Most of the architects of the popular “Ship & Win” program at Del Mar refuse to take credit for saving horse racing in Southern California. Admittedly, the term “saving” may be a bit of an overstatement but there's no denying that the successful program has breathed new life into the region.
“Ship & Win” enters its 13th season at Del Mar in 2023. The program provides incentives for out-of-town trainers and owners to bring their horses to the seaside oval. If a horse has made their last start outside of the state, they get a bonus just for running, $5,000 for dirt runners, $4,000 for turf. Then on top of the bonus they get a purse supplement, 50 percent for dirt, 40 percent for turf.
Last year, over 200 horses qualified for the “Ship & Win” bonus and made over 300 starts at Del Mar. This year racing secretary David Jerkens believes the numbers will be similar.
“'Ship & Win' was up 20-percent last year,” Jerkens says. “It was a big component of our success last summer. I don't know if we'll be at the level of last year but I think we'll be in the ballpark.
“When you attract out-of-state barns that bring 20 head,” Jerkens says, “like last year we had Diodoro and Sisterson, that inflates the numbers. Typically most of the starts are from local trainers. 60-to-70 percent are local. Then you throw in out-of-state barns that are not just sending a stakes horse and you get that eight-horse field that might have been a six or that 10-horse field that might have been an eight. You just look at the card and you see how many extra horses are from the 'Ship & Win' program.”
Overall, an estimated 2,400 horses have participated in the “Ship & Win” program since it began in 2011. This has led to increased field sizes, not only at Del Mar but at other racetracks around the state.
“We opened it up for Santa Anita,” Jerkens says, “where an eligible horse can make two starts at Santa Anita in May and June and still be eligible for purse bonuses at Del Mar. And at the Santa Anita autumn meet, horses remain eligible as long as they've made one start at Del Mar.”
The ripple effect of these horses shipping in to Del Mar is that many are staying and racing in Southern California.
“We've kept track of the horses,” Jerkens says, “and we've seen evidence that a majority of them remain on the circuit. Typically they'll stay in the state and make another start of two.”
In addition to “Ship & Win” there's the Maiden Incentive Program, a 25 percent purse supplement for owners and trainers who run their horses in Maiden Special Weight dirt races, MSW Cal-bred dirt races, and maiden claiming dirt races of $62,000 and above. That translates into big bucks for an owner who brings their horse from out-of-state and wins one of the qualifying maiden races.
The Del Mar summer meet begins Friday.
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