HORSE RACING

Hey, who knew? Who was Haskell anyway?

Tamara Walker

"Hey, who knew?" looks at the Jersey Shore's unique history from the Asbury Park Press archive.

OCEANPORT – Long before Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi graced us with rock 'n' roll and Snooki and JWoww were fist pumping at the Shore, men wore seersucker suits while women dazzled in oversized Victorian hats for a day at Monmouth Park.

In the late 1800s, New Jerseyans took pride in getting fancy for race day. Hot and humid or cold and windy, horse racing in the Garden State commanded fashion with a formal flair. There will probably be an echo of that Sunday, when Triple Crown winner American Pharoah competes in the Haskell.

It all began on July 30, 1870, when the Monmouth Park racetrack opened, but it's been a bumpy ride into the 21st century.

Three years after the track opened, financial problems forced Monmouth Park to close. Several years later, it was sold to a group described as "four distinguished gentlemen" who restored the track, allowing racing to begin again in 1882.

Monmouth Park was so popular additional land was purchased to accommodate the growing number of spectators, and on July 4, 1890, the new Monmouth Park opened – but not for long.

Long Branch track fans on their way to Monmouth Park in 1890.

Once again racing at Monmouth Park came to a halt in 1891, after after politcal pushback against gambling started gaining steam. As a result, track owners moved their races from the Garden State to the Empire State. The official end to racetrack betting in New Jersey came in 1894 when it became illegal.

Forty-five years later, in 1939, New Jersey legalized racetrack gambling. But it wasn't until 1946 that Monmouth Park found a new site at the old Elkwood Park. Racing began again on June 19 of that year, when horse-racing lovers could take in condition races, trotting races and the well-known Haskell Invitational.

What is the Haskell?

The William Hill Haskell Invitational is an American Grade 1 Stakes race for thoroughbred horses with a purse of $1.75 million. In 1981, the race was made an invitation-only stakes for 3-year-old horses at one and one-eighth miles. The race was named in honor of the founder and first president and chairman of the Monmouth Jockey Club, Amory L. Haskell.

Aerial view of Monmouth Park in 1957.

In 2013, a partnership was formed between betting firm William Hill and Monmouth Park to become the official sponsor for sports betting, hence the name William Hill Haskell Invitational.

Who is Amory L. Haskell?

Amory Lawrence Haskell was a native of New York City and a 1916 Princeton University graduate. Before he entered the world of racing, he served two years in the Naval Aviation Service during World War I. Later, he worked as a General Motors executive and became president of their export division. After his time with General Motors, he established Triplex Safety Glass. He sold his stake in 1932.

President Amory L. Haskell (left) of the Monmouth Park Jockey Club with Samuel D. Riddle, master of the Glen Riddle Farms. (1946)

Haskell was prominent in the horse community, becoming president of the National Horse Show in 1938 and in 1939 leading the battle to permit wagering on horse racing. According to Asbury Park Press archives, he was the owner of Woodland Farms, which he used to host the annual Monmouth County Hunt Race and where he bred thoroughbred horses.

He was also the president of the Thoroughbred Racing Association in 1955 to1956 and appointed master of the Monmouth County Hunt in 1933. He remained president of the Monmouth Jockey Club until his death in 1966. On March 18, 1968, the Monmouth Handicap was renamed the Amory L. Haskell Handicap.

Did you know?

Monmouth Park is not the only racetrack in New Jersey.

Freehold Raceway in Freehold Township, the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, Garden State Park in Cherry Hill and the Atlantic City Race Course have also hosted races. The Freehold Raceway, Meadowlands and Garden State Park were known for harness racing, also called trotting. Freehold Raceway and the Meadowlands still exist, but Garden State Park is now home to townhouses and the Atlantic City Race Course closed earlier this year.

True or False

The Haskell is the richest horse racing invitational event in North America.

The 2015 running of the William Hill Haskell Invitational marks the 48th renewal of the race.

As a tribute, Mr. Haskell's daughters present the Haskell trophy to the winner each year.

All the answers are true.