Monmouth off to good start

Monmouth Park had a successful opening weekend, which started of with thick fog early in the opening-day card Saturday that made it difficult to view the races.

Saturday’s attendance was 11,138, a 9.5 percent increase over the 10,168 fans who turned out on opening day a year ago. All-sources handle Saturday was $3,776,955, a decrease of 6.2 percent from 2014. The ontrack handle of $655,007 was up 12.3 percent from a year ago.

Darby Development operates Monmouth on behalf of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, which leases the track from the state. Dennis Drazin, the head of Darby Development, was pleased with the opening-day results.

“Even the fog couldn’t dampen the spirits of everyone who came out for our season opener,” Drazin said. “We enter our fourth year at the helm on even firmer ground and a future that looks very bright.”

The Sunday business figures on Mother’s Day were all up over last season. The announced crowd of 14,121 was up 10.5 percent, the all-sources handle of more than $3.7 million was up 25.8 percent, and the ontrack handle of $629,636 was up 14.4 percent.