If you’re under 21 years old, leave the alcohol at home. That’s the message the Oceanport police chief has for those coming to Monmouth Park this weekend for the annual Haskell Invitational.

Chief Michael Kelly says that underage drinking shouldn’t be happening in general. But he says that his officers will be out in full force to make sure it isn’t happening at the race.

"We've implemented several other procedures at the gates that if we see these juveniles and people under the legal age that possess alcohol or are drinking, coming in impaired or intoxicated, we're going to stop them right there,” Kelly says.

Kelly also says that officers will be checking coolers and anything else that could possibly contain alcohol. He is asking parents to make sure that their children aren’t drinking or impaired before they head off to the race.

Kelly says that underage drinking was an issue for the 2018 race. He says that officers issued 32 ordinances for underage possession of alcohol. This is coupled with citations for underage public intoxication and disorderly conduct charges.