NEWS
Monmouth stakes schedule worth $12.1-million
Posted: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 5:20 PM
With the $1-million Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) on August 1 leading the way, Monmouth Park will offer a record $12.1-million in stakes purses for the 2010 racing season, which begins on May 22.
A total of 90 stakes races are have been scheduled—16 graded and 74 overnight events.
In addition to the record overall purse money, Monmouth Park also will offer record daily purses in 2010. The Oceanport, New Jersey, track will race primarily on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Labor Day.
Overnight purses, when coupled with stakes events, are expected to be $1-million for those live programs with stakes races starting at $100,000.
By comparison, stakes at Monmouth in 2009 started at $60,000 with a total of $9,170,000 paid in stakes purses.
“What we’re offering this year is a new approach to racing,” Monmouth Park General Manager Bob Kulina said. “This stakes schedule, along with our new race meet, is certainly attracting the interest of new horsemen from across the country.
“Our goal is to deliver the public what they’ve asked for—quality, competitive racing with big fields. We believe this new schedule should help us achieve that goal.”
Returning for the third time to the stakes calendar is the $250,000 Monmouth Stakes (G3), which will carry a Grade 3 status for the first time when it is renewed on June 12. The turf test, which serves as a prep for the $750,000 United Nations Stakes (G1) on July 3, was captured by champion three-year-old male Big Brown in its inaugural running and by multiple Grade 1 winner Presious Passion last year.
Other notable changes include the addition of the $200,000 Pegasus Stakes (G3), which has been moved from the Meadowlands. Set for June 19, the 1 1/16-mile race for three-year-olds will be run six weeks before the 1 1/8-mile Haskell.
Also added to the schedule is the $300,000 Monmouth Cup (G2), formerly the Meadowlands Cup, for horses three years old and older, which is scheduled to be run on October 9.
A fall race meeting with live racing on Saturdays and Sundays will run from September 11 through November 21.
