Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., will continue to receive a $10 million annual purse subsidy through 2029 under a bill passed unanimously by both houses of the state legislature and signed by Gov. Phil Murphy on Friday.

The $10 million subsidy has been a critical lifeline for Monmouth since first authorized in 2019. The grant typically comprises about one-third of the total purse distribution at Monmouth, a seaside track that remains a popular destination in the racing world.

El Grande O, a multiple New York-bred stakes winner at 2 who was briefly on the Triple Crown trail earlier this year, is working toward a fall return to the races.

El Grande O has three workouts since the end of August and trainer Linda Rice said she is hoping to make the New York Showcase Day program with him at the end of October. Depending how he trains over the next month, El Grande O would be eligible for either the $150,000 Hudson Stakes going 6 1/2 furlongs or the $250,000 Empire Classic at 1 1/8 miles.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario -- Apprentice sensation Pietro Moran had successful back surgery after he was injured in a spill on Tuesday at Fort Erie, according to his father, jockey David Moran.

“He’s doing well,” David Moran said. “He had surgery [Wednesday]. He fractured a vertebra, so he just had to get that fused. There’s no damage to the [spinal] cord. The doctor was very happy with it. He said everything went without complications. They did a great job. He’s just recovering now. They say he should be up and about in a few days.”

Apprentice jockey Chris Elliott, the 18-year-old son of Kentucky Derby winning rider Stewart Elliott, had the first two-win day of his career Wednesday at Parx, booting home 15-1 Midnight Act and then 41-1 shot Whiskey Prize.

That success couldn’t have come at a better time.

Elliott plans to split his time this fall and winter between Aqueduct and Parx. He is named on 11 horses over the first three days of the Belmont at the Big A meet that starts Friday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y.  -- Mertkan Kantarmaci is only 33 years old but the stress of being a horse trainer these days has prompted him to take step away from the job.

After he runs Evvie Jets in the Grade 1 First Lady at Keeneland on Oct. 5, Kantarmaci will no longer train horses. In New York, where he has been primarily based since 2019, Kantarmaci has turned over his 27-horse stable to his brother Ilkay.

Hong Kong Harry, the winner of four graded stakes on turf in California in 2022 and 2023, is nearing a return to training at Santa Anita, trainer Phil D’Amato said earlier this week.

Hong Kong Harry, 7, has not raced since he finished second by a half-length to stablemate Easter in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar last November.

D’Amato said Hong Kong Harry did not require surgery during his absence.

“He just needed time off,” D’Amato said.

Jockey Geovanni Franco, who has not ridden since July 26 at Del Mar after sustaining a shoulder injury in a spill, will have a delayed return.

Franco is currently undergoing physical therapy on his knee that has taken longer than expected to respond to treatment, according to his agent Jack Carava. Franco has recovered from the shoulder injury, Carava said.

“He’s doing some physical therapy on his knee,” Carava said. “I think it will be a little longer, maybe another month. It’s a matter of going by how it feels for him.”