Monmouth Planning 'Pharoah Phan Phestival'

Monmouth Park is planning a "Pharoah Phan Phestival," featuring three days of events and activities to culminate with Triple Crown winner American Pharoah's planned run in the $1 million William Hill Haskell Invitational (gr. I) Aug. 2.

            

"This will be one of the biggest sporting events New Jersey has ever seen," said Bob Kulina, president of Darby Development LLC, operators of Monmouth Park. "We are doing everything we can to make sure fans get to enjoy the experience while at the same time paying tribute to American Pharoah, who has taken the entire racing industry along for a great ride."

            

With a Triple Crown of giveaways on tap, the Pharoah Phan Phestival starts Friday, July 31, with an American Pharoah commemorative button giveaway. The day will include a "Phriday" happy hour at the Lady's Secret Cafe, and American Pharoah commemorative magazine giveaway, and the Joes vs. Jocks Mini-Golf "Phestival", which will take place at Blue Grass Mini Golf on the racetrack grounds following the last race. Monmouth's top jockeys will face off against racing fans with the proceeds from the golf outing benefiting the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.

            

On Saturday, Monmouth will celebrate Ladies' Day, sponsored by Lilly Pulitzer Shops at Riverside, with the added excitement of a Bob Baffert commemorative jersey giveaway, which showcases the trainer's record-setting seven wins in the Haskell. Ladies' Day will feature a Lilly Pulitzer fashion show as well as a ladies hat contest and drink specials.

            

Sunday will be the main event, featuring American Pharoah's run in the Haskell Invitational. A nearly 30-year tradition will continue with the Haskell hat giveaway, a navy blue canvas featuring this year's logo. Contests for the best-dressed couple as well as best dressed American Pharoah costume will add to the festivities as will a red carpet photo op for fans to remember their day.

            

All three days will feature t-shirt cannons down the homestretch between races, live entertainment, a commemorative American Pharoah Beer Cup as well as official "Pharoah" merchandise.

            

"Everything we planned thus far is just the beginning," Kulina said. "We have much more in the works and will continue to build on the Pharoah Phan Phestival as the event draws near.

            

"On a separate note, I want to personally thank the Zayat family, trainer Bob Baffert, and everyone involved with this amazing athlete. This will no doubt be a great weekend for the racing industry, for Monmouth Park, and of course for the people of New Jersey."

            

Gates will open on Haskell Day at 9 a.m. EDT, one hour earlier than originally planned. First post has been moved to 11:30 a.m., with the Haskell going as race 12 on a 14-race card. Monmouth has announced a change in parking prices, with all parking $20, except valet, which will be $40.

            

"The reality is there's one main ingress and egress to Monmouth, and that's Route 36," Kulina said. "We have deliberately raised these prices in an effort to push fans to car pooling and to mass transit. While we have additional off-site parking, we want to do everything we can to assist with the flow of traffic.

            

"We want as many people as possible to come out and witness this historic day. The move in price on parking is strictly to assist in the extreme volume of expected traffic and to ease the burden on local municipalities and get fans into the facility as quickly and easily as possible."

            

New Jersey Transit will add additional stops at Monmouth Park with trains running along the coast from New York City to Bay Head, N.J.

            

Grandstand admission on Haskell Day is $6, Clubhouse $9. Monmouth Park will not cap attendance for the Haskell, with an estimated crowd of 60,000. The record attendance for any horse race in New Jersey is 53,638, which was set in 2003 when Peace Rules defeated Funny Cide in the Haskell.