Monmouth asks for nine additional racing days

Monmouth Park in New Jersey will ask state racing regulators to approve nine additional live racing dates this year, the track said on Wednesday.

The dates will all be added in October -- on Oct. 3-4; on the next three Wednesdays and Saturdays; and on Monday, Oct. 12, which is Columbus Day. The Preakness Stakes, which this year is the last leg of the Triple Crown due to the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, is scheduled for Oct. 3.

Over the past several years, Monmouth has run a handful of fall dates at the Meadowlands racetrack, using that track’s turf course. In a reversal, the nine additional dates this year are being called the “Meadowlands-at-Monmouth” meet.

Monmouth began its delayed live meet this year on July 3, and it is currently approved to run a total of 37 live race dates. The track has lost one day to inclement weather this year.

According to Monmouth, the track will run nine stakes races over the additional race days, including the Grade 3, $150,000 Monmouth Stakes on the turf.