Handle, Field Size Rise for Del Mar's Bing Crosby Meet

Del Mar concluded its 11th Bing Crosby fall race meet Dec. 1 with gains in all-sources handle and field size. The highlight of the 14-day meeting was the Breeders' Cup World Championships held Nov. 1-2.

Total wagering rose to $165.10 million as compared to $153.29 million for the 13-day 2023 fall season. Field size increased to 7.72 runners per race versus 7.43 in 2023. This year's handle and field size results excluded races conducted over the two Breeders' Cup cards.

The 2024 Breeders' Cup, the third time Del Mar has hosted the World Championships, was a rousing success with domestic and international runners delivering some of the year's top performances.

The nation's premier fall season grass racing was conducted over Del Mar's Jimmy Durante Turf Course and featured the popular Autumn Turf Festival—eight graded stakes during the final two weekends of the meet.

Del Mar continued its precedent-setting equine safety protocols—now followed by many other racing venues nationally—which once again produced one of the safest race meets in the country. Additionally, the Del Mar area's reputation for fine weather again played to its best, and racing was presented daily on "fast and firm" surfaces.

"Our fall meet has grown into a marquee presence on the national racing calendar with the Autumn Turf Festival and of course the Breeders' Cup this year and in 2025," said Del Mar president Josh Rubinstein. "We are very appreciative of the continued support we receive from owners, trainers, and horseplayers throughout the country."

The track's unique program to feed the backstretch community continued through the Bing Crosby Season. With support from the California Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation and the Oak Tree Racing Association, Del Mar provided free meals in a communal setting to the backstretch community each race day.

"In 2014 the Bing Crosby Meet stepped into the void left by Hollywood Park and quickly proved to be a game-changer for California racing," said Gary Fenton, chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners of California. "This meet boasts the second-highest average daily handle in the state, surpassed only by Del Mar's summer meet. We appreciate the entire DMTC team for their unwavering contributions to California's horsemen and horsewomen."

Del Mar has again been awarded the Breeders' Cup in 2025. The World Championships will be conducted Oct. 31-Nov. 1 during the fall season, set to run from Oct. 30 through Nov. 30.

Hernandez, Glatt, Augustin Win Meet Titles

For the second year in a row, Juan Hernandez won both the summer and fall riding titles at Del Mar. Unlike past title runs, Hernandez had to rally late to win the Bing Crosby title with 21 wins.

Hernandez trailed Antonio Fresu and Umberto Rispoli through much of the fall. But he got hot in the second-to-last week, winning five races and grabbing the lead. He secured the title with eight victories in the final week, five on closing day.

"I'm very grateful to everybody," Hernandez said. "I want to thank the owners the trainers and the grooms. My agent (Craig O'Bryan); he's the one who picks the right horses.

"I just enjoy riding my horses. I try to do my best in every race. This is for my family here and in Mexico. I'm just excited and looking forward to the next meet."

Hernandez has won six jockey titles at Del Mar. Rispoli finished with 15 wins, Fresu with 14.

Trainer Mark Glatt notched his first Del Mar title this fall, winning 14 races, five better than runner-up and defending winner Phil D'Amato. Glatt ran horses in 32 races, about half of what D'Amato came with, and posted a 44% win rate.

Glatt's title at Del Mar follows his first training title at Santa Anita Park at last year's Autumn meet. He's been training in Southern California since 2000.

Augustin Stables won the owners' title with five wins. Hronis Racing and Nick Alexander were next with four. Godolphin, by way of its Breeders' Cup success, won the earnings title with more than $4.5 million.