Del Mar | Horse Racing Free Tips

10% Purse Increase at Del Mar

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club has instituted a 10% purse increase, which will be retroactive to the track’s opening day, July 10. Del Mar has also added a stakes race to its 2020 calendar–the $75,000 Del Mar Juvenile Filly Turf–a one-mile grass test for 2-year-old fillies Sept. 6. The race, which had been a regular feature at the seaside oval in the previous eight seasons, had been omitted from the original stakes schedule due to belt tightening measures. From July 10 through July 27, Del Mar conducted seven days of racing, without spectators due to COVID-19 restrictions, however, accounted for $133,841,412 in online wagering, an increase of over 5% over corresponding dates last year.

“Our horsemen have been terrific and our customers have responded very positively to what we’re presenting,” said Tom Robbins, Del Mar’s executive vice president for racing. “We’ve been running either 11- or 10-race cards and our field size is up to 8.6 in the early going. We’re very pleased to offer this purse boost in conjunction with how the meet has unfolded so far.”
Last summer the track’s average field size finished at 8.0 per race.

Del Mar’s summer season is scheduled through Labor Day Sept. 7 with racing Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. However, in response to the cancellation of racing during its second week, the track added Monday racing (July 27) with a 10-race card that drew $11.6 million in wagers. Del Mar indicated the plan is to make up their second and third missing days from week two with an added race day and additional races on scheduled cards.

The track returns to action Friday with six stakes races planned over the three-day weekend, including the GI Bing Crosby S. and GI Kentucky Derby point-earning race, the Shared Belief S. Saturday.

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Del Mar Will Increase Purses By 10 Percent, Add Stakes Race Back To Calendar

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club announced Thursday a 10 percent purse increase after a solid opening span of racing days during the month of July. The increase will be retroactive back to the track's first day, July 10.

Del Mar also announced the addition of a stakes race to its calendar – the $75,000 Del Mar Juvenile Filly Turf, a one-mile spin on the grass for 2-year-old fillies that will be held on Sunday, Sept. 6. The race had been a regular feature here the previous eight years, but had been dropped from the original stakes schedule due to belt tightening measures.

Between July 10 and July 27 Del Mar conducted seven days of racing and — though it has not had fans on board any of those days as a safety measure tied to the coronavirus pandemic — it saw wagering amounting to $133,841,412 flow from its online and satellite services, an increase of more than 5 percent over similar dates last year.

“Our horsemen have been terrific and our customers have responded very positively to what we're presenting,” said Tom Robbins, Del Mar's executive vice president for racing. “We've been running either 11- or 10-race cards and our field size is up to 8.6 in the early going. We're very pleased to offer this purse boost in conjunction with how the meet has unfolded so far.”

Last summer the track's average field size finished at 8.0 per race.

Del Mar's summer season is scheduled through Labor Day Monday, September 7 with racing on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

However, in response to the cancellation of racing on its second week, the track added Monday racing on July 27 with a 10-race card that drew a solid $11.6 million in wagers. Del Mar officials have indicated that they plan to make up their second and third missing days from week two with an added race day and additional races on scheduled cards.

“We are pleased to announce this well-deserved purse increase to the horsemen and women competing at Del Mar,” said Thoroughbred of Owners of California chairman Nick Alexander. “It is very encouraging to see the positive response at the entry box and from bettors on Del Mar's races. We look forward to continuing to partner with management on another world-class race meet at Del Mar.”

The track returns to action Friday with six stakes races planned over the three-day weekend. Among the upcoming highlights are the Grade I, $250,000 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs and the $100,000 Shared Belief Stakes at a mile and one-sixteenth for 3-year-olds, both this Saturday. The Shared Belief will be the first time the track has offered a “points” race for the Kentucky Derby, which this year has been shifted from the first Saturday in May to the first Saturday in September.

Additionally, this forthcoming weekend will offer the foremost race at the stand for older fillies and mares, the Grade I, $250,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes on Sunday.

First post on all days throughout the meeting is 2 p.m.

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Baffert Doesn’t Like Inside Post, Will Scratch McKinzie From Saturday’s Bing Crosby

McKinzie will not run in this Saturday's Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar, trainer Bob Baffert told the Daily Racing Form on Wednesday. The 5-year-old son of Street Sense drew post four of ten in the six-furlong sprint contest, and Baffert doesn't believe the horse will be able to make his best effort from that spot.

“If I had an outside post, I was going to take a chance at it,” Baffert told drf.com. “But he's down in the four-hole, and this track's been playing weird. It's real loose and deep. A horse like him wouldn't have a chance.”

Instead, Baffert plans to wait for the G2 Pat O'Brien over seven furlongs on Aug. 29. Though the “Win and You're In” race offers a berth to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, Baffert's long-term goal for McKinzie is still the Breeders' Cup Classic over 1 1/4 miles.

Del Mar: Two Owners Per Horse Will Now Be Able To Attend Races

Starting this Friday July 31, 2020, licensed owners with a horse entered can attend the races at Del Mar. Due to COVID-19, currently space is limited to two licensed owners per horse. No guests are permitted.

Up until now, licensed owners have been on track in the morning to watch workouts. The first come, first serve seating in the afternoons will be located in the same area in the spacious clubhouse box seating. Owners will be required to email Mary Forney, Executive Director of TOC (mforney@toconline.com) to secure access, and reservations can be made up until 24 hours before race day. If a horse has more than two owners wishing to attend the races, TOC will do its best to accommodate if space is available.

On race day, owners must show their license when entering the Del Mar Race Track and park in the designated area just outside the clubhouse. Owners will enter through the same area they have been using in the morning, adjacent to the clubhouse entrance. Owners will be required to be on the owner reservation list, provide their CHRB owners license, and undergo a full Covid-19 health screening including a temperature check. Masks will be required to be worn at all times, and owners must respect social distancing guidelines.

Owners will be required to remain in the clubhouse seating area the entire time and may not enter the paddock or the winners circle. Owners are still not permitted to access the backstretch. Any violation of this strict policy will result in a forfeiture of racetrack privileges.

“We appreciate that owners have been practicing social distancing, wearing masks, and creating a safe environment for all horsemen in the morning,” said TOC Chairman Nick Alexander. “Because that has been successful, we are now able to watch our horses in the afternoon. We recognize owners have been attending races in Northern California, Kentucky, and New York, and for some it has been frustrating having limited access to watch our thoroughbreds race in Southern California. Please continue to respect the new rules and guidelines so we can hopefully safely allow more members to attend the races.”

If you have any questions, feel free to contact TOC Executive Director Mary Forney at (626) 826-3782

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