Thursday, September 04, 2008
Del Mar Remains A State, National Racing Leader
"No doubt, we were swimming against a strong (economic) current this year. But we swam well and we will get stronger because of it. While this economy has threatened to drown a lot of folks out there, we held our own and we don't need to be making any excuses for that."
--- Joe Harper, president and general manager, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
Del Mar closed out its 69th summer of racing Wednesday with a 10-race card highlighted by the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity, a Grade I test that was won in dramatic fashion by the promising colt Midshipman in a comeback of sorts for the track's leading stakes trainer, Bob Baffert.
In the end, Del Mar's on-track attendance dipped slightly by 4.3% and its overall handle was down by 7%. Still, the final numbers there -- 16,002 and $13,001,768 per day -- were far and away the best recorded in California racing and once again among the national Thoroughbred leaders. It is notable, also, that the figure for total handle, despite the decline, registers as sixth-best in track history.
"We've turned in so many positive numbers for so long here we've all but come to expect it," added Harper. "But in a lot of ways, given what's going on in Southern California and all across the country right now from the largest counting houses down to the smallest wallets, this was one of our best seasons ever. The fans came out, they saw some terrific racing and we kept on doing what we do best at Del Mar -- we had a whole lot of fun."
The track founded back in 1937 by Bing Crosby and his Hollywood pals started out 2008 with a roar by drawing its largest Opening Day crowd in history -- 43,459. Subsequently, there were three other days on the ledger when more than 30,000 fans came through the gates, giving a "big day buzz" to the racing community regularly throughout the summer.
The track's starters-per-race numbers dead-heated with last year's digits at 8.6, despite an early slowdown at the entry box due to trepidation by horsemen following the state mandated ban on steroids that went into effect at the beginning of the meet. The end of the season saw field size increase notably and the final 10 days of the season averaged nearly 9.5 runners per contest.
Also noteworthy was the fact that the track's stakes races -- the measure of its best horses -- were up from 8.02 per race in 2007 to 8.42 in 2008. That number jumped even more when Polytrack only was considered -- with the 8.48 figure of 2007 increasing to 9.00 in 2008.
Del Mar's final major numbers -- daily averages for on-track attendance and total handle -- actually compare favorably with what has been happening at other race meetings across the country. On average a 10% decline in those figures has been prevalent at virtually every major track nationally this year, a fact that helps cushion even further the relatively soft blow felt at the shore oval.
Given the economic situation prevalent throughout the summer, Del Mar fans took advantage of the various cost-saving measures and offers the track introduced. To help offset higher gas prices, Del Mar officials worked with Amtrak personnel and helped institute additional "racetrack trains" coming from the Los Angeles and Orange County areas which triggered a 10% increase in train ridership and use of the track's free double-decker busses that met each arrival. Additionally, record numbers of fans signed on for the Diamond Club card that gave users a 50% discount on daily admissions.
Other events like the track's "Pizza 'N Ponies" Mondays -- when a $21 track package that included a pizza and drink sold for only $10 -- free seniors' days, "Donuts at Del Mar" mornings and the track's discounted "Daybreak at Del Mar" breakfasts had their best-ever responses.
Del Mar's second season with its new Polytrack racing surface proved even more successful than the first with the addition of new materials and a different maintenance routine that included the use of water. The relatively slow afternoon times of 2007 all but disappeared and overall catastrophic breakdowns during the meet once again were lowered.
"We were better with our Polytrack this year as we work our way through the learning curve something like this takes," Harper stated. "We've introduced science into the equation and our maintenance people are becoming more and more confident in how to make it work. And we'll be better yet next year. We're on a positive run with this major investment we've made in our horses and riders."
Attendance - 43 DAYS - 2008
On-Track
Total attendance.....688,097
Daily average.....16,002
Total attendance, 2007.....718,923
Daily average, 2007.....16,719
On-Track Average Comparison vs, 2007 -- decrease of 4.3%
Off-Track
Total attendance.....371,000
Daily average.....8,628
Total attendance, 2007.....402,254
Daily average, 2007.....9,355
Off-Track Average Comparison vs, 2007 -- decrease of 7.8%
PARI-MUTUEL HANDLE - 43 DAYS - 2008
On-Track (includes wagering on Northern California races)
Total pari-mutuel handle.....$93,182,206
Daily average.....$2,167,028
Total pari-mutuel handle, 2007.....$104,800,660
Daily average.....$2,437,225
On-Track Average Comparison vs, 2007 -- decrease of 11.1%
Off-Track in California (includes Northern California and Advance Deposit Wagering)
Total pari-mutuel handle (ADW $56,134,521).....$198,719,698
Daily average (ADW $1,305,453.98, minus 3.51%).....$4,621,388
Total pari-mutuel handle, 2007 (ADW $58,176,803).....$223,527,976
Daily average, 2007 (ADW $1,352,949).....$5,198,325
Off-Track Average Comparison vs, 2007 -- decrease of 11.1%
Out-of-State Commingled (Includes ADW)
Total pari-mutuel handle (ADW $25,833,788) .....$250,005,441
Daily average (ADW $600,785.77, plus 18.7%) .....$5,814,080
Total pari-mutuel handle, 2007 (ADW $21,764,890) .....$256,364,828
Daily average, 2007 (ADW $506,160) .....$5,961,973
Out-of-State Commingled Average Comparison vs, 2007 -- decrease of 2.5%
Uncommingled 2008 (estimated)
Total handle.....$17,168,685
Daily average.....$399,272
Total handle, 2007.....$16,662,713
Daily average, 2007......$387,505
Uncommingled (estimated) Average Comparison vs, 2007 -- increase of 3.0%
Grand Total - All Sources
Total pari-mutuel handle.....$559,076,029
Daily average.....$13,001,768
Total pari-mutuel handle, 2007.....$601,356,177
Daily average, 2007.....$13,985,027
All Sources Average Comparison vs, 2007 -- decrease of 7.0%
HANDLE AND ATTENDANCE HIGHLIGHTS
Handle Highlights 2008
Highest single-day handle.....$23,521,813 (Sunday, 8-24)
Highest single-day handle on-track.....$4,886,096 (Sunday, 8-24)
Highest single-day handle off-track.....$7,818,732 (Sunday, 8-24)
Highest single-day handle out-of-state.....$10,816,986 (Sunday, 8-24)
Highest single-day ADW handle......$3,715,050 (Sunday, 8-24)
Attendance Highlights 2008
Highest single day (combined).....51,579 (Saturday, 8-9)
Highest weekday (combined).....51,150 Wednesday, 7-16)
Highest single-day on-track.....43,459 (Wednesday, 7-16)
Highest single-day off-track.....14,214 (Sunday, 8-24)
TIME RECORDS -- POLYTRACK
5 1/2 Furlongs.....Streamin Heat (2) 119 July 18, 2008 1:03.26
6 Furlongs......Cost of Freedom (5) 124 August 9, 2008 1:08.29
6 1/2 Furlongs.....Dearest Trickski (4) 120 August 24,2008 1:15.17
7 Furlongs.....Lewis Michael (5) 118 August 24,2008 1:21.17
1 Mile.....Albertus Maximus (4) 115 September 1, 2008 1:35.37
1 1/16 Miles.....Zenyatta (4) 124 August 2, 2008 1:41.48
1 1⁄1/4 Miles.....Go Between (5)124 August 24, 2008 2:01.18
1 1/2 Miles…..Zappa (6) 117 July 30, 2008 2:30.58
TIME RECORDS -- TURF
1 3/8 Miles.....Spring House (6) 118 August 23, 2008 2:11.14
HIGHEST PAYOFFS
$2 Win .....$107.80 Kiamika -- Race 8, Aug. 25
$2 Daily Double.....$1,385.80 (9-3) Races 7 & 8 July 26
$1 Exacta.....$494.70 (2-5) -- Race 3 Aug. 31
$2 Quinella.....$1,071.00 (2-6) Race 3 -- July 18
$2 Pick Six.....$371,480.60 (6 of 6) 4 tickets Aug. 28
$1 Pick Four.....$200,000.70 (4 of 4) -- (9-3-2-1) July 26
$1 Pick Three.....$8,882.60 (9-3-2) Race 9 -- July 26
$1 Trifecta.....$7,649.20 (2-5-8) -- Race 3 -- Aug. 31
$1 Superfecta.....$77,267.20 (2-9-7-6) -- Race 6 -- July 30
$1 Super High 5.....$437,893.40 (6-10-7-12-9) -- Race 8 -- Aug. 25 RECORD
$1 Place Pick All………………….$26,766.70 (8 of 8) 1 ticket -- Aug. 4
PURSE DISTRIBUTION
Purse Distribution.....$tktk
(Includes nomination, starting and entry fees and owners' and breeders' awards)
CLAIMS
There were 204 claims for $5,512,500
FAVORITES
Favorites won 124 of 371 races for a winning percentage of 33.42
Winning Favorites on Polytrack -- 85 of 283 for a percentage of 30.04
Winning Favorites on Turf -- 39 of 88 for a percentage of 44.32
Favorites finished in the money 268 times for a percentage of 72.24
There were 46 odds-on favorites and 23 won for a percentage of 50
Odds-on favorites finished in the money 40 times for a percentage of 86.96
Bejarano, Sadler Sweep To Season Jockey,
Trainer Titles
It was no walk in the park for Rafael Bejarano or John Sadler, but it was as close as one can get to that.
Bejarano was an easy winner in the race to be Del Mar's leading jockey during the newly completed 43-day meeting. He posted 45 victories and finished with a nine-victory cushion over runner-up Joel Rosario, who had an impressive record in his first full season at the seashore.
Two victories on Day 5 sent Bejarano into the lead to stay. It gave the Peruvian-born rider -- in his first full year on the Southern California circuit -- a sweep of the three major meetings, winning Santa Anita's winter-spring title and Hollywood Park's spring-summer session prior to coming to Del Mar.
Sadler was even an easier winner in the trainers' race with a total of 31 firsts, the most by a Del Mar trainer since 2000. It did take him a bit longer to take control of things, but once in command there was no catching him. He broke a tie with six-time Del Mar training champion Mike Mitchell on the 15th day of the meet and never looked back. Mitchell wound up second with 19 winners.
Photos of the top jockey, trainer and owners can be dowloaded from
http://www.dmtc.com/upload/barber_gary-cecil.jpg
http://www.dmtc.com/upload/bejarano_rafaeldmtc.jpg
http://www.dmtc.com/upload/sadler_john.jpg
All photos are ©Benoit Photo
Here are the season standings:
Jockey...............Sts.....1st.....2nd.....3rd.....Win%.....$%
Rafael Bejarano.....238.....45 .....53 .....44 .....19 .....60
Joel Rosario..........254.....36 .....34 .....40 .....14 .....43
Tyler Baze..........223.....35 .....29 .....27 .....16 .....41
Garrett K. Gomez.....160.....34 .....20 .....26 .....21 .....50
Joseph Talamo.....153.....18 .....15 .....11 .....12 .....29
Victor Espinoza.....165.....17 .....19 .....17 .....10 .....32
Martin A. Pedroza.....124.....16 .....12 .....14 .....13 .....34
Martin Garcia..........137.....14 .....20 .....14 .....10 .....35
Michael Baze..........143.....14 .....14 .....13 .....10 .....29
Alex Solis..........134.....13 .....26 .....20 .....10 .....44
David Flores..........131.....13 .....16.....18 .....10 .....36
Mike Smith..........92.....12 .....12 .....6 .....13 .....33
Aaron T. Gryder.....105.....12 .....6 .....7 .....11 .....24
Corey Nakatani.....101.....11 .....15 .....14 .....11 .....40
Trainer.............Sts....1st ....2nd ....3rd ....Win%....$%
John W. Sadler.....121.....31.....26.....12.....26.....57
Mike Mitchell..........84.....19.....9.....15.....23.....51
Doug O'Neill..........116.....17.....22.....17.....15.....48
Jeff Mullins..........81.....17.....19.....8.....21.....54
Jerry Hollendorfer.....56.....14.....6.....12.....25.....57
Bob Baffert..........63.....9.....11.....10.....14.....48
Brian J. Koriner.....48.....9.....4.....4.....19.....35
Jack Carava..........47.....8.....7.....7.....17.....47
J. C. Canani..........55.....8.....4.....9.....15.....38
Carla Gaines..........30.....8.....4.....8.....27.....67
Peter Miller..........38.....7.....7.....2.....18.....42
Bill Spawr..........42.....7.....6.....3.....17.....38
J. Eric Kruljac..........26.....7.....6.....1.....27.....54
Barry Abrams..........48.....7.....5.....6.....15.....38
Mike Puype..........34.....7.....3 .....5.....21.....44
Barber Brothers Top Owners For Wins, Money Earned
Gary and Cecil Barber swept the standings for both victories and money won to become Del Mar's 2008 top owners. And with their 14th victory in closing-day's eighth race they set a record for wins by an owner during a Del Mar meeting.
The brothers had been tied with Bob Bone for most wins in a season, Bone having set the mark in 2005 with 13.
In a category usually dominated by whatever owner wins the $1-million Pacific Classic, the Barbers overcame that barrier to post earnings of $612,900. Leading the brothers' earnings' charge was Zappa, who won the $150,000 Cougar II Handicap and finished fourth in the Pacific Classic. In addition, their horse Tizzy Fit finished second in the Cougar II.
Gary Barber, co-chairman and CEO of Hollywood's Spyglass Entertainment, and his brother have most of their horses with trainers John Sadler and Peter Miller.
Here are the meet's complete standings:
Owner.........................Sts.....1st.....2nd.....3rd.....Win%.....$%
Barber & Barber...............42.....14.....5.....4.....33.....55
La Canada Stables, LLC..........46.....8.....7.....6.....17.....46
Hollendorfer or Todaro..........17.....6.....1.....6.....35.....76
Mr. & Mrs. J. S. Moss...............13.....4.....1.....0.....31.....38
Robert D. Bone...............13.....3.....4.....0.....23.....54
E. W. & Judy Johnston..........8.....3.....2.....1.....38.....75
A & R Stables, LLC or
Class Racing Stable ..........10.....3.....2.....0.....30.....50
Michael House ...............9.....3.....2.....0.....33.....56
Mike Harrington Trustee..........15.....3.....1.....2.....20.....40
Joseph Lacombe Stable..........8.....3.....1.....1.....38.....63
Mr. & Mrs. Larry D. Williams.....7.....3.....0.....0.....43.....43
Bradley W. Penny ...............3.....3.....0.....0.....100.....100
2008 LEADING OWNERS BY MONEY WON
Barber & Barber....................$633,700
Peter Vegso.........................$601,360
Mr. & Mrs. J. S. Moss....................$496,742
WinStar Farms, LLC....................$401,140
Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, LLC..........$353,780
La Canada Stables, LLC...............$304,060
Everest Stables, Inc.....................$255,741
Anastasi, Manoogian & Manoogian..........$248,000
Doubledown Stables, Inc................$243,360
C. R. Cono, LLC....................$223,920
Bienstock or Mandabach or Winner..........$210,400
Joseph Lacombe Stable, Inc. ...............$207,200
Stonerside Stable, LLC ...............$184,920
Go Between, Zenyatta, Stardom Bound Highlight Meet
Pacific Classic winner Go Between was named Horse of the Meet and top older horse for 2008 in the annual media poll conducted by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
Zenyatta, winner of the Grade II Clement L. Hirsch Handicap, and Del Mar Debutante champion Stardom Bound were unanimous choices as top older filly or mare and top 2-year-old filly, respectively. Also, Zenyatta drew quite a bit of support for Horse of the Meet honors.
The top vote getters in each division were clear winners.
Street Boss, a solid winner of the Grade I Bing Crosby Handicap at six furlongs, was the runaway winner in the sprinter category. The Bruce Headley trainee didn't contest the track's other sprint, the Grade I Pat O'Brien Handicap at seven furlongs, but is being pointed to the Ancient Title Stakes at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.
The mantle of top grass horse was worn by Whatsthescript in the media poll. Whatsthescript was a fast-closing second in the Grade I Eddie Read Handicap and came back to win convincingly in the Del Mar Mile, which guaranteed him a spot in the Breeders' Cup Mile.
Top 3-year-old filly honors went to Lethal Heat, who won two Cal-bred stakes during the meet, including one against males, and then finished third in the Grade I Del Mar Oaks.
Madeo's victory in the Grade II Del Mar Derby clinched 3-year-old honors from the media.
Futurity winner Midshipman was named top 2-year-old male following his nose tally in the closing-day headliner.
Here are the winners:
Horse of the Meet ……………………………………Go Between
Top older horse ………………………………………Go Between
Top older filly or mare ………………………………Zenyatta
Top sprinter ………………………………………….. Street Boss
Top grass horse ……………………………………….Whatsthescript
Top 3-year-old filly ……………………………………Lethal Heat
Top 3-year-old …………………………………………Madeo
Top 2-year-old filly ………………………………… Stardom Bound
Top 2-year-old ……………………………………….Midshipman
A pdf file of this release can be downloaded at
http://www.dmtc.com/upload/dmtc_2008_statistics.pdf
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