Monmouth Race Track has long been a destination for true horse racing fans along the Jersey Shore and visitors from North and South Jersey during the summer months. It is on the verge of becoming something much more. The increased purses and quality of horses at the track during the first two weekends increased attendance vastly, and seems to be attracting casual fans more than before. A crowd of over 13,000 enjoyed the weekend festivities at Monmouth Park, which included a hot dog vending contest and live bands. The track was questioned this past winter for its decision to cease operations during the week in order to increase the quality of racing on the weekend, but no one can question their methods right now.

The big question remains: can they sustain the run of customers through the turnstiles? The purses being offered leading up to the Haskell Invitational on August 1st should help. Over the 50 racing days (Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Labor Day), Monmouth Park will offer million dollar purses, with stakes races starting at #100,000 dollars. This racetrack is no longer just a place to go to kill a few hours in between Jersey beach days. It is now a legitimate destination for horse racing aficionados and gamblers.

Churchill Downs in Kentucky, Pimlico in Baltimore, and Belmont Park in New York are the three most famous tracks in this country. The Triple Crown races rank 1-2-3 in terms of purse size and national television draw. On August 1st, Monmouth Park will attempt to become 4th on that very prestigious list when they host the Haskell Invitation. The races will be broadcast live on ABC and have the ability to put Monmouth Park on the national stage. Business is booming in Long Branch, New Jersey.