Monmouth sees more than 15K show for racing, food

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Attendance on Saturday at Monmouth Park was 15,764, according to a press release issued by the track.

The figure is believable, too. The track was crowded, with some people on hand for the races, some for the first day of the food truck festival, and many partaking of both sport and food.

The weather was summer-hot, but pleasant, and likely the best conditions of the three-day holiday weekend.

The 13-race card was the first of five bundled stakes days at the track, a concept many locales have adopted in recent years but a new development at Monmouth. The four stakes included the Grade 2 Monmouth, which Money Multiplier won for the second year in a row, and the Grade 3 Salvator Mile, which had a thrilling finish as Page McKenney ran past Shaft of Light in the shadow of the wire.

All-sources handle for the day was $5,953,670, with $644,118 bet ontrack. According to track officials, the all-sources figure is the highest at Monmouth on a non-Haskell Day since the 2015 United Nations program.

The 50-cent late pick 5, which included four stakes and ended with a conditioned $7,500 claiming race, paid $8,049. The winners were Brother Chub ($5.80) in the John J. Reilly, Dark Artist ($15.60), in the Boiling Springs, Page McKenney ($17.60), Money Multiplier ($10), and Casino King ($10.40).

The late pick five handled $132,587, which would not have covered the $150,000 payout guarantee Monmouth was offering if there was a single winning ticket. Monmouth has purchased an insurance policy to cover the guarantee if the pool falls short of what is needed.

The $150,000 guarantee will also be in place on the other bundled stakes days of the season: Father's Day, June 17; the United Nations card, June 30; Haskell Day, July 29; and Sept. 1.