Brett Carroll
Staff Writer
A stronger future is now at Monmouth Park.
So predicted the officials of the Oceanport horse track that opened its gates for the 2018 season on May 5 with a crowd of over 20,000 in attendance.
During a press conference that was held at Monmouth Park on May 8, officials detailed what is to be expected and how this the 73rd season could finish as a highly successful one.
Dennis Drazin, the president and adviser to the Darby Development LLC, the operator of Monmouth Park, talked at length about the state of the park.
“I’ve been here seven years,” Drazin said. “It’s been a long road, and we’re happy to say that after seven years of battling, Monmouth Park is still here and strong. Not only that, we plan to be even stronger in the years to come.”
The park will hold some of its annual favorites again this season, which runs through Sept. 9.
Those featured events are the Jersey Shore Food Truck Festival on May 26-May 28, Family Fun Day on June 3, the BBQ & Craft Beer Festival from Sept. 1-3 and Food Trucktoberfest on Sept. 8.
The major event of the summer will once again be the 51st annual betfair.com Haskell Invitational, which will be run on July 29.
Drazin explained how Monmouth Park is seeking to attract the finest horses and trainers through the introduction of a bonus system.
“We’re going to have bonuses this year for owners and trainers,” Drazin said. “If they race and or train with Monmouth Park this season, they will get bonuses. We’re also working on better worker’s comp for the jockeys and stable boys that work with us this year. We want to attract the best around, and we need to show faith in the ones who show faith in us.”
Monmouth Park will attempt to lure Justify, the horse that won the Kentucky Derby on May 5, to the Haskell Invitational.
