December 19, 2007
KEN LENNOX DIES; FORMER MONMOUTH PARK RACING DIRECTOR, 88
MP.com

Oceanport, N.J. – Ken Lennox, the former Racing Director at Monmouth Park, died Tuesday at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, New Jersey.

Mr. Lennox had a distinguished Monmouth Park forty-five year career, working his way up the Monmouth ranks from stall man through paddock judge, placing judge, steward, racing secretary and finally Director of Racing, retiring in 1986.

Growing up in Marblehead, Massachusetts, he walked hots as a fifteen year-old and became interested in the sport. He was brought to New Jersey by John MacDonald Engineering Inc., which was affiliated with the construction of Monmouth Park. He remained with Monmouth Park, bought a home in Oceanport, and lived there for more than forty years.

He managed the racing department at a time when Monmouth Park attracted premier horses such as Buckpasser, Foolish Pleasure, Alydar, Ruffian and Spectacular Bid among other greats. Additionally, he mentored many influential horseracing executives, among them Monmouth Vice-President/General Manager Bob Kulina, Lou Raffetto, the former President and COO of the Maryland Jockey Club and former NYRA president Kenny Noe.

“Ken Lennox was the most influential man in the history of Monmouth Park,” General Manager Bob Kulina said Tuesday.

Respects will be paid Thursday from 6 PM until 9 PM at Woolley Funeral Home, 10 Morrell St at Broadway, Long Branch, New Jersey. Graveside funeral services will be Friday 11:00 AM at Woodbine Cemetery, Oceanport.

Flowers or donations to St. Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center at Monmouth Medical Center, 300 Second Ave., Long Branch, NJ 07740 will be greatly appreciated by his family.

_____________________________

March 26, 2007
BREEDERS' CUP ECONOMIC IMPACT EXPECTED TO BE $57.6 MILLION FOR N.J.
MP.com

WHEN MONMOUTH PARK HOSTS 2007 EVENT THIS OCTOBER

Oceanport, N.J. - The economic impact of Monmouth Park hosting this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships on Oct. 27 is estimated to be $57.6 million according to a study released today by the Center for Urban Policy Research (CUPR) at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.

"We knew the numbers would be big, but I don't think anyone thought they would be that big," said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president of racing at the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, which and owns and operates Monmouth Park.  "What this study confirms is that every one in New Jersey will benefit from the Breeders' Cup - either indirectly through increased tax revenues or directly through actual contact with the event."

The study points out that, "in the case of Monmouth Park, the reasons for hosting the Breeders' Cup are, in part, to provide a boost to the state and local economy and also to enable Monmouth Park and the State of New Jersey to catch the eye of both national and international horsemen and horse racing fans and provide for a long-term stimulus for horse racing in the state."

The Breeders' Cup World Championships is comprised of 11 races over two days with purses totaling $23 million.  Three races will be conducted on Friday, Oct. 26 and eight on Saturday, Oct. 27.  Monmouth Park will host four full days of racing that week beginning on Wednesday and culminating with the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge, on Saturday.  Friday's Breeders' Cup World Championship races were added after the study was commissioned and the additional impact if these events were therefore not included in the findings.

"Adding those races on Friday will likely push the overall economic impact past the $60 million mark," said Professor Michael L. Lahr of Rutgers' Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, who along with his colleague, Paimaan Lodhi, conducted the study.  "The reason the economic and fiscal effects loom so large for a one-time event is that Monmouth Park wouldn't otherwise be used since the racing season is over.  Moreover, both the horsemen and fans who will attend the Breeders' Cup races will come largely from out of state - even from overseas.  Local hoteliers and restaurateurs will be pleasantly pleased."

Some of the highlights from the study include the addition of 515 full-time job equivalents, a total of $6.1 million in total tax revenues, and $15.3 million in visitor spending brought to the Garden State.

"It's seeing numbers like these and knowing what it will do for New Jersey and New Jerseyans that invigorates everyone here to ensure that this event is something the state will be proud of," Dowd said.

The State of New Jersey provided $25.7 million to Monmouth Park for investment and improvements to the facility in preparation for this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships.  Among the renovations at the 60-year-old facility were a new turf course that debuted in 2006, modernization of the elevators and escalators, roof repairs, new sound and video systems, upgraded electrical systems, improved concession and food and beverage areas and a new wagering teletheater, that is set to open this summer.

"To be frank, our revenue-related estimates are conservative since we didn't account for possible rises in regular-season attendance due to Monmouth's improvements or from renewed local interest in horse racing that may result," said Professor Lahr.

According to the study, this investment in Monmouth Park is money well spent, "the capital investment in the racing venue will be some of the most effective advertising dollars the State could spend to enhance tourism, spur local real estate values, and generate state and local tax revenues.  In net, the overall benefits from the Breeders' Cup will well outweigh its costs."

 

____________________________

January 31, 2007
ROBERT DURSO, TRAINER OF FRISK ME NOW, DEAD AT 68
MP.com
 

Oceanport, N.J. - Trainer Robert J. Durso passed away at his home in Hallandale, Fla. on Wednesday morning following a short illness. He was 68 years old.

A Thoroughbred trainer since 1958, Durso spent his time on the New Jersey - South Florida circuit, enjoying great success with many runners, most notably with multiple graded stakes winner Frisk Me Now, who raced in the colors of his wife, Carol Dender.

"Bob was a great trainer and an even greater friend to horse racing," said Robert Kulina, vice president and general manager of Monmouth Park. "Having known Bob for decades, it’s tough to think of this year’s upcoming season without him. I know everyone here will miss his presence, his kindness and most of all his friendship."

Durso was predeceased by his parents Charles and Grace Durso. He is survived by his wife, Carol; his brother, Charles; a son, Patrick Dender and his wife Carol; three daughters: Lorelei Graciani and her husband Mike, Maryann Durso, and Andrea Dender and her husband Wayne Galotto; six grandchildren: Aaron, Alexander, Allison, Angelina, Shannon and Stephanie; one great-grandchild, McKenzie; two sisters-in-law, Catherine Darby and Claudia Darby; a brother-in-law, William Darby Sr.; and 10 nieces and nephews.

"He was a real nice man - a gentle giant really," said Chuck Spina, a fellow New Jersey trainer and friend for more than 35 years. "It’s really heartbreaking to lose a friend like that. He and I were together in this business for so many years. We both trained horses for our fathers and were just involved at every level. He’d head to Florida in the winter and give me some horses when I was first starting out at Garden State.

"Bob was just a terrific guy overall and he’ll certainly be missed. I know one thing that’s for sure - you’ll never find someone say a negative thing about Bob Durso."

Durso began his career in racing in 1956 ponying horses at Monmouth Park. Two years later he took out his trainer’s license.

In 1997 Durso saddled 3-year-old Frisk Me Now to win Gulfstream Park’s Hutcheson Stakes at odds of 105-1. That marked the first of many stakes victories for the colt by Mister Frisky who also captured the Flamingo Stakes, Ohio Derby, Pennsylvania Derby, Widener Handicap, Suburban Handicap and Gulfstream Park Breeders’ Cup Handicap before capping his career with a win in the Philip H. Iselin Handicap at Monmouth Park. In 2000, Frisk Me Now was inducted into Monmouth Park’s Hall of Champions.

"We’d been friends since I came to New Jersey in 1988," said jockey Eddie King, the regular rider for Frisk Me Now. "He was a terrific person. Even if you rode a bad race, he didn’t hold it against you - you’d just move on. He was such a loyal person and a friend that I’m really going to miss."

Some of the other stakes winners conditioned by Durso were Special Occasion, Don’t Tell the Kids, Cigno d’Oro and Frisky Spider, who was from the first crop of runners sired by Frisk Me Now.

Last season, Durso turned over the day-to-day operations of his stable to his longtime assistant Luis Carvajal, who continues to train many horses formerly in the Durso shedrow, including Carvajal, who is scheduled to compete in Wednesday’s 6th race at Gulfstream.

All are welcome to attend graveside services at 11 a.m. this Saturday, Feb. 3 at Glenwood Cemetery in West Long Branch, N.J. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob’s name to the Racetrack Chaplaincy Programs at Monmouth Park (175 Oceanport Ave., Oceanport, NJ 07757) and Gulfstream Park (901 S. Federal Highway, Hallandale, FL 33009).