175 Oceanport Avenue
Oceanport, New Jersey  07757
(732) 222-5100
http://www.monmouthpark.com

Monmouth Park is a beautiful racetrack near the Jersey shore in Oceanport, New Jersey. It’s called the Resort of Racing and when you see the perfectly tended lawns and flowerbeds, there’s no doubt you will agree. This is an elegant track and the “Sport of Kings” is perfectly showcased here.

The track first opened on July 30, 1870 but ceased operations in 1894 when a ban on parimutual betting was legislatively enacted in New Jersey. In 1946 a bill was passed which allowed for state regulation of horse racing and the track reopened on June 19 of that year.

Monmouth Park’s main track is a one-mile dirt oval and there are chutes for 6 furlong and 1 1/4 mile races. There is a seven furlong turf course with a diagonal chute for races between 1 mile and 1 1/8 mile, and with the redesign of the turf course in 2006, it will now accommodate 5 1/2 furlong turf sprint races. The stable area is located on the back side of the race track and contains a total of 36 barns which can house about 1600 horses.

Monmouth Park hosted, for the first time, the World Thoroughbred Championship Breeder’s Cup races on Friday October 26 and Saturday October 27, 2007. This was also the first time the WTC Breeders’ Cup races were held over two days and Monmouth made significant changes to accommodate the crowds that came to New Jersey to cheer on their favorite Thoroughbreds. Monmouth Park constructed 25,000 temporary seats along with tents, concessions, and additional parimutual facilities. One of the barns was turned into a quarantine facility that housed the international horses. The turf course was re-seeded and allowed to regenerate for a month.

If you want an insider’s view of a day in the life of a Thoroughbred racehorse and the people who love and care for them, you can enjoy the “Dawn Patrol” which is a tram ride through the stable area and to the starting gate. You will get a glimpse into the jockey’s room where some of the equipment is displayed. You might even get to give a carrot to a horse so bring a few of those favorite equine treats. Coffee, juice, and doughnuts are complimentary for the tram riders. The Dawn Patrol operates every Friday at 7 a.m. and every Saturday at 8 a.m. from June 22 through September 1st. The tram ride is free but you have to make reservations by calling 732-571-5542. You can park in the valet lot and walk up the ramp to the front of the 1st floor clubhouse. Every Sunday at Monmouth Park is Family Fun Day. At the Green and into the picnic area you will find clowns, face-painters, pony rides, bounce houses, and more. There is also an arcade on the first floor of the Grandstand and a playground in the picnic area.

Possibly the best known and most anticipated race of the summer racing season at Monmouth Park is the Haskell Invitational Handicap run in August. This race falls between the Kentucky Derby in early May and the WTC Breeders’ Cup in late October so it’s a great barometer to see which horses are developing at the right time to be viable candidates for the Breeders’ Cup. This race was won in 2008 by Big Brown who conquered the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness with breathtaking acceleration in the stretch but was eased in the Belmont and finished last. His win in the Haskell was not as visually impressive as his wins in his previous races but he showed courage and determination in overtaking the leader in the stretch and getting up to the wire to win.

Whether you are an experienced handicapper or a complete “newbie” to the world of Thoroughbred horse racing, you’ll have a great time at Monmouth Park. The staff is dedicated to making your time at Monmouth a memorable experience and are ready and able to assist you with any questions you may have about the facility or how and where to make a wager. No one will have to give you instructions, however, on how to cheer for “your” horses as they come down the homestretch racing for the finish line. There’s no thrill quite like the one you will experience when two (or sometimes more!) Thoroughbreds hook up right at the top of the stretch and battle with every stride to get to the wire first. The best horses know exactly where the wire is and at the right moment will stretch out their necks in an effort to get their nose over the line before the others. They truly do “fly without wings” and it’s a great privilige to see these magnificent creatures in action.

Start making your plans now to enjoy a day or a weekend of racing there soon. Even if you’ve never been to a racetrack before, it’s an adventure you will never forget and you may just be a horseracing fan forever!