2019 MONMOUTH SEASON TO SEE 61 RACING DAYS, $7.1 MILLION IN STAKES

By John Heims —-

2019 MONMOUTH SEASON TO SEE 61 RACING DAYS, $7.1 MILLION IN STAKES;
$1 MILLION BETFAIR.COM HASKELL SET FOR SATURDAY, JULY 20

Oceanport, NJ. – Led by the Grade 1, $1 million betfair.com Haskell Invitational, Monmouth Park is set to offer $7.1 million in stakes races when the track kicks off its 74th year of racing on Saturday, May 4.

In addition to anchoring a card featuring six-stakes races, the Haskell will also see a new day when it’s renewed for the 52nd time on Saturday, July 20, shifting from its previous Sunday constant. In total, Monmouth will race 61 days in 2019, up from 52 last year.

“This year will be a game-changer for Monmouth Park and for racing in the State of New Jersey,” said Dennis Drazin, Chairman and CEO of Darby Development LLC, operators of Monmouth Park.
“For too long we have seen our neighbors enjoy casino-fueled purses placing New Jersey at a competitive disadvantage. With a $100 million purse subsidy over the next five years, half of which is dedicated to Monmouth, awaiting the signature of Governor Murphy, we can now start to close that gap and move Monmouth Park to a more even playing field.

“This is a terrific opportunity and we will shepherd these monies in a manner that creates a superior betting product with fuller, more competitive fields. To that end, beginning in 2019, we will offer an enhanced stakes schedule, substantial increases to our purse structure and more race dates, all the while keeping intact the owner and trainer guarantees we offered last year and expanding those into the state-bred program. In addition, we will continue to offer free worker’s compensation for trainers stabled at Monmouth Park and will pay a forty-percent bonus to New Jersey-bred horses who compete in open company.

“All in, we’re looking at approximately $500,000 per day this year; and, overall, we are confident that this is a winning formula.”

That formula will once again include bundled stakes days, which proved wildly popular when they debuted at Monmouth last year. Led by the stakes-studded Haskell card on July 20, a quartet of stakes races will be offered on May 25, June 22, Sept. 1 and Sept. 28, the last providing the championship day for the MATCH Series, which is back after a successful return last year.

The 17th annual New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival, with three stakes events, will be renewed on Aug. 25, as a total of 11 NJ-bred stakes races are on tap this season.

In total 64 stakes, 12 of them graded, will be offered this year, starting with the $100,000 Cliff Hanger on Opening Day. All stakes races will carry a minimum purse of $75,000.

Stall applications, which are due by March 15, are now available on-line at www.monmouthpark.com or in hard copy format in the Monmouth Park racing office.

The entire 2019 stakes schedule is:

Run Date Stakes Name Purse Division Distance

4-May-19 Cliff Hanger Stakes Listed $100,000 3 and up 1 mile (Turf)
11-May-19 Serena’s Song Stakes $75,000 F & M 3 and up 1 mile 70 yards
12-May-19 Long Branch Stakes $75,000 3 YO 1 mile 70 yards
18-May-19 Politely Stakes $75,000 F & M 3 and up 5 1/2 furlongs (Turf)
19-May-19 Get Serious Stakes $75,000 3 and up 5 1/2 furlongs (Turf)
25-May-19 Monmouth Stakes G2 $200,000 3 and up 1 1/8 miles (Turf)
25-May-19 Salvator Mile G3 $150,000 3 and up 1 mile
25-May-19 Boiling Springs Stakes $75,000 3 YO Fillies 1 1/16 miles (Turf)
25-May-19 John J Reilly Handicap NJ Breds $75,000 3 and up 6 furlongs
26-May-19 Miss Liberty Stakes $75,000 F & M 3 and up 1 1/16 miles (Turf)
27-May-19 Hystericalady Stakes $75,000 3 YO Fillies 6 furlongs
1-Jun-18 Tale of the Cat Stakes $75,000 3 YO 1 1/16 miles (Turf)
2-Jun-18 Lookin At Lucky Stakes $75,000 3 YO 6 furlongs
8-Jun-19 Unbridled Elaine Stakes $75,000 F & M 3 and up 5 furlongs (Turf)
9-Jun-19 Smart N Classy Handicap NJ Breds $75,000 F & M 3 and up 1 mile
15-Jun-19 Honey Bee Stakes $75,000 3 YO Fillies 5 1/2 furlongs (Turf)
16-Jun-19 betfair.com Pegasus Stakes Listed $150,000 3 YO 1 1/16 miles
22-Jun-19 United Nations Stakes G1 $300,000 3 and up 1 3/8 miles (Turf)
22-Jun-19 Philip H. Iselin Stakes G3 $150,000 3 and up 1 1/16 miles
22-Jun-19 Eatontown Stakes G3 $150,000 F & M 3 and up 1 1/16 miles (Turf)
22-Jun-19 Lady’s Secret Stakes Listed $100,000 F & M 3 and up 1 1/16 miles
23-Jun-19 Dan Horn Handicap NJ Breds $75,000 3 and up 1 1/16 miles (Turf)
29-Jun-19 Friendly Lover Handicap NJ Breds $75,000 3 and up 6 furlongs
30-Jun-19 Open Mind Stakes $75,000 3 YO Fillies 1 1/16 miles (Turf)
6-Jul-19 Irish War Cry Handicap NJ Breds $75,000 3 and up 1 mile (Turf)
7-Jul-19 Jersey Girl Handicap NJ Breds $75,000 F & M 3 and up 1 mile (Turf)
13-Jul-19 My Frenchman Stakes $75,000 3 YO 5 1/2 furlongs (Turf)
14-Jul-19 Blue Sparkler Stakes $75,000 3 YO Fillies 5 1/2 furlongs (Turf)
20-Jul-19 betfair.com Haskell Invitational G1 $1,000,000 3 YO 1 1/8 miles
20-Jul-19 Monmouth Cup G3 $200,000 3 and up 1 1/8 miles
20-Jul-19 Molly Pitcher Stakes G3 $150,000 F & M 3 and up 1 1/16 miles
20-Jul-19 WinStar Matchmaker Stakes G3 $150,000 F & M 3 and up 1 1/8 miles (Turf)
20-Jul-19 Oceanport Stakes G3 $150,000 3 and up 1 1/16 miles (Turf)
20-Jul-19 Wolf Hill Stakes $75,000 3 and up 5 1/2 furlongs (Turf)
21-Jul-19 Spruce Fir Handicap NJ Breds $75,000 F & M 3 and up 6 furlongs
27-Jul-19 Frisk Me Now Stakes $75,000 3 YO 1 mile (Turf)
28-Jul-19 Just Jenda Stakes $75,000 3 YO Fillies 1 mile (Turf)
3-Aug-19 Tyro Stakes $75,000 2 YO 5 furlongs (Turf)
4-Aug-18 Colleen Stakes $75,000 2 YO Fillies 5 furlongs (Turf)
10-Aug-19 Incredible Revenge Stakes $75,000 F & M 3 and up 5 1/2 furlongs (Turf)
11-Aug-19 Jersey Shore Stakes $75,000 3 YO 6 furlongs
17-Aug-19 Monmouth Oaks G3 $150,000 3 YO Fillies 1 1/16 miles
18-Aug-19 Jersey Derby $75,000 3 YO 1 1/16 miles (Turf)
24-Aug-19 Unbridled Essence Stakes $75,000 F & M 3 and up 1 1/2 miles (Turf)
25-Aug-19 Charles Hesse III Handicap NJ Breds $100,000 3 and up 1 1/16 miles
25-Aug-19 NJ Breeders Handicap NJ Breds $75,000 3 and up 6 furlongs
25-Aug-19 Eleven North Handicap NJ Breds $75,000 F & M 3 and up 6 furlongs
31-Aug-19 Presious Passion Stakes $75,000 3 and up 1 1/2 miles (Turf)
1-Sep-19 Red Bank Stakes G3 $150,000 3 and up 1 mile (Turf)
1-Sep-19 Sapling Stakes $100,000 2 YO 1 mile
1-Sep-19 Sorority Stakes $100,000 2 YO Fillies 1 mile (Turf)
1-Sep-19 Safely Kept Stakes $75,000 F & M 3 and up 5 furlongs (Turf)
2-Sep-19 Bodacious Tatas Stakes $75,000 F & M 3 and up 1 mile 70 yards
7-Sep-19 Decathlon Stakes $75,000 3 YO 5 1/2 furlongs
8-Sep-19 Miss Woodford Stakes $75,000 3 YO Fillies 5 1/2 furlongs
14-Sep-19 Joey P. Handicap NJ Breds $75,000 3 and up 5 furlongs (Turf)
15-Sep-19 Good Magic Mile Stakes $75,000 3 and up 1 mile
21-Sep-19 Smoke Glacken Stakes $75,000 2 YO 6 furlongs
22-Sep-19 Hollywood Wildcat Stakes $75,000 2 YO Fillies 6 furlongs
28-Sep-19 Violet Stakes Listed $100,000 F & M 3 and up 1 1/16 miles (Turf)
28-Sep-19 Rainbow Heir Stakes $100,000 3 and up 5 1/2 furlongs (Turf)
28-Sep-19 Mr. Prospector Stakes $100,000 3 and up 6 furlongs
28-Sep-19 Regret Stakes $100,000 F & M 3 and up 6 furlongs
29-Sep-19 Monmouth Marathon Stakes $75,000 3 and up 1 1/2 miles