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Dubbed “The Shore’s Greatest Backstretch,” Monmouth Park is now the only thoroughbred track that runs regularly in the state of New Jersey. The track has a storied and steep history with the $1M Haskell Invitational being the track’s centerpiece race. Monmouth hosted a Breeder’s Cup in 2007. Given its close proximity not only to tracks on the NYRA circuit but also to Parx and Delaware Park, the Monmouth Park stable gate is a busy place with horses shipping in and out.
Monmouth Park’s main track is 8 furlongs or 1 mile. Its turf course is 7 furlongs but has a turf chute for races over 1 mile.
Monmouth Park Track History
Monmouth Park has been a Shore tradition since 1870. Three buildings have carried the name Monmouth Park in the last 139 years. Monmouth Park’s long and storied history dates back to July 30, 1870, when the track opened, just three miles from Long Branch.
Due to the high caliber of its racing, Monmouth Park achieved distinction as the “Newmarket of America”– a reference to the famed racecourse in England. Three years after the first Monmouth Park was opened, financial difficulties forced the track to close.
Racing returned to Monmouth Park under a syndicate of George L. Lorillard, D.D. Withers, G.P. Wetmore, and James Gordon Bennett. They spent four years restoring the grounds and rebuilding the grandstand and in 1882, the rebuilt Monmouth Park opened its gates. In 1891, the Monmouth Park meet was moved to Jerome Park and Morris Park while state legislation tried to suppress pari-mutuel wagering. The state was ultimately successful, and on March 21, 1894, banned wagering on horses. The track was closed and the land sold. Racing would not return for over 50 years.
On June 19, 1946, for the third time and after a 53-year hiatus, Monmouth Park reopened its doors. Under the new leadership, the Monmouth Park Jockey Club was born.
The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority purchased Monmouth Park in 1986 and many of the historic, century-old stakes races were reinstated, with the Monmouth Cup, inaugurated in 1884, renamed the Philip H. Iselin Handicap. Currently, the track is owned and operated by Darby Road LLC, a conglomerate of New Jersey horsemen.
Monmouth Park Configuration and Track Bias
Monmouth Park is known as being a speed-favoring track on the dirt. Horses that rely on gate speed and bolting to the lead in the early stages of the race, whether it be sprint or route, often times come home first. Monmouth Park’s turf course can play the opposite with closers having an advantage. Monmouth Park is usually quick to move races from the turf so bettors will seldom see a turf course rating below good.
Winning Post Positions
Early on in the Monmouth Park meet, winners have been coming more from the outside stalls. While this is a relatively small sample size, the trend has been prevalent at Monmouth Park for years. The rail is anything but golden in sprint races.
Monmouth Park Racing Season
In recent years, due to slot machines in Delaware and Pennsylvania, Monmouth Park’s graded stakes calendar has taken a hit. Now that sports betting is legal in the Garden State, look for it to make a comeback. For the current season, there are 11 graded stakes and 2 Grade I events: the United Nations for older horses on the turf and the Haskell Invitational for three year olds on the dirt.
Monmouth Park Track Contact Information
175 Oceanport Avenue, Oceanport, NJ
732-222-5100
Website: www.monmouthpark.com