As fans mark their calendars in advance of the 80^th season of live racing at Monmouth Park, they should be prepared with a fully-loaded pen. No fewer than 25 festivals, events and giveaways make up Monmouth Park’s 2025 promotional schedule.

With a continued focus on tradition and family fun, Monmouth Park will again play host to some of the most action-packed, heavily-attended and budget-friendly events on the Jersey Shore.

Kicking off Saturday, May 10, with Opening Day festivities – which include a magnetic calendar giveaway to the first 3,000 fans – Monmouth Park’s promotional schedule will treat fans, horseplayers and entertainment seekers alike to a wide variety of food festivals, giveaways, specialty days and handicapping contests.

“Each year, we pride ourselves on providing our fans and horseplayers with some of the Shore’s premier events,” said marketing director Brian Skirka. “To see people of all ages head home with a smile after a day at the races gives us the motivation to make each year better than the previous one. We’re excited to see our loyal fans return – as well as welcome new fans – for another summer season of lifetime-lasting memories at Monmouth Park.”

Preserving a fan-favorite from previous years, all weekend race attendees will have the opportunity to catch a special “toss series” t-shirt thrown out of the winner’s circle by each race’s winning jockey.

Following tradition, the Jersey Shore Food Truck Festival, presented by Surfside and the Asbury Park Press, marks the start of Monmouth Park’s food festival season in its customary Memorial Day weekend time slot. The three-day culinary extravaganza features over 30 trucks offering a variety of culinary delights from Saturday, May 24, to Monday, May 26.

Continuing with long-time staples on the summer event calendar, Monmouth Park will again host the 53^rd Annual N.J. Irish Festival (June 8); Classic Car Show & Oldies Day (July 6); Italian Festival & Wine Tasting (July 26-27); Latin Festival: Tacos & Tequila (Aug. 3); Surf & Turf Seafood Festival (Aug. 16-17); BBQ & Craft Beer Festival (Aug. 30 to Sept. 1), and Food Trucktemberfest (Sept. 6).

In addition to a full slate of festivals, Monmouth Park will offer three premium giveaway days in 2025. To go along with the Haskell Preview Day program on Saturday, June 14, the first 5,000 paying fans will receive a Monmouth Park hoodie. NYRA Bets Haskell Day on Saturday, July 19, will once again feature a commemorative Haskell hat giveaway. A long-sleeve T-Shirt, courtesy of Malouf Auto Group, will be given out to the first 3,000 fans on New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival Day Sunday, Aug. 24.

Among the other key events on Monmouth Park’s 2025 promotional schedule are:

• Mother’s Day – Sunday, May 11
• Father’s Day – Sunday, June 15
• Monmouth University Day – Sunday, June 22
• Sun Cruiser Cigar Luncheon – Saturday, July 12
• Bags, Bands & Beer Cornhole Tournament – Saturday, Aug. 9
• Count Basie Center Day – Sunday, Aug. 10

On the handicapping contest front, Monmouth Park continues to be a national leader. The May 31 $2,000 Pick Your Prize Handicapping Challenge, which last year attracted a record 331 entries, anchors a contest calendar that also features events on May 10, June 1, June 28, July 19, Aug. 2 and Aug. 23.

Survival at the Shore, a free online handicapping game offering cash prizes, will start for the season on Saturday, May 24.

On Friday, June 27, Monmouth Park will again host a charity event for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund at the Beer Garden at Blu Grotto, with Monmouth Park jockeys serving as bartenders following the day’s live racing.

New to the 2025 promotional schedule is First Responders Day on Friday, July 4. The day will honor local fire fighters, police officers and other first responders, and will feature free admission to all in attendance.

Continuing a fan favorite, Monmouth Park will feature free Family Fun Days, courtesy of Jerseysbest.com, on Sundays and special event days from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Monmouth Park’s free Dawn Patrol program, with a guided tram tour of the stable area on Saturdays starting June 21, also returns this summer.

Beginning Opening Day, fans will again be permitted to bring coolers into Monmouth Park’s picnic area on live racing days. All coolers must adhere to size limits and can only be brought through the Picnic Gate.

Fans can purchase tickets for general admission, festivals, box seats and more in advance via SeatGeek, Monmouth Park’s exclusive ticket provider. NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes tickets will be available at seatgeek.com/monmouth beginning Saturday, May 24.

For more information and a full listing of the promotional schedule and upcoming events, visit www.monmouthpark.com.