NEW TURF COURSE, STABLE AREA RENOVATIONS TOP

LIST OF MONMOUTH IMPROVEMENTS FOR 2006 MEET

            Horses, horsemen and fans will all find joy in the improvements made to Monmouth Park for the 2006 season. The feature attraction this year is the brand new turf course, a capital improvement that sets the tone for Monmouth’s immediate future. The grass course, built at a cost of $4.5 million, replaces the 1950-vintage turf and kicks off Monmouth’s race to the Breeder’s Cup World Thoroughbred Championships next year.

            The new turf course, engineered by agricultural experts from Rutgers University, promises to be the centerpiece of an exciting racing meet when the new course debuts on June 24…

            “The new turf course was the biggest project this year,” said Horace (Smitty) Smith, assistant vice president of operations. “Over the years, we worked on the old course every season, replacing sod in different areas. We probably resodded the entire course over the years,” Smith said. “But there was a big problem. The old course was built on clay, so it never drained properly and the grass never rooted as well as it should.”

            The new course – a seven furlong oval with two chutes for mile and an eighth and five and a half-furlong races – was designed by Australian turf specialist Ian Chivers, working under the direction of Rutgers University’s Dr. Jim Murphy. Chivers has designed turf courses all over the world.

            “Everything was engineered to promote drainage and plant growth and racing safety,” Smith said. “The subsoil and topsoil were scientifically designed and the course drains extremely well now. The turns are banked so the horses can negotiate them safely.”

            The turf course is scheduled to open on June 24, and the first stakes to be run on the new sod is the $1,500,000 Boiling Springs (GB) on Tuesday, July 4.

            “Dr. Murphy and Ian Chivers will have the last word on when the course opens,” Smith said. “But if the weather cooperates, we look forward to seeing the first race on June 24.”

            Much of the work that was completed is in anticipation of Monmouth hosting the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in October of 2007.