The $1-million GI betfair.com Haskell Invitational S. July 30 is the centerpiece of the 2017 stakes schedule at Monmouth Park, which will offer purses of $3.725 million, a decrease of nearly 20% over 2016.
The Haskell, won in 2015 by Triple Crown hero American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) is one of two top-level races on the summer schedule, the other being the $300,000 United Nations S. for older turf horses at 11 furlongs July 1. A number of the 11 other graded stakes races have seen their purses slashed for 2017, including the main Haskell prep–the GIII betfair.com Pegasus S.–which will carry purse money of $100,000, down from $150,000 last season. The GIII Monmouth Cup will be part of the Haskell undercard and will be contested for half its 2016 prize money of $200,000. The GIII Oceanport S. is discontinued for 2017, but the GII $150,000 Monmouth S. will take its spot on the calendar, also on Haskell Day. Each of the nine remaining Grade III events will be worth $100,000.
The New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival will take place for the 15th time Aug. 27, a week before Monmouth hosts the GI HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nayhan Cup for Arabians Sept. 4. That event serves as the third and final leg of the United States Arabian Triple Jewell Series.
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