Sandy Causes Delays for Monmouth Park Improvements

Superstorm Sandy threw a monkey wrench into plans for the track this year that included a concert venue and boardwalk.

Plans to add new venues to the Monmouth Park site for the 2013 season, including an amphitheater and boardwalk, have been put on hold after the track sustained $5 million in damages during Superstorm Sandy, according to a report in The Hub. After an 8-foot wall of water hit the racetrack's stables during the Oct. 29 storm and took out electric service, track officials decided to scale back from plans to have the 2,500 to 7,500-seat theater and boardwalk ready for the season, which kicks off May 11. Instead, work will be concentrated on improving existing features, like renovating the first floor of the clubhouse and enhancing the new miniature golf feature. Longer-term goals for the Oceanport racetrack include an on-site hotel, indoor …

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Horsemen Re-enter Talks to Take Over Monmouth Park

Efforts by Gov. Chris Christie’s administration to put new management in place at Monmouth Park are back on track, with the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association resurrecting an expedited bid to take over the landmark Oceanport track.

Monmouth Park

Horsemen and State Reach Deal on Monmouth Park

One year contract to keep track open in 2012.

Negotiations came down to the wire, but a deal has been reached between the state and a horsemen's group to keep Monmouth Park open in 2012, according to a report from the Asbury Park Press. New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, a West Long Branch-based group of owners and breeders, and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) agreed to a one year deal around 10:30 p.m. Monday, just beating the deadline Gov. Christie imposed last week. According to the article, daily purses at the track will average between $150,000 and $170,000 if the Oceanport track is open for 141 days, and there is no guarantee of a Haskell Invitational in 2012. Rebidding for a long-term lease is expected to take place over the next month.

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Bob English

9:35 pm on Tuesday, December 20, 2011

While other states are making hudreds of millions of dollars by adding casino style gambling at their horsetracks (racinos), NJ refuses to do so and does nothing while its horse racing and casino industries go down the drain and every year lose more market share to facilites in surrounding states.   more ›

Letters To The Editor

Letter to the Editor: Invest in Tracks, Not Atlantic City

In the wake of the Monmouth Park lease breakdown, trainer makes plea to Gov. Christie to save horse racing industry.

Dear Governor Christie, I am going to try and clear a few things up for you. Your decision not to put slots in at the Meadowlands and compete with New York is the main problem with all of horse racing, trotters and thoroughbred alike. If you used common sense and were not worried about what Atlantic City could do for you, you would allow the slots at the Meadowlands and be bringing in millions of dollars in taxes to help with what is needed.  Please spare us with that cheap line you used about millionaire horsemen taking money away from waiters, waitresses, police and teachers. You should fire whoever wrote that for you, you are better than that.  The way it looks from the outside is that Atlantic City is either lining your pockets or you …

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Monmouth Park

Monmouth Park Barn Notes: Thursday, Oct. 27

Alexander 'Don'ning a pair for Saturday's Jersey Juvenile.

Trainer Bruce Alexander will saddle a pair of 2-year-old Don’s in Saturday’s divisions of the Jersey Juvenile Stakes for state-breds at Monmouth Park. Don Six’s Number, out of the mare Lu Lu’s Number, will break from the rail in the Jersey Juvenile’s filly division while One for Don, from the mare Twirly Girly, will go to post in the colt’s division.  Both runners are sired by Don Six, winner of the 2005 Longfellow Stakes at Monmouth Park. The Jersey Juvenile filly division was carded as Saturday’s third race and will feature Don Six’s Number breaking from the rail off just six days rest. “Obviously, it’s not an ideal situation, but I’m comfortable running her in this spot,” Alexander said.  “She was a little disruptive in the gate last …

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Curci's Corner

Curci's Corner: Sunday, Sept. 18

TVG Broadcaster Mike Curci handicaps Sunday's races at Monmouth Park.

Mike's Sunday Picks 1st – 6-4-2-5 2nd – 8-7-5-1 3rd – 1-4-7-2 4th – 5-7-3-4 5th – 7-1A-10-8 6th – 9-2-6-7 7th – 6-5-3-2 8th – 12-1-5-4 9th – 5-6-4-2 10th – 8-6-5-1E 11th – 1-9-10-2 12th – 4-1E-2-3   Monmouth Notebook   Politely Stakes 5 – In The Rough 6 – Unbridled Humor   Horses to Watch 4th - # 5 Magical Dreamer   5th - # 7 Triple A Rating   8th – # 12 Forest Crown   10th - # 8 Mystic Miracle

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Racetrack Lease in Dispute

Investor threatens to call off proposal.

Lease Dispute Threatens to Disrupt Monmouth Park Privatization Plan

Bailey sent the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority a letter declaring his memorandum of understanding for a five-year lease to be null and void.

Curci's Corner

Curci's Corner: Friday, Sept. 2

TVG broadcaster Mike Curci's picks for Friday at Monmouth Park.

Mike's Friday Selections 1st – 5-7-2-1 2nd – 7-6-9 3rd – 6-1-4-2 4th – 7-9-11-1 5th – 5-8-3 6th – 11-2-3-1 7th – 4-5-1-13 8th – 4-8-5-9 9th – 5-1-2 10th – 5-4-1 11th – 6-4-7-11 12th – 2-9-4-11   Monmouth Notebook Monmouth Notebook 2 - Trainer Wins Cibelli – 20 Volk - 19 Pletcher - 18 Broome - 17 Plesa Jr. - 16   Horses to Watch 4th - # 7 Journey to Nowhere 5th - # 5 Purely Determined 6th - # 11 Dream Louise 7th - # 4 Bear Tracks Early Double 1st #5 – Katskill Bay 2nd # 7 - Country Risk

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Sale Of Horse Farm A Blow To NJ Racing Industry

State's largest breeder of standardbreds to sell off inventory