Boosted by Haskell, Monmouth Attendance, Handle Increase

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Highlighted by the largest crowd in track history on Haskell Invitational Day, the 72-day Monmouth Park meet ended Sunday with a 10% gain in average daily attendance and increases in on-track and total wagering.

The 47,127 on hand for Point Given's Haskell helped push total attendance to 774,500, the highest since 1989. Daily average attendance of 10,757 was the highest since 1985, when on-track patronage averaged 11,478.

A total of $67,000,000 was bet on Monmouth's live racing on-track, 4% higher than last season. Average daily handle on the live card was $934,563. A total of $50,367,000 was wagered at Monmouth on incoming simulcasts, an average of $699,674 per day and a gain of nearly 1% over 2000. On-track handle on live racing and incoming simulcasts totaled $117,664,900, an average of $1,634,236 per day and an increase of 2.8% over last year.

With Saratoga and New York Off-Track Betting Corp. taking wagers on Monmouth's races, simulcast handle soared to a daily average of $3,014,061, which was 40.9% higher than last year. Total handle of $334,677,000 represented a gain of 25% over last year, with daily average handle hitting $3,948,623.

"Haskell Day was outstanding in every way," said Bruce Garland, senior executive vice president of racing for the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. "Not only did we have a record crowd, but we saw a championship performance from Point Given. That day capped an extraordinary season at Monmouth, from both a business and an artistic standpoint, and should be a springboard to a successful Meadowlands meeting."

Bob Kulina, vice president of Thoroughbred racing and general manager of Monmouth Park, said favorable weather and purse supplements contributed to the meet's success.

"We were able to keep the public's interest through the meet, Kulina said. "It was a great summer all around. Even the weather cooperated. With the purse supplement, we were able to offer an improved racing product and better racing leads directly to better business. The prospect of Point Given running in the Haskell raised the excitement level leading up to the race. He was definitely a marquee name and kept Monmouth racing in the news."

Monmouth reported record purse distribution of more than $301,000 per day. J. Willard Thompson was the meet's leading trainer and Eibar Coa was top jock.

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