Monmouth Park Racetrack Oceanport, NJ

Monmouth Park Racetrack is one of the oldest thoroughbred horse race tracks in the country. It was started in 1870 on what is now part of the Fort Monmouth base. It was then moved to its present location in 1946. Although the racing season has changed numerous times it has always occurred during the warmer months of the year. It is one of the major attractions for the Jersey Shore during the summer. The race track is a major source of revenue for the local restaurants and businesses.

Tour of Monmouth Park Racetrack

The race track has offered free behind the scenes tours called Dawn Patrol in the early morning on weekends. They take you to the stable area, jockey lounge and on the track to watch the horses do warm ups. They have always tried to create a family atmosphere and hold special events during the season. On Sunday’s the have family fun days with pony rides and clowns. There are also various festivals held during the year. Below is a video of the Crab Cake Festival held at the track.

Picking a horse is like seeing through the fog. Just guess.

Some people handicap horses, some pick numbers, some pick colors, some pick jockeys, and some pick trainers. None of the choices is ever a sure thing. As the track announcer calls this race above he just guesses until they get closer to the finish line due to thick  fog covering the track. The track is a 1 mile oval and the back stretch is fairly far away from the grand stand area.

Haskell Invitational 2010

The Haskel Invitational is the biggest racing event of the year at Monmouth Park. It is always televised on either ABC or ESPN. It generally attracts the top horses in the country. Most of the horses that race had just competed in the  Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes.  Many times the horses entered in the race have won some of the triple crown races. The purse for the race is 1 million dollars.

Breeders Cup Classic 2007

In 2007 Monmouth Park Racetrack gained international attention by hosting the Breeders Cup which is considered the premier racing event each year. Numerous top horses participated in the race. In the video above, Curlin won the classic which is considered the top race during the Breeders Cup event. The track was updated and expanded to accomadate the large crowd that attended the event.

Behind the scenes with Larry Collmus calling a race

In the video above, Larry Collmus explains and takes you behind the scenes to see him calling a race. It really is amazing to watch him memorize all of the horses and call the race just using binoculars. You  would assume he would have been watching on a monitor that are found throughout the race track to get close up views of the race.

Celebrities visit Monmouth Park

Because of its proximity to New York City and Philadelphia, the race track has always attracted famous people to view the races. There are several nice boutique hotels in the area as well as vacation rental homes for people to stay. The night life areas of down town Red Bank, Pier Village in Long Branch, and the Asbury Park shopping and boardwalk area makes the area a destination point for out of towners.

Mickey Rourke and Eric Roberts in The Pope of Greenwich Village Movie scene at Monmouth Park Race Track

Because of the beautiful appearance of the track, many movies and television shows have used Monmouth Park as the backdrop for scenes. Above is a scene with Mickey Rourke and Eric Roberts in the classic film The Pope of Greenwich Village. Many years later Mickey Rourke would film most of his film The Wrestler in Monmouth County. The film’s title song was written and recorded by Monmouth County’s own Bruce Springsteen and appears on the album Working on a Dream. Below a movie starring Jennifer Aniston called the Bounty Hunter was filmed in the grand stand area of the race track as well as in the parking lot area.

Jennifer Aniston in the Bounty Hunter at Monmouth Park

Due to the budget issues facing the State of New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie has plans to lease the race track this year to a private racing entity. There has been a lot of interest from the top horse racing organizations in the world. The leasing agreements should be in place prior to the start of the 2011 meet which usually begins around Memorial Day.

With all that Monmouth County has to offer, it makes selling real estate an easy job in promoting the benefits of this great area. If you would be interested in a career in real estate with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, please email us at info@bhgmoves.com

Living in Shrewsbury, NJ

Shrewsbury, NJ is located just south of Red Bank and is home to the upscale shopping center, The Grove. The community is located close to exit 109 on the Garden State Parkway as well as the Little Silver and Red Bank Train Stations.  The town is approximately 2 square miles and a few celebrities have been raised in this small town.

Boston Red Sox centerfielder, Ryan Kalish, was raised in Shrewsbury and attended near by Red Bank Catholic High School.  Alisyn Camerota an anchor at Fox News Channel also grew up in Shrewsbury and graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School.

Greg Montgomery is another professional athlete who grew up in Shrewsbury and graduated from Red Bank Regional High School.  He was an All-Pro Punter in the NFL and played for the Houston Oilers, Detroit Lions, and Baltimore Ravens.  His aunt is the current Mayor of neighboring Little Silver. 

Phil Caivano, guitarist for the band Monster Magnet, was also raised in Shrewsbury and graduated from Red Bank Regional High School.

Daniel Rey is a  former bandmate with Phil Caivano in a band that was called Shrapnel . Daniel Rey eventually became involved with the Ramones and co-wrote the hit song Pet Sematary from the Brain Drain Album with Dee Dee Ramone for the  movie Pet Sematary based on the Stephen King novel by the same name.

If you would be interested in either living in the Shrewsbury, NJ area or would enjoy selling properties here as a career, please contact Better Homes and Gardens Preferred Properties at 732-224-9200 or email us at  info@bhgmoves.com

Living in Rumson NJ

Rumson, NJ has always been rated as one of the best places to live in the country. Here Mo Rocca interviews the Mayor of Rumson and takes a tour of the town.  

The town borders the Navesink River to the north and the Shrewsbury River to the South and East. Just across the Rumson/Sea Bright Bridge gives the residents of Rumson easy access to the Jersey Shore beaches in Sea Bright. The median sales price of a home is around 1.2 million but homes start around $300,000 and go well into the millions of dollars for riverfront estates. The public school system has always been rated as one of the best in the State of New Jersey. Rumson is also a relatively easy commute to New York City. The ferry-boat terminals are located approximately 10 minutes away in Atlantic Highlands as well as Highlands and Belford, NJ along the Sandy Hook Bay. The ferry service takes approximately 45 minutes to arrive at Pier 11 in the Wall Street area of New York City. The North Jersey Coast Line has nearby train stations in Little Silver, Red Bank and Middletown to take commuters to Penn Station in New York City. Another benefit to living in the Rumson area is the fine restaurants located here. If you like great water views you can visit Salt Creek Grill or Barnacle Bill’s.  A well reviewed Steak house is What’s Your Beef?. Chef David Burke owns the upscale and highly rated Fromagerie Restaurant.  You can make everyday  St. Patrick’s Day at Murray Mac Gregors. To experience an authentic Italian Tuscany meal visit Undici Restaurant. For casual dining and pizza you can visit Val’s Tavern. An original speakeasy called Murphy’s Bar can be found  in the basement of a home in a quiet residential neighborhood.

Rumson has some nice boutique  shops and is also close to the upscale shopping areas of downtown Red Bank and The Grove shopping center in Shrewsbury.  

Rumson has always been home to successful and famous people. The list includes musicians Bruce Springsteen, John Bonjovi, and Richie Sambora. Actresses Heather Locklear, Cher, and Queen Latifah have resided here. Film maker Kevin Smith lived in Rumson in the early 2000’s and below is a photo from his movie Chasing Amy where Ben Affleck and Joey Lauren Adams were filmed at a riverfront park in Rumson. Sports figures Bobby Ojeda (NY Mets), Phil Villapiano (Oakland Raiders), Randy Foye (LA Clippers), Rob Petitti (New Orleans Saints) as well as sports announcer Melissa Stark (ABC, NBC and ESPN) have called Rumson home.

If you would be interested in living in the Rumson, NJ area, please contact Better Homes and Gardens Preferred Properties located at 105 East River Road in Rumson, NJ. The phone number is 732-224-9200 or email info@bhgmoves.com

Living in Red Bank, NJ

 

Red Bank, NJ is a town for all seasons and has been voted the Hippest Town in New Jersey several times in the past. If you enjoy cultural, musical, Boutique shopping as well as fine dining then Red Bank is a great place to live or visit.  Every Year Tim McLoone and his Holiday Express perform in downtown Red Bank for the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony as seen in this video from 2009.

During the Holiday Season you can have the opportunity to ride in a classic horse and carriage through the streets of downtown Red Bank.

                                              

Red Bank has a long history of ice boating on the frozen Navesink River during the winter season. Here is a video from a very snowy and abnormal winter in 2010 which saw over 5 feet of snow in the area.

Red Bank is host to the largest fireworks display in New Jersey. The event attracts well over 100,000 people to view the display and turns the downtown area into a pedestrian only zone.  Here is a video of  the fireworks display from 2008.

Although Asbury Park is generally considered the areas leading musical venue, Red Bank has its share of music as well. Many of the downtown bars and restaurants host local live entertainment. The Two River Theater was host to Bruce Springsteen’s VH-1 Story Tellers special which is also available on dvd.  Countless famous musicians from across the globe have performed at the historic Count Basie Theater which is named after the  musician Count Basie who was from Red Bank. Southside Johnny usually performs a New Years Eve concert at the venue and will be welcoming in 2011 for the upcoming New Year. This is a video from last years Christmas Show with Southside Johnny and Jon Bon Jovi performing at the Count Basie Theater.

Brian Fallon of the band Gaslight Anthem was born and raised in Red Bank. Here they perform  with Bruce Springsteen in London.

After this performance Brian joined Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band for the concert dvd London Calling live in Hyde Park and sang the song “No Surrender”  

Kevin Smith owns a store in downtown Red Bank known as Jay & Silent Bob’s Secret Stash. He has filmed several of his movies in the area including most of the movie Chasing Amy. You can catch him every once in a while at his store or performing at the Count Basie Theater.

                                          

If living in or near Red Bank, NJ would be of interest to you, please contact Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Preferred Properties at 732-224-9200 or email us at info@bhgmoves.com

Famous Residents of Monmouth County

Since  the birth of our nation, Monmouth County has been home to some of the most well-known people of the last several centuries. One of the earliest well-known figures was Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley known as “Molly Pitcher”  who helped George Washington’s soldiers at the Battle of Monmouth in Freehold, NJ  on June 28, 1778.

Notable authors Stephen Crane and Mary Higgins Clark spent time at the Jersey Shore as well. Stephen Crane (1871-1900) is known for his book “The Red Badge of Courage” . He spent part of his short life with his family in Asbury Park, NJ. Mary Higgins Clark  has a summer home in Spring Lake, NJ. She has written 42 best-selling suspense novels which have sold over 80 million copies. She is also an owner of the NBA  NJ Nets.              

There are numerous professional sports figures with ties to Monmouth County, NJ. Miles Austin, a current Dallas Cowboys wide receiver, played his college games at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ. Other notable current and past professional football players from Monmouth County include current Indianapolis Colts running back Donald Brown from Red Bank Catholic High School, Rob Petitti from Rumson-Fair Haven High School who has played  offensive line for several teams including the  Dallas Cowboys whose current head coach, Jason Garrett, is from Monmouth Beach, NJ.  Bill Parcells who has won several Superbowl trophy as a head coach with teams like the New York Giants called  Sea Girt, NJ home for several years.  

Sam Mills, who became an All-Pro linebacker for the New Orleans Saints, graduated from Long Branch High School. Phil Villapiano an All-Pro receiver for the Oakland Raiders  graduated from Ocean Township High School and lived in Rumson, NJ after ending his football career. Greg Montgomery and Danny Stubbs both graduated from Red Bank Regional High School together and went on to have successful NFL careers. Greg Montgomery, originally from Shrewsbury, NJ became an All-Pro punter for the Houston Oilers and Danny Stubbs originally from Red Bank, NJ  was a member of the Superbowl Champion San Francisco 49ers.  Pete Carroll, the current head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, summered in Sea Girt, NJ. Former New York Jets players Joe Klecko and Wayne Chrebet reside in Colts Neck, NJ. Joe Klecko was an All-Pro defensive lineman and Wayne Chrebet was a wide receiver with the team. Joe’s son Dan played for several teams including the Atlanta Falcons football team. Knowshon Rockwell Moreno is a current member of the Denver Broncos football team. He grew up in Middletown, NJ where he attended Middletown South High School.  Former Dallas Cowboy defensive lineman Jim Jeffcoat graduated from Matawan Regional High School. And finally the most famous football coach of all times, Vince Lombardi, is buried in Middletown, NJ.  In addition to football players, Monmouth County has also developed professional Baseball players Ryan Kalish from Shrewsbury, NJ who graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School and currently plays for the Boston Red Sox. Manalapan’s David DeJesus currently plays for the Oakland A’s. Former professional baseball player Jeff Kunkel is from Middletown, NJ and Bobby Ojeda who played for the New York Mets resides in Rumson, NJ.

Former NBA player Lloyd Daniels resides in Colts Neck, NJ while Tim Perry is from Freehold, NJ and Darryl “Chocolate Thunder” Dawkins resides in Tinton Falls, NJ.

In addition to professional sports and writing, Monmouth County, NJ also has many residents involved in television and movies. News and Sports reporters include NBC News Anchor Brian Williams who grew up in Middletown, NJ.

Connie Chung and Maury Povich are also from Middletown, NJ and at one time Geraldo Riveria lived on the Navesink River in  Middletown, NJ. Alisyn Camerota of Fox News grew up in Shrewsbury, NJ and graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School. Jim Nantz of CBS Sports resides in Colts Neck, NJ and fellow sportscaster Melissa Stark lives in Rumson, NJ. News Anchor Jack Ford, who became well-known during the OJ Simpson trial resides in Spring Lake, NJ.

TV personalities Jon Stewart from the Daily Show has a home in Red Bank, NJ.

Danny Devito, who is currently on the show It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, grew up in Asbury Park, NJ. Jersey Shore cast members Mike “The Situation” Sorentino is from Manalapan, NJ  and Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola is from Hazlet, NJ.  Talk show host, Wendy Williams, graduated from Ocean Township High School. Steve Van Zandt of the Sopranos as well as a member of the E Street Band is from Middletown, NJ. Many scenes from the Sopranos  were filmed in parts of Monmouth County, NJ including Long Branch, Sea Bright, Oceanport, and Monmouth Beach.

Movie creators and stars have also either moved to or grown up in Monmouth County. Actor Jack Nicholson graduated from Manasquan High School. Film Maker Kevin Smith grew up in Highlands, NJ and graduated from Henry Hudson High School. His film, Clerks, was filmed entirely in the Middletown and Highlands area. Another of his movies, Chasing Amy, was primarily filmed in Red Bank, Rumson, and Asbury Park, NJ. Here is a video of Kevin protesting his movie Dogma at the Monmouth Mall in Eatontown, NJ. 

Monmouth Park Race Track in Oceanport, NJ has been the backdrop of many films including 2010’s Jennifer Aniston movie The Bounty Hunter.

  Adrienne Barbeau, who is also Steve Van Zandt’s sister-in-law has a home  in Middletown, NJ.  Queen Latifah has a home in Rumson, NJ as did fellow actresses at one time Heather Locklear and Cher call Rumson, home. Ashley Tisdale of  Disney’s  High School Musical fame grew up in Ocean Township, NJ. Bud Abbott of Abbott and Costello was from Asbury Park, NJ. Kal Penn best known for Harold and Kumar go to White Castle graduated from Freehold Township High School.

But what the Monmouth County area is best known for is the great musicians that either were raised  here or moved here. Those that grew up here include Bruce Springsteen (Freehold) and the East Street Band (Max Weinberg, Middletown, NJ; Steve Van Zandt, Middletown, NJ; Gary Tallent Long Branch, NJ; Clarence Clemmons, Sea Bright,NJ Patti Scialfa from Deal, NJ). Southside Johnny is  from Ocean Grove, NJ and Count Basie was from Red Bank, NJ. The following video features Bruce Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt and Southside Johnny along with members of Bon Jovi, The Asbury Jukes and E Street Band.

Billy Howerdel of A Perfect Circle is  from Long Branch, NJ and  singer/song writer Nicole Atkins graduated from Neptune High School. Fred Schneider  is the singer for The B52’s and graduated from Shore Regional High School. Members of Monster Magnet are from Red Bank, NJ. Country singer Clint Black was born in Long Branch, NJ.   There are also those that discovered Monmouth County once they became famous. Jon Bon Jovi of Middletown, NJ and band mate Richie Sambora resided in Rumson, NJ.  Deborah Harry of Blondie lives in Middletown, NJ along with Sabastian Bach of Skid Row. Jim Babjak of the Smithereens is from Manalapan, NJ and John Eddie is from Highlands, NJ.

I am sure we have left off some other successful celebrities from our area as well.  Whether you like history, sports, literature, movies, or television you are bound to discover what the rich and famous already have, which is  that Monmouth County, NJ is a Great place to call home. If you are interested in relocating to this great area, please contact Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Preferred Properties at 732-224-9200 or visit us on the web at www.bhgmoves.com

Visit New York City from Monmouth County, NJ

Recently Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey has received a lot of attention over his decision to eliminate an additional train tunnel to New York City. In the video above is Jimmy Fallon’s joke about how New Yorker’s find New Jersey. Governor Christie then appeared on Jimmy Fallon’s show to confront him on the joke.  

Now the federal government is suing the taxpayers of New Jersey for money already spent on the project as this video demonstrates.

Whether you decide to travel by auto, train, or ferry, it is relatively easy to get to New York City from Monmouth County, NJ. Many Monmouth County residents commute daily to New York City using mass transportation. The train line is electrified from Long Branch to New York City which eliminates the need to switch trains before entering New York City. Diesel trains cannot enter the train tunnels leading to Penn Station in mid-town Manhattan which is located in the same building as Madison Square Garden. NJ Transit operates the train line known as the Northern Jersey Coast line which runs from Bayhead in Northern Ocean County to New York City. There is also connecting service via the PATH train line from Newark, NJ to the Wall Street area in lower Manhattan. 

Everyone’s favorite transportation from the northern Jersey Shore area to New York City is the high-speed ferry service located at Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Belford, NJ. Service is provided by Sea Streak in  Highlands and Atlantic Highlands and NY Waterway in the Belford terminal to the Wall Street/South Street Seaport as well as mid-town on the eastside of Manhattan.  Within the next few years there will be an Oceanfront ferry terminal at Pier Village in Long Branch, NJ with Service to New York City  as depicted in the rendering above.  The current routes to New York City take you past the Statue of Liberty and under the Verrazano Bridge.  

For Automobiles to New York City you can take the Lincoln Tunnel to the mid-town area of Manhattan or the Holland Tunnel to the lower Manhattan area. There are also commuter bus terminals at various points throughout Monmouth County to bring riders to points in Manhattan including the Port Authority bus terminal in mid-town just outside of the Lincoln Tunnel.

If you would be interested in relocating to Monmouth County, NJ; please call Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Preferred Properties in Rumson, NJ at 732-224-9200.

Wishing you a Happy Holiday Season

The Monmouth County area has always been blessed by the generosity of the people who have the ability to give back to their community like those who participated in this Holiday Concert for Charity (Bruce Springsteen, Jon  Bon Jovi, Southside Johnny, Nicole Atkins and many other talented musicians from the area that call Monmouth County home).  We are also fortunate to have great local venues like the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ  featured in this concert and currently under-going a major renovation.  Although we have many successful and wealthy people in our area, we also have families that need assistance, especially during the holiday season. During this  recent recession, many more families are in need of help from their neighbors.  Even if you are not in a position to assist financially, there are always charities and non-profit organizations seeking people willing to donate their time to help others.  In Red Bank, NJ there is a great organization known as Lunch Break which provides meals daily to the less fortunate.  There is also an organization known as The Food Bank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties based in Neptune, NJ that provides meals as well.  At Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Preferred Properties we are participating in the Toys for Tots program with United States Marine Corps Reserve.

You may drop off an unwrapped toy at our office located at 105 East River Road in Rumson, NJ which will be delivered to a needy family by the United States Marines.  Everyone from Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Preferred Properties wishes you a Very Happy Holiday Season and a Great 2011. Here is a list of  Holiday activities in Monmouth County.

Monmouth County, NJ Waterfront Living

Numerous people relocate to our area due to the many benefits that Monmouth County offers them.  The eastern part of the county has beautiful beachfront areas as well as rivers and bays that connect with the Atlantic Ocean. Those Rivers include the Navesink River, Shrewsbury River, Shark River and Manasquan River. We also have the Sandy Hook Bay and Raritan Bay which connect to the New York Harbor. Many people who reside in our area commute to New York City. There is ferry boat service located along the Sandy Hook and Raritan Bay with a proposed Oceanfront Ferry Terminal at Pier Village in Long Branch which should be ready in a couple of years.  There is also Bus and Train service along the coast for those who would prefer to travel by land to New York City. 

In addition to the benefits of commuting from our area, there are numerous cultural and entertainment venues located here. Oceanport NJ is home to the Monmouth Park Race Track which has been featured in movies as well as televised horse races featuring the finest thoroughbred horses and jockeys in the country. Red Bank, Asbury Park and Holmdel are the locations for venues offering music and performances. In Holmdel the PNC Arts Center offers live music during the warmer months of some of the most famous musical  acts in the world.  Red Bank is home to the Count Basie Theater and Two River Theater for music and plays provided by local, regional as well as national acts. Asbury Park is home to the world famous Stone Pony, Convention Hall, and the Saint for live music. As most people know Asbury Park launched the careers of most of the musicians from NJ to make their way to the world stage. Those groups include Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Southside Johnny and Asbury Jukes, Bon Jovi, Nicole Atkins, Monster Magnet and a host of other current and former talent.  After 9/11 many New York Restauranteurs discovered the Jersey Shore and brought with them their great dishes. A lot of these restaurants are located in Red Bank, Long Branch, and Asbury Park. For terrific shopping experiences most people visit the Grove in Shrewsbury, downtown Red Bank, Spring Lake, Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park and Pier Village in Long Branch. 

Ultimately it is the diverse population and friendly people who have decided to call Monmouth County their home. There are many well known celebrities that either were raised here or currently live here. Unlike other areas of the country, we do not disrupt the lives of our well known figures nor have the press constantly following them.  They are treated with respect to privacy just like the rest of us like to enjoy. If this is the type of lifestyle that you look forward to enjoying you can purchase  homes in our area anywhere from  around $100,000 to $10,000,000+ all within just a few miles or even blocks of one another along this beautiful coastal area.