done due to the recent monetary losses of the racetrack industry in New Jersey and made it the most expensive purse structure in North America at the time.

TV personalities

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  • Caton Bredar (1995–1998)
  • Barbara Foster (1995–1997)
  • Jennifer Burke (2000–2004)
  • Carolyn Conley
  • Brad Thomas (?-present)
  • Thomas Cassidy (?-present)
  • Larry Collmus(1994–2014)
  • Mike Curci
  • Gordon Richards
  • Matt Carothers (1998)
  • Travis Stone (2014)

TV and film appearances

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Accessibility & transportation

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The Park is served by theMonmouth Park stationonNew Jersey Transit'sNorth Jersey Coast Lineduring the racing season.[22]

A special train called the "Pony Express" was discontinued after the 2005 racing season. This train operated betweenHoboken Terminaland the racetrack, terminating on a rail siding near the grandstand entrance. It was often scouted out byrailfansdue to the variety of equipment that were used on the train in recent years, ranging from the 1970 vintagePullman StandardErie LackawannaComet I cars to modern AlstomMetro-NorthComet Vs.

Monmouth Park is also served by the831New Jersey Transit Busroute.[23]

The Park is accessible by car viaNJ-36with connections to theGarden State Parkway,I-195,New Jersey Turnpike(I-95) and other highways and roads. Parking is available in several on site lots.[24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^"AS MONMOUTH PARK OPENS, CHANGE IS A WAY OF PRESERVATION".theracingbiz. May 9, 2014.Archivedfrom the original on September 22, 2014.RetrievedAugust 2,2017.
  2. ^"Inauguration of the New Monmouth Park Race-Course".The New York Times.July 31, 1870. p. 1.Archivedfrom the original on 2018-07-26.Retrieved2010-07-31.
  3. ^abc"History of Monmouth Park".Monmouth Park Racetrack.Archivedfrom the original on June 7, 2019.RetrievedJune 7,2019.
  4. ^"Monmouth Park's Troubles".The New York Times.May 3, 1894. p. 3.Archivedfrom the original on 2018-07-25.Retrieved2010-07-31.
  5. ^"Monmouth Park Effects Sold".The New York Times.May 8, 1894. p. 3.Archivedfrom the original on 2018-07-25.Retrieved2010-07-31.
  6. ^"A Concise History of Fort Monmouth, NJ and the U.S. Army CECOM Life Cycle Management Command"(PDF).FortMonmouthNJ. 2009.Archived(PDF)from the original on July 27, 2016.RetrievedAugust 2,2017.
  7. ^"An Overview of New Jersey Gambling Law".thedigestonline.August 7, 2023.RetrievedJune 17,2024.
  8. ^"Races Start Today At Monmouth Park".The New York Times.June 19, 1946. section Sports, p. 34.Archivedfrom the original on 2018-07-23.Retrieved2010-07-31.
  9. ^"Monmouth Park Track Sold to N.J. State Sports Agency".The Philadelphia Inquirer.April 11, 1985. p. B05.Archivedfrom the original on 2011-06-10.Retrieved2007-10-08.The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, operator of the Meadowlands Race Track, tentatively agreed yesterday to buy Monmouth Park for about $45 million.
  10. ^"About Monmouth Park".Monmouth Park.Archivedfrom the original on July 17, 2017.RetrievedJuly 28,2017.
  11. ^"Warped Tour changes its address, but little else".NJ. July 13, 2012.Archivedfrom the original on August 3, 2017.RetrievedAugust 2,2017.
  12. ^Donald Wittkowski (24 Jul 2011)."Resorts Casino Hotel gets business partner in Monmouth Park".Press of Atlantic City.Archivedfrom the original on 4 March 2016.Retrieved25 Jul2011.
  13. ^"Bluegrass Miniature Golf OPENS".Monmouth Park. April 27, 2013.Archivedfrom the original on August 3, 2017.RetrievedAugust 2,2017.
  14. ^"Luxury Restaurant Added to Monmouth Menu".Thoroughbred Daily News. July 27, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on August 3, 2017.RetrievedAugust 2,2017.
  15. ^"Blu Grotto".Monmouth Park. August 2, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on July 17, 2017.RetrievedAugust 2,2017.
  16. ^Edelson, Stephen (August 23, 2018)."NJ sports betting: Will Monmouth Park be online by start of NFL season?".Asbury Park Press.Archivedfrom the original on August 20, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 23,2019.
  17. ^"Monmouth Park breaks ground on new sportsbook that will include a Shake Shack".NJ.May 16, 2024.RetrievedJune 17,2024.
  18. ^"Monmouth Racetrack Layout".Advantage wagering.Archivedfrom the original on June 21, 2019.RetrievedJune 21,2019.
  19. ^"Wolf Hill Recreation Area".Monmouth County Parks. August 2, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on August 3, 2017.RetrievedAugust 2,2017.
  20. ^"Wolf Hill Recreation Area Disc Golf".Professional Disc Golf Association. August 2, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on August 3, 2017.RetrievedAugust 2,2017.
  21. ^"Curlin Is Favorite for Haskell".The New York Times.Associated Press.August 3, 2007.Archivedfrom the original on 2015-06-05.Retrieved2007-10-08.It is a pivotal one-and-one-eighth-mile race for 3-year-olds with the Breeders' Cup World Championships being held at Monmouth for the first time Oct. 26-27.
  22. ^"By Train".Monmouth Park.Archivedfrom the original on July 17, 2017.RetrievedJuly 28,2017.
  23. ^"831 Schedule"(PDF).NJ Transit. September 3, 2016.Archived(PDF)from the original on July 29, 2017.RetrievedJuly 28,2017.
  24. ^"By Car".Monmouth Park. July 28, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on July 19, 2017.RetrievedJuly 28,2017.
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