Monmouth Diaries: Unforgettable U.N. Day

It never truly feels like summer to me until I’ve visited Monmouth Park; the New Jersey racetrack is nestled on the state’s famed shoreline in the lovely little town of Oceanport, and it’s become a seasonal destination for fans of the Garden State alongside the storied beaches of the coast. 
Sunday’s big race at Monmouth was the United Nations Stakes; this grass test is a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup; that means that the victor would not only be taking home the lion’s share of the $500,000 purse, but they’d also earn a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at the World Championships this October 31 in Lexington, Ky.

I found out earlier in the week that there’s a train directly from Penn Station in New York City to Monmouth Park on weekends and holidays during the racing season, so at about 10 a.m. on Sunday I hopped on the New Jersey Transit locomotive and chugged merrily southward toward the coast. Once we were clear of the city and its suburbs, it was a really pretty trip, complete with views of inlets from the sea and little coastal communities.

A little less than an hour and half after boarding the train in New York, I disembarked at the Monmouth Park stop and trekked the short distance from the stop to the track where I was immediately greeted by ponies! They were there to provide families with rides in the track’s backyard throughout the race day, but it was pretty much the best greeting in the world as far as I was concerned.

OMG I got to @MonmouthPark and there were ponies waiting for me!!!! #Heaven pic.twitter.com/zJXwDZ8Dqf
— Penelope P. Miller (@PenelopePMiller) July 5, 2015

It was the perfect start to what turned out to be a glorious day at the track. The weather was magnificent with clear skies and a sea breeze, and everywhere I looked happy groups of people were assembled for a beautiful finale to the Fourth of July weekend.

Monmouth Park is all about enjoyment: it’s a laid-back, resort town type of track; and it’s a place where people come to relax, have fun with friends and just savor an afternoon at the races. Fans are encouraged to bring in their own food and drinks; in fact, there’s an entire section of the homestretch dedicated to “BYOB” – also known as Bring Your Own Beverages. You don’t have to spend a lot of money for a wealth of entertainment at Monmouth, which is one of the many reasons the track has legions of dedicated supporters. It’s fun without formality, and while there are plenty of people dressed up for their afternoon there’s nothing pretentious about this oval. I truly love every trip I’ve taken to Monmouth, and I highly recommend it for a weekend to anyone who wants to make the journey there. 
As with many racetracks, before each race a bugler bedecked in a scarlet jacket plays the call to post for the fans who line up to watch the horses parade before they enter the starting gate. It’s a 350-year-old tradition in America that’s alive and well on the Jersey Shore, and the crowd was robust and excited to watch the pageantry for United Nations Stakes day at Monmouth Park. 

The first major race of United Nations Stakes Day program was the Salvator Mile. Run at (you guessed it!) one mile on the dirt, the Salvator Mile carries a purse of $150,000 and this year’s edition had attracted seven strong contenders. As the horses paraded in the saddling paddock, fans congregated around the enclosure to catch a glimpse at the runners.

As the horses left the paddock to warm up on the track before the race, the Salvator Mile trophy awaited its new owner from the winner’s circle.

Minutes later, it was time for the race to begin. With the clang of bells echoed by cheers from the crowd, the seven Thoroughbreds sprang from the starting gate’s stalls and surged past the crowd for the first time on their mile lap.

A little more than a minute and a half later, Bradester completed the mile with daylight between him and his competition as jockey Corey Lanerie shook his fist in celebration of the victory.

After the trophy presentation, it was time for the afternoon’s main event: the United Nations Stakes. This year’s favorite was Main Sequence, who captured the 2014 edition of the United Nations on his way to becoming the Breeders’ Cup Turf winner as well as the 2014 champion turf horse; needless to say, all eyes and cameras were on him as he paraded in the saddling paddock before the U.N. Stakes.

He faced some tough competition, though: there were eight other horses in the race, and each of them brought an impressive resume to the United Nations Stakes in the hopes of qualifying for the Breeders’ Cup Turf this fall.

As the horses left the saddling paddock for the post parade, fans pressed against the railing next to the track to catch a glimpse of the contenders before the race.

The United Nations Stakes is run at 1 3/8 miles on the grass, so the starting gate was located on the far side of the track; when the race began, longshot Shining Copper catapulted to the lead and maintained that position by a large margin for his first lap around the course.

But as the Thoroughbreds re-entered the homestretch for the final charge to the wire, Big Blue Kitten and jockey Joe Bravo swept to the lead and reached the finish line a length-and-a-half the best.

As Big Blue Kitten returned to the winner’s circle to have his photo taken, jockey Joe Bravo wore a smile so bright that it practically illuminated the Grandstand.

After the commemorative pictures were over, Big Blue Kitten returned to his barn sporting his brand-new Breeders’ Cup blanket in the late afternoon glow of the Jersey Shore summer day.

And with that, my Monmouth Park adventure drew to a close. While I was sad to leave the seaside track, I can’t wait to be back on August 2 for the Haskell Invitational. While I always love attending the War at the Shore, this year’s edition will be even more special since it will be the first race back for American Pharoah since his Triple Crown victory in the Belmont Stakes. While reserved seats are already sold out, General Admission will be available to one and all; so plan on getting to Monmouth early if you want to stake out your own picnic table!
Thank you so much for joining me on my Fourth of July racetrack travels this weekend, and I hope I’ll see you again soon for opening day at Saratoga Race Course in just a few weeks!