DEL MAR — Starting with the pandemic season of 2020, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club produced some record numbers for four straight seasons.
That didn’t happen in 2024.
“But we had a solid summer meeting,” Del Mar president and chief operating officer Josh Rubinstein said Sunday night.
“And given what’s ahead, we’re very excited by the big picture of 2024.”
Come Nov. 1-2, Del Mar will host the Breeders’ Cup for the third time. And with the Breeders’ Cup serving as the cornerstone, the fall meeting will cover 14 days over five weekends as opposed to four weekends in the past.
There will be one major change to the fall or Bing Crosby meeting. There will be no racing on Thanksgiving Day this year, ending a Southern California tradition that goes back to Hollywood Park and more than three-quarters of a century.
“Thanksgiving was probably our slowest day of the year,” said Rubinstein. “And dropping that day allowed us to add the final weekend.”
Plus, having the Breeders’ Cup on the first weekend with the first races of the two-weekend Turf Festival almost a month later might have some Breeders’ Cup horses stay at Del Mar to run in a second stakes race at the end of the meet.
With no turf racing in the East at the end of November and the start of December, Del Mar has always had a number of top grass horses ship in for the Turf Festival. Racing secretary David Jerkens believes those numbers could grow in 2024.
“The Turf Festival has been incredibly popular with horsemen,” said Jerkens.
Speaking of numbers …
The summer meeting handle of $502.985 million this year was down 4.8 percent from a year ago. The average field size of 8.6 was down from 2023’s record average of 8.9 horses per race. And attendance was off 1 percent.
There are reasons behind some of the drops. Del Mar opened on a Saturday this year rather than the traditional Friday opening. And the key race of the season – the Pacific Classic – lacked a star attraction.
Plus, Del Mar raised its rates on computer players. And changing the Pick 6 also reduced the handle there. “The intention was having less money come in late in the win pools,” Rubinstein said of the changes in the computer charges.
Del Mar’s barns reopen on Oct. 19. The fall meeting opens Oct. 31 with the Breeders’ Cup Nov. 1-2.
“Our fall meeting has turned into staple nationally,” said Rubinstein. “I think we’re going to see trainers ship in horses earlier for the Turf Classic. There are worse places to be than San Diego in November.”
Looking farther ahead, Del Mar will also host the Breeders’ Cup in 2025. And in 2026 a change in the calendar will have Del Mar’s summer meeting back to its traditional Labor Day closing. Attendance has dropped off sharply the final weekend when the meeting extends to the weekend after Labor Day.
“San Diegans love Del Mar,” said Rubinstein. “That’s a very big part of our enduring story and success.”
