With the $1 million Haskell Invitational on August 1, leading the way, Monmouth Park will offer a record With the $1 million Haskell Invitational on Aug. 1, leading the way, Monmouth Park will offer a record $12.1 million in stakes purses for the 2010 racing season, which gets underway on Saturday, May 22. A total of 90 stakes races are on the calendar, 16 graded and 74 overnight events.
In addition to the record stakes schedule, Monmouth Park will offer record purses in 2010. In what’s being called the "Million Dollar Meet", Monmouth will race primarily on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day – a calendar that spans 50 live racing days. Average daily purses for those live racing days are expected to be $1 million for those live programs.
The 2010 racing meet spans 71 days, beginning with the May 22nd-23rd weekend. The racetrack will then offer live programs on May 29, May 30 and Monday, May 31 (Memorial Day). Following the Memorial Day card Monmouth will be open for live racing on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 6. In addition, the track will host live racing on Monday, July 5 (4th of July Holiday). A fall meet will get underway on Saturday, Sept. 11, and run through Sunday, Nov. 21. Racing in the fall will take place on Saturdays and Sundays.