(from Monmouth release)
Monmouth Park opens its 62nd season of Thoroughbred racing on Saturday with an 11-race program scheduled, topped by the $60,000 Decathlon Stakes.
Entries for opening day will be taken on Thursday. Post time for opening day -- and every other program but one during the 75-day summer stand -- is 12:50 p.m. The only exception is Aug. 5, Haskell Invitational day, when first post will be noon.
This year, Monmouth’s summer meeting is a prelude to the four-day stand in the fall (Oct. 24-27) that culminates with two days of Breeders’ Cup Thoroughbred Championship racing on Oct. 26-27.
For the first time ever, the Breeders’ Cup will consist of 11 races, with three run on Friday and eight on Saturday. The $24 million in total purses for those races comprises the richest event in the history of the Breeders’ Cup.
Monmouth will race weekends in May -- May 12-13 and May 19-20 -- and three days on Memorial Day weekend. For the holiday, Monmouth will have programs on May 26-28.
The track reopens on Friday, June 1, and will race Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
The regular five-day-a-week racing schedule begins on June 6, and continues throughout the summer meet that concludes on Sept. 2.