by Tom De Martini

Monmouth Park officials are guardedly optimistic about the 99-day meeting that begins Friday, despite concerns about the current state of the industry and the local economy.

The Oceanport, New Jersey, track, which hosted last year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships, will continue to offer average daily purses of more than $300,000 largely due to a three-year subsidy deal with the Casino Association of New Jersey.

At a Tuesday press conference, Dennis Robinson, president and chief executive officer of the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, said the Garden State’s racing industry is at a crossroads and during a Tuesday called for proactive measures to perpetuate racing in the state.

“We must reach out and find new ways to sustain ourselves,” Robinson said. “We need a true partnership between government and the industry for a long-term solution. We must change if we’re going to operate in a changing gaming environment.”

Racetracks in Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware are operating video lottery terminals [VLT’s] and slot machines to bolster purses. Robinson said the authority and horsemen are grateful for the three-year casino subsidy that will keep purses competitive, but noted the parties must take control over the future.

“I don’t want to be doom and gloom. However, no one can invest in horse racing in a three-year time frame,” Robinson said. “VLT’s are just one of many options available. We must work together to insure the future of New Jersey racing.”

Monmouth will offer 67 listed and overnight stakes races and 13 graded stakes throughout the meet. The graded stakes races offer $4.1-million in purses.

The marquee graded-stakes event of the meet is the $1-million Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) on August 3, a 1 1/8-mile race for three-year-olds.

The $750,000 United Nations Stakes (G1) at 1 3/8 miles on the turf and the $150,000 Salvator Mile Stakes (G3), both on July 5, are part of Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In,” series for the first time.

Daily post time is 12:50 p.m. EDT. The track will race Friday through Sunday in May with additional cards on Memorial Day, May 26 and Thursday May 29 before beginning a Wednesday thought Sunday schedule through September 28.

Track officials opted to raise grandstand and clubhouse admission $1 to $3 and $5, respectively, and also hiked parking fees.

Senior Vice President of Racing Dennis Dowd said gasoline prices approaching $4 per gallon could affect the meet’s bottom line. Monmouth fan base is largely based on tourists and local families.

“It’s an absolute concern,” Dowd said. “I don’t know the answer. This is a disposable income business. I think people will wait and see where gas prices stabilize before deciding about disposable income.”

Dowd said the Mid-Atlantic regional impasse with the New York Racing Association concerning the import of that simulcast signal remains unresolved but noted an agreement is close at hand.

The authority received permission from the state’s Racing Commission last week to host a multi-state pick six wager consisting of two races from Monmouth, two from NYRA tracks and one each from Delaware and Philadelphia Parks. The wager is slated to begin May 19 if the impasse is resolved.

Last year’s leading trainer Todd Pletcher and 13-time leading jockey Joe Bravo, return the Jersey shore to defend their titles. Pletcher saddled 33 winners from 107 starters and amassed more than $2.4-million in purse earnings. Bravo won 110 races from 396 mounts, with more than $3.7-million in earnings.

Monmouth officials announced that longtime breeders Gerald and Carolyn Sleeter were named the recipients of the Virgil “Buddy” Raines Distinguished Achievement Award for meritorious service to New Jersey racing.

Tom De Martini is a New Jersey-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent