SFMANJ returns to Shore Regional and Monmouth Park on May 7, 2008
Brad Park

Following the success of Spring Field Day in April 2006, Sports Field Managers Association (SFMANJ) has decided to re-visit both Shore Regional High School, West Long Branch, NJ and the turf course at Monmouth Park Racetrack, Oceanport, NJ as part of Spring Field Day 2008.

The Field Day will begin at Shore Regional High School and consist of outdoor education focusing on baseball and softball skin surface preparation and vendor-sponsored equipment demonstrations.

As part of Spring Field Day 2008, the field hockey field will be part of the outdoor education. Low mowing heights and a smooth, firm playing surface are attributes that are often demanded by field hockey coaches and players. Attaining these playing surface characteristics on field hockey fields will be part of the education in 2008.

The field day will then move down the street to Monmouth Park Racetrack for lunch followed by a unique tour of the turf course. Coined as The Shore’s Greatest Stretch the racing facility is the home of the annual Haskell Invitational in August and recently hosted the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Thoroughbred World Championships. This event provides the highest paying purses in the sport and attracts the best thoroughbred race horses from across the world.

In preparation for the Breeders’ Cup event, the turf course was reconstructed in 2005-06 utilizing the expertise of a Rutgers-assembled team consisting of a thoroughbred turf track specialist, irrigation specialists, civil engineers, and agronomists.

In April 2006, attendees at Spring Field Day observed the final rolls of sod installed at Monmouth Park in preparation for the 2006 racing season and ultimately the Breeders’ Cup. Spring Field Day 2008 will give attendees the opportunity to see the high quality condition of the turf course two years after reconstruction and learn how the track is being prepared for the upcoming 2008 racing season.

Brad Park is Sports Turf Res. and Ed. Coor., Rutgers Univ.; SFMANJ Board member; and Editor, SFMANJ Update