New crop rules approved for Monmouth Park starting on opening day, May 7

By Tom Luicci —-

NEW CROP RULES IN EFFECT FOR MONMOUTH PARK MEET

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Monmouth Park will operate under a crop rule that aligns with House Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) guidelines starting on opening day, May 7, after the New Jersey Racing Commission voted on Friday to waive the stringent no-crop rule implemented a year ago.

By a vote of 5-1 during a special meeting, the New Jersey Racing Commission approved Monmouth Park’s request for a crop “house rule” that will go into effect from the outset of the 62-day Thoroughbred meet.

HISA crop rules go into effect on July 1 in an effort to create uniform rules nationally for racetracks. With the waiver, Monmouth Park is able to avoid having to start the meet with a no-crop rule before transitioning into the new crop rules two months into the meet.

The “house rules” that were approved for Monmouth Park, like those of HISA, allow six strikes per race, with no more than two in succession before a horse has a chance to respond. There is no limit on underhanded strikes.

“We are grateful to the New Jersey Racing Commission members for giving up their time to hold a special meeting on an issue that is important to the entire industry,” said Dennis Drazin, CEO and Chairman of Darby Development, LLC, operators of Monmouth Park. “The Commission recognized that uniformity on crop rules is paramount to our success and to the integrity of our product.

“The wagering public and our fans will benefit knowing we are once again operating under the same rules as other racetracks.”

Under the old rule that was in place for last year’s Monmouth Park meeting, crops were only allowed to be used for safety reasons.

Enforcement of the new crop rule during live racing will fall to the Monmouth Park racing office and a three-panel committee comprised of racing officials who review each race to ensure compliance.

The new crop rule also applies to exercise riders.

Penalties for jockeys in violation of the crop “house rules” are as follows: A $500 fine, loss of purse earnings and a three-day suspension for the first offense; a $2,000 fine, loss of purse earnings and a seven-day suspension for a second offense, and a $5,000 fine, loss of purse earnings and dismissal from the grounds for a third offense.

TURF SPRINTER THE CRITICAL WAY FIRST TO ARRIVE

OCEANPORT, N.J. – After a long winter spent in Florida, and with five horses he is currently overseeing in Kentucky, trainer Jose Delgado said he wanted to get settled back into his home base at Monmouth Park as quickly as possible.

To that end, The Critical Way, a grizzled turf sprinter from Delgado’s barn, became the first horse to arrive when he was led off a van at 7:40 a.m. by foreman Ramon Ortiz as the Monmouth Park stable area re-opened today.

The track will be open for the first day training tomorrow. Opening day for Monmouth Park’s 77th season is Saturday, May 7.

“I sent some horses early because I am ready to be back home,” said Delgado, who finished fourth in the Monmouth Park trainer standings with 22 wins a year ago. “I’m all over the place. I’m in Kentucky now. I spent the winter at Tampa. I’m ready for a new beginning and I’m ready to come home,”

An 8-year-old who has won nine races and banked $548,168, The Critical Way was one of 15 Delgado-trained horses to arrive today. Five more will ship from Kentucky shortly, he said.

Off since Dec. 1, The Critical Way is being pointed to the $100,000 Get Serious Stakes at five furlongs on the turf on May 22 at Monmouth, according to Delgado.

“We gave him some time off,” he said. “He is working very well. It looks like he is coming back strong.”

Trainers Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown will again have large divisions at Monmouth Park, with Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer back with a string following a success debut season at the track last year. Three-time leading trainer Kelly Breen will also be well-represented.

Luis Carvajal, Jorge Delgado, Mike Dini, Claudio Gonzalez, Rory Huston, Pat McBurney, Doug Nunn, Greg Sacco, Rafael Schistl, Kent Sweezey and Michael Trombetta are among the familiar names returning to the training ranks. Back following a hiatus are Gerald Bennett and Jonathan Thomas, each of whom plan to have approximately 50 horses stabled at Monmouth.

Monmouth Park’s 62-day meet will feature 52 stakes races — 10 graded events — worth $8.305 million, highlighted by the Grade 1, $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes on July 23. Several stakes races will see a significant boost in purses this summer, including the Grade 1 United Nations, which goes from $500,000 to $600,000; the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup (from $300,000 to $400,000); the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher (from $250,000 to $400,000) and the Grade 3 Matchmaker (from $150,000 to $200,000).
All of those races, as well as the $100,000 Wolf Hill Stakes, will be on the Haskell Day undercard.