Del Mar Summer Meet starts with uptick in metrics

The opening weekend of the Del Mar Summer Meet broke from the gate with authority. Numbers are up in attendance and handle.

After 77 years, Del Mar’s combination of élite summer racing and California’s beautiful beaches still draws spectators, fans, handicappers, owners and horseman for a six-week working holiday by the shore. The meet wraps on Labor Day.

“It was great to see San Diegans and racing fans in general respond so positively to our opening week,” said Del Mar Thoroughbred Club president Joe Harper. “Good crowds; good racing; good action at the window – that’s what Del Mar is all about.”

Figures release by the Del Mar front office bode for a successful meet. On track attendance for the opening Friday-Saturday-Sunday weekend was up 13.4 percent at 76,962; Friday’s opening party attendance was 42,562.

Del Mar released increased wagering figures for the opening weekend:

"Bettors responded favorably to the second year of Del Mar’s new dirt track and its maturing turf course, not to mention the large fields and the highly competitive racing product.Overall, the track saw wagering reach $15,827,100 per day, a rise of nearly $2 million above last year’s $13,848,778 three-day average.California off-track wagering numbers showed healthy gains of 12.3 percent with a rise of more than $600,000 per day during the extended weekend. Out-of-state wagering raced up even higher, providing a 22 percent gain at more than $1.2 million each afternoon above the 2015 digits for the three days. After three afternoons on-track wagering was up 1.7 percent over 2015."

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