Monmouth showing gains in attendance and handle

OCEANPORT, N.J. (AP) -New Jersey officials say Monmouth Park's $50 million summer thoroughbred season is turning into a big success.

Roughly halfway through the meet at the shore-area track, attendance, mutuel handle and field size all are showing significant increases over last year.

Figures released Thursday show daily average attendance rose 13 percent over last year to 10,572; average on-track betting handle increased 43 percent to more than $750,000, and average total betting handle jumped nearly 118 percent to more than $7.6 million.

The summer meet runs through Sept. 6. Its biggest race, the $1 million Izod Haskell Invitational, will be run Aug. 1.