Monmouth ready for stronger season with higher purses

The first condition book of the Monmouth Park meet has been released, and the Jersey Shore track seems poised for a much stronger season than a year ago.

Monmouth will receive a $10 million purse subsidy from the state this year, and the ontrack William Hill Sports Book and sports wagering mobile apps give the facility an additional revenue stream.

The condition book’s opening-day races are similar to a year ago, but the purses are higher. A year ago on opening day, a six-furlong maiden race for 3-year-olds and up had a purse of $36,000. The same race this year is $45,000, a 25 percent increase.

An opening-day $5,000 claimer for nonwinners-of-three lifetime will be worth $20,000 this year. The same race a year ago had a purse of $15,000. A nonwinners-of-two $20,000 claiming race on turf for 3- and 4-year-olds has a purse of $25,000, up 47 percent from 2018.

The previously released stakes schedule consists of 64 races with a combined value of $7.1 million. Last year, 39 stakes worth $4.3 million were held.

John Heims, the director of racing, recently completed recruiting trips to Oaklawn, Fair Grounds, Tampa, and South Florida. Stall applications for the 61-day meet, which opens Kentucky Derby Day (May 4), close March 16.

“We have more days, more money, more stakes, and we are going to have more horses,” Heims said. “I’m confident the competition is going to be much stronger this year.”

Monmouth is the only track in the Mid-Atlantic that does not benefit in some manner from casino gambling, and it has been difficult in recent years for the track to compete against its neighbors, which have offered higher purses.

“We’ve been at a competitive disadvantage,” Heims said. “This year is the first step in leveling the playing field.”