Just after 5:30 a.m. Friday, April 12, a van carrying horses for trainer Pat McBurney rolled through the Monmouth Park stable gate, a sure sign that the racing season is quickly approaching.
Monmouth Park's 2013 meet gets started May 11 and runs through Oct. 6.
"It's always great coming home to Monmouth Park, there's no place like it," said McBurney, who expects to have 30-35 horses under his care this summer. "This year, more than ever, it's great to be back at the Jersey Shore."
Other early arrivals on Friday included horses from the barns of Gregg Sacco, Patricia Farro, Skip Einhorn, and Tony Wilson.
Post time for the 2013 racing season is set for 12:50 p.m. daily. The meet will again be highlighted by the $1 million Haskell Invitational Stakes (gr. I) Sunday, July 28.
Among the first arrivals from Florida were Lucky Red Doll, a 3 year old filly from the Pat McBurney Stable.
Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO