Del Mar officials pleased with fall meet numbers

Del Mar officials pleased with fall meet numbers
Brisnet

Del Mar's first "Bing Crosby Season" was declared a smashing success by all involved following Sunday's close to the four-week meeting which saw strong handle and attendance marks established for Southern California's newest season of Thoroughbred sport.
Daily average handle numbers rang in at a husky $10,410,497 per day, a 15 percent increase over the same digits at last year's final Hollywood Park session.

Daily average attendance numbers registered at 9,055 per afternoon, a 187 percent increase over Hollywood's 2013 numbers, and the second-highest attended meet in California to Del Mar's 36-day summer session.

Daily average purses rose an estimated 15 percent to approximately $523,000 during the 15-day stand when compared to the Hollywood numbers.

"When we were approached about picking up these fall dates, we said we thought we could do a pretty good job with it," said Del Mar Thoroughbred Club president and CEO Joe Harper. "Well, we did that -- and a whole lot more. We're just tickled how well this meet went -- for Del Mar, for our horsemen and for racing in general. We need all the positives we can muster in our business and I think Del Mar in the fall is a huge plus."


Del Mar went back to its roots with its "Bing Crosby Season" presentation. The iconic Crosby was the track's founder back in 1937 and its marketing team called on his "old Hollywood" era to showcase itself to a racing-friendly audience and to separate itself from its summer party atmosphere. The "new-old" look was met with enthusiasm in the San Diego area and recognition of an additional sporting and entertainment entity in town grew stronger as the meet moved along.

On the racetrack the competition for the riding and training crowns was stiff. Peter Miller, who was the shore track's training champ in 2012, then tied for honors this past summer with Jerry Hollendorfer, won the first fall training title with 15 winners. Riding honors went to Victor Espinoza by a nose over Elvis Trujillo. Espinoza, who was Del Mar's riding king in 2000, 2005 and 2006, beat his rival 12 wins to 11.

The track will spend several months this winter converting its main track back to a dirt surface after having raced on the synthetic Polytrack since 2007. It has purchased more than 25,000 tons of "El Segundo sand" -- the same dirt currently in use at Santa Anita -- for installation on its track in time for its summer season. It will be the first time that the main racetracks in Southern California have the same racing surface.

Del Mar's fall meet for next year will stretch out to five weeks between October 29 and November 29 and include it being the California simulcast host for the Breeders' Cup, which will be presented in 2015 at Keeneland. Racing again will be offered on a Thursday through Sunday basis.