With the retirement of longtime director of racing Mike Dempsey, Monmouth Park this week named Michael Anifantis to that position.
Wagering at this year’s Monmouth-at-the-Meadowlands meet is up nearly 14 percent versus 2014, and field size has grown, as well.
A record-setting Haskell day enabled Monmouth Park to conclude its 2015 meet with average handle and attendance numbers similar to last year’s.
Trainer Ben Perkins has runners in two of the three New Jersey-bred stakes highlighting Saturday’s New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival at Monmouth Park.
Jockey Nik Juarez made the first stakes win of his career a big one, guiding Valid to a win in the Grade 3 Iselin at Monmouth Park.
“It’s nice to work with horses instead of humans,” says 20yo Liam Benson, who will balance training Tyro winner Expected Ruler with attending fall classes.
Expected Ruler, a 47-1 outsider making his racing debut, shocked Monmouth Park’s Tyro Stakes on Sunday with a two-length victory.
Jockey Trevor McCarthy was sent to a nearby hospital for tests after his mount reared back and hit him in the head Sunday at Monmouth.
The champ was in the house on Haskell day at Monmouth. But his wasn’t the only story to be found, as a journeyman jock, a veteran trainer, and others attest.
Triple Crown champ American Pharoah gave a record Monmouth Park crowd what it came for by romping to victory in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational.