For the first time since mid-March, in-person betting and live horse racing returned to Monmouth Park Racetrack.

The William Hill Sportsbook re-opened for in-person betting. Visitors had their temperatures checked at the entrance and masks were required.

“I was able to get in, be first on line and get my bet in for the Mets to win the World Series in this shortened season,” says K.C. Connors of Neptune City.

Monmouth Park’s live racing season officially opens on Friday with the Oceanport Centennial Stakes, topping a six-race card.

“You come down and the first horse you bet is a winner. You’re hooked,” says Ray Prehard of Hazlet.

Besides serving as a distraction to the COVID-19 pandemic, patrons say that being back at Monmouth Park brings back a sense of normalcy.

“As a state, as a country, we need it. It’s exciting. Hopefully everything gets back to normal soon. We get what we need vaccine-wise and everybody social distances until then and everybody stays safe, and like I said, everybody gets back to normal soon,” says Connors.

Post time for the first of Friday’s races is 5 p.m. Monmouth Park’s biggest racing day, the Haskell is scheduled for July 18.