Record Purses at Del Mar; Pleasanton Adds $150k Stakes

Speaking before the California Horse Racing Board during its monthly meeting May 18, officials from racetracks in Southern and Northern California expressed optimism about their upcoming summer meets.

Del Mar, located in the northern suburb of San Diego, will offer a California-record $870,000 in average daily purses, track president Josh Rubinstein told commissioners. 

Last year, the track averaged $18.7 million in daily handle and 9.14 starters per race, officials said. 

The track intends to offer a free dinner each race day over its 31-day season to backstretch grooms, hotwalkers, and exercise riders, potentially feeding up to 1,000 people per day, Rubinstein said.

The track's stakes program will largely mirror last year's, with its signature race, the Pacific Classic (G1), taking place Sept. 2.

The Del Mar summer meet follows the Los Angeles County Fair at Los Alamitos Race Course in Orange County. That afternoon meet at the Orange County track is set for its 10th anniversary.

In Northern California, where Golden Gate Fields is closed for the summer, Pleasanton will offer a starter-based incentive program and will host a new stakes race, the $150,000 Pleasanton Mile July 9. FanDuel TV will be onsite that day, an official said.

Handle rose marginally last month in California after being down during the early months of the year when wet weather forced racing cancellations, CHRB executive director Scott Chaney said.