Monmouth Gets Donation, Alters Shipper Policy

Monmouth Park said it has received an anonymous contribution of $60,000 for its racehorse aftercare program, and thus will end a policy of charging $1,000 per horse that leaves the grounds to race at Suffolk Downs and then returns.

It will, however, require horsemen to get approval from the racing secretary before horses are shipped to New England. Monmouth ends its meet Sept. 25.

The policy was in place for the first two weekends of racing at Suffolk Downs, the Massachusetts track which will offer only two more days of racing Sept. 3-4. It was issued by the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, which operates the track under the management group Darby Development.

The horsemen's group had said the fee would be used to support the non-profit Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption and Placement, which serves New Jersey's Thoroughbred population and is operated by volunteers.

"A very kind benefactor came forward with a very large contribution because he wanted peace, even though he agreed with our original policy," New Jersey THA president John Forbes said Aug. 27. "The money, which was always earmarked for charity, will go to Second Call and their good work to place retired horses with new homes."

Several horsemen objected to the Suffolk-related shipping policy and, on the first weekend of the six-day meet shipped roughly 30 horses to Massachusetts to race for large purses fueled by casino gambling. Forbes said the policy wasn't designed to punish horsemen but rather protect Monmouth's investment in New Jersey racing.

The policy didn't extend to other regional tracks offer stabling and training during their live race meets. Suffolk, with only six days of racing this year, relies only on shippers from other tracks.

"We are here to promote Monmouth Park and Monmouth racing, period," Forbes said. "Suffolk Downs offers nothing in return; (there is) no reciprocity. Monmouth Park expends millions to maintain a stable area, training surface, and provide workers' compensation insurance for trainers on our grounds. In addition, we provide a bonus to every trainer who races with us.

"The overwhelming consensus from the horsemen on our grounds was an absolute adoption of our policies. Controversy only came to light by those who decided to ship out, even though they all had advance notice, and were assessed the fee."

Forbes, in response to comments from trainers who said they couldn't get their horses in at Monmouth and thus had to ship to Suffolk and other tracks, said Monmouth continues to attempt to make races go.

With a large number of tracks open for live racing in the summer in the Mid-Atlantic region and New York, competition for horses is heightened. Through Aug. 28, Monmouth averaged 7.26 horses per race, down from 8.05 for the comparable period in 2015, according to The Jockey Club Information Systems.

Purses so far this year have averaged $333,233 per day, down from $410,868 a year ago.