Del Mar wagering, field sizes are trending up

The business numbers at Del Mar have been strong through the first 14 days of its 31-day summer stand as field sizes and total handle are noticeably up from recent seasons.

Buoyed by its “ship-and-win” bonus program, Del Mar has averaged 8.64 starters for 135 races entering Thursday’s action. For the entirety of last year’s summer meet, Del Mar averaged 8.4 starters per race, and in 2019 the figure was 7.9.

The increase in field sizes has been even more pronounced on the turf. Last summer, the track hosted 61 turf races through the first 13 days of racing, with an average field size of 8.9. So far this season, there have been 57 turf races with an average field size of 9.35.

Bigger field sizes typically produce increased handle, and that has been the case at Del Mar. Through the first 14 days, Del Mar has averaged 9.6 races per card and $14,127,821 in handle. Last year, when on-track attendance was severely limited because of COVID, Del Mar had an average daily handle of $11,838,606 for 10.4 races per card.

In 2019, average daily handle was $9,271,984 with 8.3 races per day.

With the handle increase, Del Mar recently boosted the purses for the Pacific Classic (G1) and Del Mar Derby (G2). The Pacific Classic was bumped from $750,000 to $1 million, and the Del Mar Derby was increased to $250,000 from $200,000.  

As for the ship-and-win program, which has increased incentives this year, it produced 124 eligible starters through the first four weeks, with five of those already having raced twice. Of that group, there have been 25 winners, including Zoffarelli in last Sunday’s La Jolla Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds on turf.

This year’s incentive program offers out-of-state horses a $4,000 starter bonus for their initial outings at Del Mar and a 50 percent purse bonus in all dirt races. For turf races, eligible starters receive a 40 percent purse bonus.

“The ship-and-win program has been essential to Del Mar’s racing program and for racing in California,” Del Mar racing secretary David Jerkens said earlier in the meet.

Near the halfway point of the meet, Peter Miller entered Thursday’s action as a the leading trainer, with 11 wins from 64 starters. Bob Baffert is next with eight wins from 31 starters followed by Mark Glatt (8-for-36). Phil D’Amato, Richard Baltas and Doug O’Neill are tied with five wins.

In the jockey standings, last year’s leading rider, Flavien Prat, leads once again with 21 wins. He is hitting at a 29 percent clip. Juan Hernandez capitalized on Prat’s most recent trip east to ride in big-money stakes by moving within four wins of Prat to rank second. Abel Cedillo is next with 14 wins.

Del Mar’s 82nd summer season ends on Labor Day, Sept. 6. Next Saturday, the track will host its signature program highlighted by the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1).