Haskell Diaries: Day of Anticipation

The day before the Haskell started off on the perfect note for me. As I made my way to the subway this morning to hope on the train to Penn Station, I was greeted by Wise Dan (my favorite horse) beckoning commuters to the racetrack.

You know it's going to be a good day when Wise Dan welcomes you to the subway! pic.twitter.com/JehagTWTNt
— Penelope P. Miller (@PenelopePMiller) August 1, 2015

It was a sign of a good day to come; after hopping on New Jersey Transit, which took me directly from Penn Station to Monmouth Park, I arrived at the Shore’s Greatest Stretch to find the oval buzzing with anticipation for tomorrow’s William Hill Haskell Invitational.  Monmouth’s traditional sandcastle, which welcomes fans to the track, had been updated to herald the War at the Shore, and a convenient sign shared social media so fans can get involved and show off their Haskell weekend pride.

Monmouth also had a seriously good giveaway for Saturday’s visitors: baseball-style jerseys with Monmouth Park on the front and Bob Baffert with the number 7 on the back. Baffert is American Pharoah’s trainer, and he’s already won seven Haskell Invitational in his career; in fact, the number on the jersey is made up with the racing silks of the seven Thoroughbreds that have won the race under Baffert’s tutelage.

If you missed out on today’s giveaway, fear not! As part of Monmouth Park’s Pharoah Phan Phest, tomorrow’s giveaway will be a Haskell ball cap, which is always a crowd favorite.
There were plenty of other amenities for trackgoers today. There were giant photos of American Pharoah with cut-outs so fans could post with their face in the jockey’s position:

(You know I got involved; my friend Alicia Wincze-Hughes got to be the jockey while I was the pony rider!) 

There was also a digital photobooth, courtesy of the Asbury Park Press, that would digitally inset you into one of four pictures of American Pharoah, which will also be available tomorrow. Bands played throughout the afternoon; this guy was a maestro on the saxophone, and he got a standing ovation after his solo.

The track has planned ahead for people who want to bet without lines, as well: there are instructions for mobile wagering posted around Monmouth Park, which I think will be a popular and convenient option on Haskell day.

Souvenir seekers have lots of options, too. From foam fingers to t-shirts and beyond, Haskell and American Pharoah swag was available everywhere.

Saturday at Monmouth was also Ladies’ Day, and Lilly Pulitzer was sponsoring a fashion contest celebrating racetrack fashion. The winner was selected based on her hat and dress combo, and I fell in love with her amazing headpiece that incorporated three crowns to recognize American Pharoah’s accomplishments.

Awesome!
There was fantastic fashion everywhere I looked today, and it whet my appetite for what Haskell Day will bring.

One of my favorite moments of the afternoon came when the Monmouth Park riding colony honored the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. Today was PDJF Day nationwide, with racetracks raising money for the charity that takes care of riders who have suffered catastrophic injuries in the line of work. It’s a cause close to the heart of everyone in the sport, and it was wonderful to see such a large group of reinsmen at Monmouth supporting this worthy charity.

Jockeys and the Thoroughbreds they ride give racing fans such a thrill, and that was crystal clear at Monmouth today. I was lucky enough to spot this pair rooting home Chublicious and Angel Serpa in the sixth race. 

When Chublicious took home the win, the two fans sprinted toward the finish line, too, cheering and waving their arms in victory.

It was a wonderful way to spend the day before the Haskell, and Monmouth Park the perfect fan-friendly setting for American Pharoah’s first race after his Triple Crown win. I hope to see you tomorrow for the Haskell at one of summer’s most wonderful horse racing venues, and thank you for joining me for my Monmouth Park adventures today!