Officials Bullish on Future Monmouth Meets
By Tom LaMarra
Despite political and financial uncertainty, New Jersey officials expect Monmouth Park to offer a similar schedule in 2011 and already are discussing ways to improve upon this year’s “Elite Summer Meet,” which greatly exceeded expectations.
The individuals primarily responsible for the less-is-more concept at Monmouth discussed the 2010 meet and its ramifications Sept. 21 during the International Simulcast Conference in Clearwater, Fla. There will be changes next year, but the overall structure worked for New Jersey racing, they said.
“This plan saved racing in New Jersey,” said Dennis Drazin, a longtime Thoroughbred owner and breeder who now chairs the New Jersey Racing Commission. “We wanted to make a statement. Now it’s up to the politicians to go find money for the future.”
Monmouth was able to pay almost an average of $800,000 a day in purses over 50 days with help from a $20 million casino purse supplement that ends this year. When other payments such as breeders’ awards and workers’ compensation are added to the mix, about $1 million a day was paid.