del mar ship and win | Horse Racing Free Tips

Ship And Win Success Helps Fuel Fall Meet Purse Increases At Del Mar

Del Mar's eighth fall meeting – starting on Wednesday, Nov. 3 – will offer horsemen/women a solid 20% blended raise in overnight purses compared to last year, as well as a continuation of the exceptionally popular “Ship & Win” program that has amplified field size and year-round horse population at the seaside track near San Diego, Calif., and in the state.

The 15-day stand, which will run through Sunday, Nov. 28, includes the 38th edition of the Breeders' Cup World Championships on Friday, Nov. 5, and Saturday, Nov. 6. The meet is entitled the “Bing Crosby Season” as a salute to the track's founder.

The 20% across-the-board increase in fall overnight purses means that Del Mar is presenting its fall schedule under the same robust levels as its highly successful summer session that ended on Labor Day. And the restarting of its Ship & Win program – with a $3,000 guarantee for a first outing along with a 30% purse boost in all starts – builds on the program's blockbuster summer numbers that were the best in its 11-year history.

“Our summer meet was extraordinary on all fronts,” said track vice president and racing secretary David Jerkens. “Our racing was just about the best we've ever seen here and our Ship & Win program continues to give Del Mar – and California racing – a tremendous boost.”

Among the all-inclusive increases in purse values during the upcoming four-week session will be the following:

Maiden Special Weight races jump from $57,000 to $70,000.
First-level allowance races rise from $59,000 to $72,000.
$16,000 claimers will now race for $30,000 instead of $26,000.

Del Mar's 'Ship & Win' strategy saw 180 new horses make 272 starts during its 31-day summer meeting. That upped the totals since the plan's start in 2011 to more than 1,600 runners appearing at Del Mar and making over 2,200 starts. Those same horses made more than 4,500 starts at other state track's during that time, primarily at Santa Anita, Los Alamitos and Golden Gate Fields.

The Ship and Win program will continue its positive arrangement with Del Mar's sister track, Santa Anita, which began on a full-time basis this past summer. Eligible horses from out-of-state who start once at the upcoming Santa Anita fall session still will be eligible for 30% purse bonus. Besides the track's 180 direct 'S & W' summer runners, there also were 43 Santa Anita starters who then came to Del Mar to compete this past summer and took advantage of the 'S & W' arrangement.

The simple rules for Ship and Win runners are as follows:

Horses must have made their last start outside of California.
Horses cannot have raced in California in the past 12 months.
First-time starters are not eligible
$3,000 starter fee for all eligible horses; 30% purse bonus for all starts at meet
Stakes runners (including overnight stakes) are not eligible for 30% bonus.

Those who have questions concerning the program are encouraged to contact Del Mar's executive vice president for racing Tom Robbins or Jerkens at (858) 792-4230.

“We couldn't be more thrilled with our partners at Del Mar who once again are offering our owners the biggest purses to run for,” said Thoroughbred Owners of California chairman Gary Fenton. “This coupled with its signature 'Ship & Win' program – which has greatly influenced the Southern California horse population – make us excited to head back south again in November.”

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‘Del Mar Was Del Mar Again’: Record Wagering, Return Of Fans Highlight Summer Season

Record wagering and highly competitive, quality racing highlighted Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's eight-week summer race meet which concluded its 31-day stand on Labor Day, Sept. 6, in Del Mar, Calif.

The 82nd summer season at the seaside oval welcomed back racing fans who participated enthusiastically to help set a Del Mar record for daily average wagering of $18.38 million, the highest in the track's long history. Top-of-the-line racing flowed daily with a highly competitive jockey colony and a deeply experienced training corps putting on a show each afternoon that was enhanced by some of the sweetest weather Del Mar has experienced in many seasons.

“Terrific, simply terrific,” said Del Mar CEO Joe Harper. “We had our fans come back this year and we put on a show of shows for them. The racing was first-rate, the wagering was over the moon and Del Mar was Del Mar again in all its glory. Special, very special.”

The handle numbers raced past an impressive 2020 racing season when “stuck at home” horse players went all out and set a record for daily average handle at $17.32 million. The total handle for the 2021 meet was $569.98 million for 31 days of racing. The 2020 total handle – for 27 days of racing – was $467.60 million.

Field size, often a key driver of wagering, improved as well. In 2020, the track had an exceptional 8.36 horses per race, one of the best marks in the country. In 2021 – running four more days this year than last (31 vs. 27) – that number rose to 8.45.

“Our horsemen and horsewomen were excellent in responding to the goals we set out to bolster our Southern California horse population,” said Del Mar executive vice president of racing Tom Robbins. “We substantially increased purses and incentive bonuses and they replied in fine fashion. When you realize that other meets across the country are struggling with horse population, we feel we're fortunate to receive the strong participation form owners and trainers coming. Our core racing product was excellent.”

The track's popular “Ship & Win” program in its 11th season offered its highest engagement bonus at $4,000 in addition to 50% and 40% purse supplements. It attracted 181 horses from across the country – as opposed to 104 in 2020 – with the majority of them owned and trained by Southern Californians.

Racing fans got to see some stellar performances by potential champions across the summer. Old pro United took down the Eddie Read Stakes; Shedaresthedevil sparkled in the Clement L. Hirsch; Princess Grace took the Yellow Ribbon handily; Astronaut, Mo Forza and Going Global bested their competition on the turf course. Tripoli rose to the top in the TVG Pacific Classic. Medina Spirit made his return to racing memorable. Flightline wowed the crowd on closing weekend. Grace Adler and Pinehurst proved to be juvenile stars.

“Another amazing summer in the books”, said Thoroughbred Owners of California, Gary Fenton. “A big thank you to DMTC. After months of planning and hard work they hit a grand slam for us and continue to provide our membership with an incredible racing experience.”

Del Mar will return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 3 for the start of its 15-day Bing Crosby Season which this year will feature the 38th running of the Breeders' Cup Championships on Friday, November 5 and Saturday, November 6.

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Santa Anita To Continue Successful ‘Ship & Win’ Program For Upcoming Autumn Meet

Encouraged by the tremendous success it has helped spark at the current Del Mar summer race meeting, officials at Santa Anita have announced the popular “Ship & Win” program, which began this past May at Santa Anita, will continue to be in effect through the Arcadia, Calif., track's upcoming 2021 autumn meet, which opens on Friday, Oct. 1.

“This program has proven to be a primary driver in our efforts to bring horses to California from all over the nation,” said Chris Merz, Santa Anita director of racing and racing secretary. “We started to see some horses coming here in May and June and Del Mar has done a tremendous job of recruiting, which we are confident is going to be of significant benefit to the entire circuit here. Along with Del Mar, the Thoroughbred Owners of California have been very supportive in the implementation of Ship & Win and it's great to have all of us working together for the benefit of racing in California.”

The Ship & Win program, which provides a $3,000 bonus and a 35 percent increase in purse earnings for any horse that has not run in California for one year, augments significant purse increases which have been instituted in 2021 at both Santa Anita and Del Mar.

Additionally, any new out-of-state horses coming to Santa Anita which meet requirements or which have made their first start in the Del Mar Ship & Win program, remain eligible for the same benefits in their first start at Santa Anita.

“We are greatly encouraged by recent trends here in California,” said Merz. “There's no question that horsemen around the country are realizing that our purses and incentives are making racing here a much more compelling enterprise. Field size is up at Del Mar and that of course drives pari-mutuel handle.

“With everything that's in place now, our sport is poised to grow in very significant ways and that's great news for our horseplayers, owners and horsemen, as we're providing better and better gambling opportunities while attracting quality horses. We're anxious for everyone to return here in September and we're looking forward to a big meet starting Oct. 1.”

For more information on Santa Anita's Ship & Win program, please contact the Santa Anita Racing Office at (626) 574- 6352.

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Iowa Derby Winner Stilleto Boy Headed to California After Bringing $420,000 At Fasig-Tipton July Sale

Ten days after stunning the Iowa Derby as the longest-priced horse on the board, Stilleto Boy hammered for $420,000 on Monday at the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale, with Del Mar as his next destination.

Steve Moger was the winning bidder on the 3-year-old Shackleford gelding, placing just one bid over Fasig-Tipton's online platform to secure the horse. His brother, Ed Moger Jr. will train the horse.

“Del Mar has the 'Ship and Win' program, and I figured I'd give it a shot,” Steve Moger said. “He'll be going up against some nice horses out there, so we'll see what happens.”

Del Mar's “Ship and Win” program incentivizes horses that race at the Southern California track for the first time after previously running out of state with a $4,000 starter's bonus for their debut start. Eligible horses can also receive a 50 percent bonus on purse earnings throughout the remainder of the meet for starts on the dirt, and a 40 percent bonus for turf races.

Stilleto Boy came into the sale with a record of two wins in seven starts for earnings of $249,675, only missing the board once to date. He raced as a Kentucky homebred for John and Iveta Kerber, with trainer Doug Anderson joining a racing partnership that also included Michael Coleman and Aaron Kennedy.

The gelding has been based in the middle of the country throughout his career, racing once as a juvenile at Prairie Meadows in a runner-up effort. He was then moved to Oaklawn Park, where he finished third or better in a trio of maiden special weight races before graduating in his final start of the season at the track.

Stilleto Boy then returned to Prairie Meadows for the summer, where he finished fourth in the Prairie Mile Stakes on June 4.

That effort helped him leave the gate in the July 2 Iowa Derby at odds of 16-to-1, the highest price of the six-horse field. He led at every point of call in the 1 1/16-mile race, and drew off under jockey Jose Ortiz to win by 4 1/2 lengths.

Stilleto Boy is out of the winning Marquetry mare Rosie's Ransom, whose nine foals to race are all winners, including stakes winner Rosie My Rosie and Condo Closing.

Paramount Sales consigned Stilleto Boy, as agent.

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