Monmouth Park

Julie Krone is back at Monmouth Park; this time, with a new job: jockey agent. She will represent Ferrin Peterson, a veterinarian with dreams of becoming the next Julie Krone.

Hunter O'Riley (Tiz Wonderful) last saw the starting gate just over a year ago. Some may remember him blowing up their ticket that day, as it was when he snuck up from the outside to win the GI United Nations S. at odds of 14-1, beating the likes of eventual GI Pegasus World Cup Turf S. winner Zulu Alpha (Street Cry {Ire}), as well as the near-millionaire graded stakes-winning Channel Cat (English Channel). Co-owner Mike Ryan has had his share of pinnacle moments in racing as the bloodstock agent for...

During his daily press briefing on the coronavirus pandemic in New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy announced that horse racing in the state can return, spectator-free, as early as next week. Sticking to its original plan, Monmouth Park will conduct its first day of live racing Friday, July 3. "We're incredibly thankful to Governor Murphy for letting us get back to work," said Dennis Drazin, Chairman and CEO of Darby Development, LLC, operators of Monmouth Park. "This is welcome news for horsemen and even better news for New Jerseyans. "The Governor...

Julie Krone remembers the summer of 2003 as one of her favorite seasons in racing. After coming out of a three-year retirement in November of 2002, it was the summer where she and Candy Ride (Arg) battled with Jerry Bailey and Medaglia d'Oro in the GI Pacific Classic S., when her mount crossed the wire three lengths in front. Later that year, she would go on to ride Halfbridled (Unbridled) to victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, becoming the first woman jockey to win a Breeders' Cup race. But...

The United States Supreme Court on Monday opted not to get involved in a years-long court dispute over whether the major professional and college sports leagues owe the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NJTHA) $150 million in alleged damages. The Associated Press reported that the case now goes back to a federal court in New Jersey, where a judge will consider evidence from both sides and decide how much the leagues have to pay. Some $3.4 million in potential damages had been escrowed in 2014 when the four major U.S....

Monmouth Park, which has delayed the start of its racing season until July 3, has revised its stakes schedule to include 35 races totaling $5,050,000. The schedule's traditional anchor race, the $1-million GI TVG.com Haskell S. remains scheduled for July 18, but will not be run as an invitational in 2020. The nine-furlong race will be contested as a stakes race and nominations  will close June 26. The July 18 card will also feature the $300,000 GI United Nations S., GIII $300,000 Monmouth Cup S., $250,000 GIII Molly Pitcher S.,...

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Monmouth Park Racetrack will delay the opening of its stabling area until June 1 with live racing scheduled to commence July 4th weekend. "We want to keep our horsemen and fans as informed as possible," said Dennis Drazin, Chairman and CEO of Darby Development LLC, operators of Monmouth Park. "With Governor Murphy extending the health care emergency in New Jersey by an additional 30 days, it became impossible for us to move forward with our planned May 1 opening for stabling.  We'll continue to...

An investigation by the Asbury Park Press has revealed that 19 horses trained by either Jorge Navarro or Jason Servis have died at Monmouth Park since 2010. Servis and Navarro were among 27 people indicted last week by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York after an investigation into horse doping. Twelve of the dead horses were trained by Navarro and seven by Servis. According to the Press, the 12 deaths out of the Navarro barn since 2012 are the most at Monmouth by any trainer...

Choosing not to comment last week as the horse racing world responded en masse to the bombshell announcement of indictments against 27 figures in the sport, including high-profile trainers Jorge Navarro and Jason Servis, Darby Development CEO and Monmouth Park Operator Dennis Drazin has weighed in with a lengthy statement that was released Monday, shortly after Monmouth announced it will close and push back the start of its racing meet due to coronavirus concerns. The statement reads in part, "First and foremost, Monmouth Park and Darby Development, as well as...

Monmouth Park Racetrack will close for simulcasting and sports wagering beginning at 8 p.m. Monday, Mar. 16, as the State of New Jersey and the rest of the country continue to take proactive measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). Wagering will continue as normal on 4NJBets.com as well as online sports betting apps. In addition, based on the recommendation of the Center for Disease Control to limit public gatherings to fewer than 50 people, Monmouth Park will postpone its opening day originally scheduled for May 2, 2020 until...

The first condition book for Monmouth Park's 2020 racing season, which begins May 2, and stall applications are available online and in the racing office. The Oceanport oval opens for stabling Apr. 11 and training begins Apr. 15. The meet runs through Sept. 27 and is highlighted by the July 18 GI Haskell Invitational S. Once again, all trainers will receive a $300 starter bonus with all owners guaranteed $500 per runner. In addition, trainers stabled at Monmouth will be covered by a blanket worker's compensation policy, provided by the...

Kiaran McLaughlin, who has been a fixture on the New York racing scene for over three decades, confirmed to the TDN Thursday he will not be returning to his usual New York training base at Belmont Park this spring. McLaughlin, who is one of several New York-based horsemen who have been investigated by both the New York Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Labor, was fined $304,646 last November by the state Department of Labor for what was reported as a 'violation of minimum wage requirements'. An investigation...