First presented in 2012, the Handleman Award honors the late Bill Handleman, one of New Jersey's top sportswriters for nearly three decades for the Asbury Park Press. Handleman, a fixture at Monmouth Park and a passionate chronicler of the sport, died in June of 2010 at the age of 62.

Collmus, 56, has served as the announcer for NBC Sports' coverage of the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup since 2011 and is currently the on-site host for TVG (Fan Duel) during live racing days at Monmouth Park.

“For all of the national acclaim Larry Collmus has received for his outstanding career, he remains closely associated with Monmouth Park and the Haskell S.,” said Dennis Drazin, Chairman and CEO of Darby Development LLC, the operators of Monmouth Park. “We're pleased to honor him with the Handleman Award for his work last year and throughout the years on Haskell day.”

Collmus, who started his career as the track announcer at Bowie in Maryland in 1985 at the age of 18, has served as the race caller at Birmingham Turf Club, Golden Gate, Suffolk Downs, Monmouth Park, Churchill Downs, for NYRA tracks and at Del Mar. He was Monmouth Park's race caller from 1994-2014.

His call for NBC Sports of this year's Haskell will be his 23rd for Monmouth Park's most prestigious race–and first since Triple Crown winner American Pharoah won the race in 2015.

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“We were happy to have our fans back, we had another memorable TVG.com Haskell Invitational, and we feel good about how Monmouth Park is positioned as we move forward and return to some sense of normalcy during these COVID-19 times,” said Dennis Drazin, chairman and CEO of Darby Development, the operators of Monmouth Park. “This wound up being a transitional year coming out of the worst of COVID-19 a year ago. We overcame some challenging weather, especially early in the meet, purses were very good and the quality of racing was excellent.”

Monmouth Park's overall handle for the meet was $173,511,161 compared to $167,511,608 a year ago.

The return of fans had a significant impact, with the on-track handle increasing to $15,216,978 compared to $8,917,436 a year ago.

The simulcast handle was down slightly from $158,594,172 in 2020 to $158,294,183 this year.

Monmouth conducted 44 days of live racing a year ago.

Jockey Paco Lopez wrapped up his eighth Monmouth Park riding title with a flourish on Sunday by booting home six winners to bring his final total to 109 for the meet. Runner-up Isaac Castillo had 55 winners. Lopez's eight titles are second in track history to Joe Bravo's 13.

Wayne Potts captured the training title with 38 wins after winning the abbreviated Meadowlands-at-Monmouth meet last fall.

Colts Neck Stables, with 14 winners from 34 starters, was the leading owner.

Thoroughbred racing in the state shifts to the Meadowlands in East Rutherford for the seven-day Monmouth-at-Meadowlands meet starting on Friday, Oct. 1. The six-race all-turf cards will have a first race post time of 7 p.m.

The Monmouth-at-Meadowlands meet will also hold live racing on Saturday, Oct. 2. The Friday-Saturday schedule will continue on Oct. 8 and 9 before shifting to just Friday on Oct. 15 and then to just Saturday on Oct. 23 and 30.

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Monmouth Park, working in conjunction with BetMakers Technology Group, will be the first racetrack in the country to offer fixed odds wagering, a popular bet in Europe and Australia.

“We appreciate the continued support from Gov. Murphy and the state legislature, as well as Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Senate President Steve Sweeney, in advancing fixed odds wagering,” said Dennis Drazin, chairman and CEO of Darby Development LLC, the operator of Monmouth Park. “It provides our patrons with another wagering option that we firmly believe will be a popular one.”

The bill was co-sponsored by state Assemblymen Ronald S. Dancer and Ralph R. Caputo and state Senators Vin Gopal and Paul A. Sarlo.

Fixed odds wagering allows bettors to retain the odds at the time of their bet, as opposed to pari-mutuel wagering, where odds are not finalized until betting is completed.

When it is available at Monmouth Park, fixed odds will be offered on win, place and show betting at the outset, with a minimum wager of $1. There will be designated fixed odds windows throughout the grandstand and clubhouse, with televisions displaying the current fixed odds.

Monmouth Park will also show the fixed odds for each race during the track's in-house televised feed of races.

Fixed odds wagering will begin with Monmouth Park races, with the expectation that it will expand to other tracks that enter into an agreement to permit fixed odds wagering on their races.

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The bill now moves onto to the State Senate and if successful would then go to Gov. Phil Murphy for a signature.

Monmouth Park's 76th season gets underway Friday, May 28.

“This is an exciting new wagering opportunity for our fans and we're grateful for the support from our legislators and Governor Murphy, who continue to ensure the success of Thoroughbred racing in the state,” said Dennis Drazin, CEO and Chairman of Darby Development, LLC, the operators of Monmouth Park. “Our hope is that we can be up and running with Fixed Odds wagering in time for the TVG.com Haskell S. July 17–or sooner if possible.”

The bill was sponsored by Assemblymen Ralph Caputo and Ronald Dancer. The Senate version of the bill is sponsored by State Senators Vin Gopal and Paul Sarlo and is co-sponsored by State Senators Steven Oroho and Declan O'Scanlon, Jr. The bill has also been supported throughout the legislative process by Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney.

Fixed Odds wagering allows bettors to retain the odds at the time of their bet, as opposed to pari-mutuel wagering, where odds are not finalized until betting is completed. Monmouth Park would become the first track in the United States to offer the wager.

Australia-based BetMakers Technology Group would deliver and manage Fixed Odds wagering at Monmouth Park after entering into an exclusive 10-year agreement with New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and Darby Development, LLC, last year.

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According to the Asbury Park Press, some jockeys have threatened to boycott the 2021 meet at Monmouth, with several regular NJ riders indicating plans to head elsewhere on social media.

“I wouldn't say it's a boycott. It's a decision,” Terry Mayocks, president and CEO of the Jockeys' Guild, told APP earlier this month. “We had a meeting when the stay was denied and just explained it to everyone and the process we've gone through the last year-and-a-half, and everyone basically said we don't feel comfortable. And if they can stay in Florida or go to other racetracks, that's an individual decision they will have to make.”

Dennis Drazin, chairman and CEO of Darby Development LLC, which operates Monmouth Park, isn't concerned, saying: “We expect to have enough riders to put on the show and I think we will be successful.”

The purse structure at Monmouth will draw jockeys from other states if positions are open, Drazin continued.

In addition, Drazin has spoken with Meyocks about repercussions for jockeys accepting mounts at Monmouth and then not showing up to ride, forcing cancellation of racing.

“The Racing Commission would have the power to bring them in and give them a hearing and suspend them for conduct detrimental to racing and then they can't ride anywhere in the country, because there's reciprocity between racing commissions,” Drazin explained.

Read more at the Asbury Park Press.

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“With the overwhelming response from horsemen for stall space and fans able to return in greater numbers there's a renewed sense of optimism and excitement for this meet, especially after the challenges we faced a year ago due to COVID-19,” said Dennis Drazin, Chairman and CEO of Darby Development LLC, operators of Monmouth Park.

Opening weekend will feature four straight days of live racing from Friday through Monday over the Memorial Day weekend May 28. Starting in June, and running through the end of August, live racing will be conducted Friday through Sunday. In a continuation of the policy from a year ago, no outside food or drink will be permitted.

Monmouth Park will offer 46 stakes races worth $6.15 million this year, including 10 graded stakes. There are 10 stakes races restricted to New Jersey-bred horses, with the highlight for state-breds being the 19th annual New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival Aug. 29.

Haskell Day will again feature six stakes races, including the GI United Nations S., which will see a purse boost from $300,000 to $500,000.

For more information, visit www.monmouthpark.com.

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Post time on Fridays throughout the 53-day meet will be 5 p.m.

The lone exception to the new 12:15 post time, as well as to the free parking and admission policy, will be July 17, when the $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes will be contested for the 54th time.

Monmouth Park's live racing schedule runs through Sept. 26.

“With the overwhelming response from horsemen for stall space and fans able to return in greater numbers there's a renewed sense of optimism and excitement for this meet, especially after the challenges we faced a year ago due to COVID-19,” said Dennis Drazin, Chairman and CEO of Darby Development LLC, operators of Monmouth Park. “I think everyone is looking forward to what should be a very special year of racing at Monmouth Park. All of the indicators are that it will be.”

Opening weekend will feature four straight days of live racing from Friday through Monday over the Memorial Day weekend that starts on May 28. Starting in June, and running through the end of August, live racing will operate on a Friday through Sunday schedule.

In a continuation of the policy from a year ago, no outside food or drink will be permitted.

Monmouth Park will offer 46 stakes races worth $6.15 million this year, including 10 graded stakes. There are 10 stakes races restricted to New Jersey-bred horses, with the highlight for state-breds being the 19th annual New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival on Aug. 29.

Haskell Day will again feature six stakes races, including the Grade 1 United Nations, which will see a purse boost from $300,000 to $500,000. Horse of the Year Authentic won the Haskell last summer, eventually going on to win the Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic.

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Born in Maryland, Forbes spent his entire career in the racing industry, following both of his parents into the training game. He moved his operations to New Jersey in the late 1970s and has been a Garden State mainstay ever since.

“John was New Jersey racing,” said Dennis Drazin, chairman and CEO of Darby Development LLC, operators of Monmouth Park Racetrack. “He was a tireless advocate for the industry, for the horsemen and for Monmouth Park.

“With a boundless capacity for kindness, John embodied everything good about this business – honor, integrity, compassion and selflessness. More than that, John had an infectious energy for racing. I will forever cherish our many years working together and appreciate not just our friendship but our collective effort on behalf of the horsemen to better this industry and the lives of those who work in it.”

From more than 14,000 starters, Forbes won over 2,100 races as a trainer. Among his long list of accomplished runners were graded stakes winners Peanut Butter Onit, Pukka Princess, Jess C's Whirl, Boyce, Amarillo, Get Serious and Tale of the Cat, who went on to be a leading sire.

Forbes gave up training on a daily basis in 2012, but was certainly no stranger to the Monmouth Park grounds. That year he embarked on a new project, Bluegrass Mini Golf, which he oversaw the construction and operation and was instrumental in delivering the US Mini Golf Open in 2014 and again in 2017. His work earned him a spot in the US ProMiniGolf Hall of Fame.

Upon giving up his trainer's license in 2012, Forbes turned the operation over to his longtime assistant Pat McBurney.

“John and I spent decades together experiencing all the highs and lows that this business has to offer,” McBurney said. “It was always a team effort with John. Even after he stopped training on a day-to-day basis he was equally involved as an owner, advisor and most importantly a friend. It's hard to imagine Monmouth Park without John, but Monmouth Park will forever be better because of John.”

Forbes leaves behind his wife Vicki, son John T. Forbes (Director of Operations at Monmouth Park), two daughters, Anne and Carrie, and two grandchildren.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no services will be held.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Forbes's name to the Backstretch Community Assistance Program (BCAP), whose address is 175 Oceanport Ave., Oceanport, NJ 07757. BCAP assists New Jersey horse racing stable employees in the areas of counseling, health, education, recreation and benevolence.

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Dennis Drazin, Chairman and CEO of Darby Development, which manages Monmouth Park, said he believes the $5 million difference won't cause purse reductions for the track's 2021 season.

“I am pleased that the Governor has seen fit to give us back 15 of the $20 million that is going to go support purses next year,” Drazin told thoroughbreddailynews.com. “Since it was taken out of the budget, we have worked hard on this and, fortunately, through leadership in the Senate and the Assembly, as well as a lot of our local politicians who supported the effort, the Governor saw fit to put it back in the budget. We would have liked to have had the full $20 million, but given that he is cutting everybody, I am thrilled that the Governor has our back and recognizes the importance of the industry and how important it is to save a lot of jobs and keep us competitive.”

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

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The money will be divided evenly between the two breeds.

“I am pleased that the governor has seen fit to give us back 15 of the $20 million that is going to go support purses next year,” said Dennis Drazin, Chairman and CEO of Darby Development, which manages Monmouth Park. “Since it was taken out of the budget, we have worked hard on this and, fortunately, through leadership in the Senate and the Assembly, as well as a lot of our local politicians who supported the effort, the Governor saw fit to put it back in the budget. We would have liked to have had the full $20 million, but given that he is cutting everybody, I am thrilled that the Governor has our back and recognizes the importance of the industry and how important it is to save a lot of jobs and keep us competitive.”

Though Monmouth will have $2.5 million less to put toward its purse account, Drazin said he didn’t anticipate that there would be a purse cut next year.

Approved prior to the 2019 meet, the purse subsidy was a much-needed shot in the arm for New Jersey racing that brought its purse levels up to a point where they were competitive with neighboring states that benefit from revenues from casinos.

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