With sports betting revenue rolling in since June and legislation that will provide purse subsidies of $10 million in each of the next five years expected to be signed in the near future by Gov. Phil Murphy, Monmouth Park this season will be adding racing dates, increasing overnight purses, and offering a much more enticing stakes program than in 2018.

The stakes schedule released Thursday consists of 64 races worth a combined $7.1 million. Last year, 39 stakes worth $4.34 million were held.

The bottom stakes purse has been raised from $60,000 to $75,000, and 30 races have received purse increases ranging from $15,000 to $50,000. Nine graded stakes have had their purses boosted by $50,000.

There are 25 stakes on the schedule that are either new or were discontinued and are being brought back.

John Heims, the director of racing at Monmouth, believes the richer stakes program is an important first step in turning around the racing program.

"We are looking to build back what we have lost in recent years," Heims said. "We have moved all of our graded stakes back to at least $150,000 and our listed stakes are all worth $100,000. We are looking to move our races up in grade and improve the quality of the horses we attract."

Heims soon will be making recruiting trips to Tampa Bay Downs, south Florida, Fair Grounds, and Oaklawn Park to line up stables for the meet.

As usual, the highlight of the Monmouth season will be the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational, a Win and You're In for the Breeders' Cup Classic. The Haskell, traditionally run on a Sunday in late July, will be moved up eight days to Saturday, July 20 due to a scheduling conflict at NBC, which televises the race.

Normally, July 20, would fall during opening weekend of the Saratoga season but the New York Racing Association is seeking approval for a July 11 opening and  the Haskell will likely be held during the second weekend of the Spa meet.

A 56-day Monmouth racing calendar has been posted on the track's web site but the meet is being expanded to 61 days. From May 4 to Sept. 29, Monmouth will race Saturdays and Sundays, with Friday racing added from July 14 through Aug. 23. Monmouth will also race on Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day.

In October, Monmouth will race on Sundays and there will be all-turf cards at The Meadowlands on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Total purse funds for the 61 racing dates at Monmouth will be approximately $30.5 million, an average of $500,000 per day. That figure includes stakes purses, overnight purses, and workmen's compensation, which Monmouth provides for its horsemen.

The complete version of this article will be posted shortly on DRF.com.