For the last two years, the opening of Monmouth Park has generated more question marks than exclamation points.
In 2020, like every other summer racetrack, Monmouth's meet was delayed and disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year, the main talking point before opening day involved wide-spread criticism of a state-implemented rule barring jockeys from using their crops except when needed for safety.
Yet an impending new season has brought a fresh wave of optimism to the New Jersey shore as the April 28 press conference in advance of the May 7 opening day produced a parade of smiles and hopes that some new innovations will be warmly received.
"Eleven years ago we were on the precipice of disaster. (Monmouth) was about to be privatized or closed," said Dennis Drazin, the chairman and CEO of Darby Development which operates Monmouth Park. "But now we don't have to worry about survival and we have to seize new opportunities to continue to grow and make this a destination resort. We've tried to have a vision here at Monmouth Park."
Indeed there are numerous positives to mention about the 62-day Monmouth meet that extend beyond the much-applauded return of coolers to the grounds. There's a new policy for the use of riding crops that mirrors the national regulations which will be put in place July 1 by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority.
Additionally, the launch of fixed-odds wagering at the meet will put a spotlight on Monmouth as tracks across the country will monitor the results to find out if what is phenomenally popular in Australia will work with American gamblers.
"Pre-COVID we had so many things in the pipeline and it came to a screeching halt," said John Heims, director of racing and racing secretary at Monmouth. "Now finally we can move forward."
With Monmouth Park opening on Kentucky Derby Day, the debut of fixed-odds wagering may get lost in the shuffle but in the years to come it could prove to be the most important event for the industry on the first Saturday in May.
In partnering with BetMakers, Monmouth will be offering win, place, and show fixed-odds wagering on its races, starting with on-track betting only and later expanding to online wagering and sportsbooks in perhaps another month or two.
For opening day, once entries are drawn May 3, on May 5 the list of fixed-odds for each race will be released and wagering will begin.
The minimum wager will be $1 with no maximum bet, though any wager that profits more than $5,000 on a win bet and more than $2,000 to place and show is subject to approval by the BetMakers trading department.
Though odds can change once betting starts based on the trend of the wagering, the key element with fixed-odds is that the price when a handicapper makes the wager is locked in and cannot rise or fall before post time, as it does with pari-mutuel wagering.
As the slogan for the bet says, "What you bet, is what you get."
"I think there will be slow growth throughout the country but five years from now I envision a country in which the majority of the states are going to have fixed odds. It's going to blossom beyond what the current vision is," Drazin said. "Right now 10% of the betting in the world is on tennis. Horse racing doesn't even get 1%. But BetMakers is going to grow us to get that 10% and when it happens you will see significant increases in purses which will trickle down to everybody."
Dallas Baker, BetMakers' head of international operations, echoed the belief that fixed-odds can be a game-changer in the United States.
"We're not inventing the wheel here. We're just copying something that's happened so successfully in Australia," Baker said. "Twelve years ago, Australian racing was just surviving, now (with fixed-odds) it's thriving. Prize money has doubled. That's the best measure of it and it has happened on the back of the fixed-odds model. That's the target here. We want to see purse money doubled in the United States in five-10 years or thereabout. It really does create an extra layer of excitement to this wonderful industry that we are all tied to."
Though fixed-odds wagering will be limited to Monmouth initially, BetMakers has agreements that will ultimately allow betting on about 15 other tracks, including Tampa Bay Downs and Lone Star Park.
Traditional win, place, and show pari-mutuel wagering will also be available with monitors throughout the Oceanport, N.J., track displaying both sets of odds.
Helping to illustrate the new wagering format will be a new gigantic, 3,800-foot infield video board that will present live feeds of the racing as well as pari-mutuel and fixed-odds.
As a reflection of its commitment to Monmouth Park, BetMakers picked up the $2 million tab for the new screens.
"This is another step in our on-going commitment to enhance the fan experience," Drazin said.
While fixed-odds will be introduced slowly to avoid any major hiccups, Baker said in time the first set of fixed-odds will be posted just a few hours after the cards are drawn.
As for the new crop rule, riders can strike a horse no more than six times overhand during a race and no more than twice in succession without a pause.
"It's almost a practice for July," Heims said. "Some people say the penalties are harsh but they should be. If you don't break the rules, there will not be any problems."
In order to have the changes in place for the start of the meet, the New Jersey Racing Commission waived the rule it passed last year, giving Monmouth the freedom to enact a house rule mirroring the HISA standards. Penalties include a loss of purse money, plus a $500 fine and three-day suspension for an initial offense, a $2,500 fine and seven-day ban for a second violation, and a $5,000 fine and banishment for the rest of the meet for a third violation.
Since it is a house rule, other jurisdictions are not required to honor the suspensions.
Last year's restrictions on the use of the riding crop has been mentioned as one of the contributing factors to a 17% drop in the 2021 daily wagering handle.
On the racing side, the stable area is expected to reach its 1,500-horse capacity by the time the 62-day meet starts, with outfits from Todd Pletcher, Chad Brown, and Jerry Hollendorfer well as Jersey mainstays Kelly Breen, Tim Hills, Patrick McBurney, Greg Sacco, and Kent Sweezey and returnees such as Gerald Bennett and Jonathan Thomas.
"There are some good vibes for this year," McBurney said. "The condition book looks fantastic."
Purses for maiden special weight races are $57,000, while $10,000 claimers run for $27,000. In addition there are bonuses for starters and workmen's compensation for horsemen is covered by a blanket policy.
"Hopefully we can turn the page on COVID and the restrictions and hesitation trainers had to ship in," Heims said. "So far, people are responding to what we are offering this year, whether it's a guaranteed $500 to run for an owner or trainers getting $300 to participate. We recognize it's expensive to live here so we give you money to race and cover your workmen's comp. We want to see you here at Monmouth Park. Our purse levels are outstanding."
The slate of 52 stakes worth $8.305 million will be highlighted the July 23 card with the meet's two grade 1 stakes, the $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) for 3-year-olds and the $600,000 United Nation Stakes (G1T) on turf.
Among the new additions will be the opening of the Summer Wind outdoor dinning area overlooking the finish line.
Also, construction on a new $15 million Caesars Sportsbook is expected to begin in the summer after the Haskell is contested.
Thursday's event also included the announcement that Millie Fleming, a longtime New Jersey owner and breeder and currently president of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association of New Jersey, is the 2022 recipient of the Virgil "Buddy" Raines Distinguished Achievement Award.
