Get our 2026 Belmont Stakes coverage including, Picks and Odds

I always want to know how a track is playing before I plunk down my cash, especially with racing strips that I don't normally visit in person or via simulcasting.

Since the 24th World Thoroughbred Championship Breeders' Cup is being staged for the first time at Monmouth Park, I decided to seek expert advice on what to expect at the track by the Jersey shore that ran this year's meeting from May 12 through Sept. 2.

According to Paul Grimm, editor of the online Oceanport Racing Report (Oceanportracingreport.com), "Records fell all over the place. I heard many complaints from owners that the strip was too fast.

"Claimers $20,000-$18,000 were running in the 1:09 range, kind of skewed many handicappers because the speed was so dominant that the bias made horses that were mediocre look better than average for a while."

And good horses looked even better. Of five track records, three were established on the main track. Idiot Proof, a 3-year-old based at Hollywood Park, roared to a 7 ¼-length triumph in the Jersey Shore Stakes in 1:07 2/5 at six furlongs on July 4.

"The record that stood out is the six furlong mark, which was set by Gilded Time as a 2-year-old in 1992 - 1:07 4/5," Grimm said. "I can remember at that time people being up upset that a 2-year-old would set such a time. I never in my lifetime thought that record would fall again."

Through July 21 of this year's 79-day meeting, according to Brisnet.com, 40 percent of the winning horses in 191 races at six furlongs (distance for BC Sprint and Filly & Mare Sprint) went wire-to-wire. That winning percentage fluctuated a bit, but ended at 40 percent after more 300 races.

I would say it deserves the reputation of being a fast track. I recall one of my favorite racing strips in South Florida had the same reputation for many years.

I recall that you could win a bundle wagering on speed horses in the late 1990s at Gulfstream Park. I did so during a paid sabbatical during 1995 when editing and writing for The Miami Herald from 1965 through 2000.

I was no stranger to Gulfstream. I saw many races since graduating from the University of Miami in 1956. Yep, there were complaints back then after the track landed the 16th BC, which I covered.

On that Nov. 6 afternoon in 1999, Artax defeated Kona Gold by a half-length in the BC Sprint, equaling the track record of 1:07 4/5 set in 1973 by Mr. Prospector.

Meanwhile, back at Monmouth, speed at other sprints didn't fall off. While there were only 27 races at 5 ½ furlongs, wire-to-wire jobs were 44 percent.

Joey P. shattered by a full second the track record of 1:02 4/5 set last year by Man of Danger while winning the opening day Decathlon Stakes for his ninth victory at Monmouth.

"I will say that over the final five weeks or so the times got slower as it looked as if the dirt surface was adjusted," Grimm pointed out. "Quarter and half-mile split times in sprints still ranged from 21 to 22 and 43 to 44, but coming home was 1:11 to 1:12. At the beginning of the meet those races were finishing in 1:10."

Since Gulfstream was renovated for the 2005 season, the main track has played more fairly. Monmouth just might do the same in the future since its main track was redone for the 2007 meeting.