OCEANPORT, N.J. — Monmouth Park is making amends to fans for the hot and troubled day last weekend that forced the cancellation of six races and a more than four-hour delay of six stakes races on the $1 million Haskell Invitational card.
The New Jersey track announced Saturday it will hold a fan appreciation day Aug. 17. There will be free admission and parking and food specials throughout the day, complementing a racing card headlined by the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks.
The Haskell is the highlight of the Monmouth season. In the abbreviated eight-race program, Maximum Security — who was disqualified in the Kentucky Derby after crossing the finish line first — scored a 1 1/2-length victory over Mucho Gusto in the Grade 1 event.
Most of the announced crowd of 25,173 left the track shortly after the delay was announced about 1:30 p.m. The National Weather Service said there was a heat index value reaching 107.
“We want our fans to know that we truly appreciate their patience during a difficult day as well as their continued support of Monmouth Park,” said Dennis Drazin, chairman and CEO of Darby Development LLC, operators of Monmouth Park. “This is our small way of expressing our appreciation and saying thank you once again to all of our customers.”