here’s a breakdown of the provided text, focusing on the key points and themes:
Main Topic: The upcoming Del Mar racing season and its expectations, especially in light of the collapse of the Northern California racing circuit.
Key Figures:
Jerkens: Likely a racing official or executive at Del Mar, expressing optimism and outlining strategies.
Josh Rubinstein: Chief Operating Officer of Del Mar, providing data and insights on field sizes and wagering handles.
Key Themes and Facts:
Increased Field Sizes and wagering Handles:
The core argument is that adding horses should lead to bigger fields and higher wagering handles.
Evidence from Santa Anita: Santa Anita’s spring meeting saw a 13% increase in field size (average 7.7 horses/race) and a 7.5% increase in handle.
Del mar’s History: Del Mar has historically been an industry leader in field size, with averages around 8.7-9.0 horses per race in recent years.
Impact of Northern California Circuit Collapse:
The closure of the Northern California circuit is a major factor influencing Del Mar’s outlook.
Del Mar is actively trying to accommodate horses and trainers moving south from Northern California.
Del Mar’s Strategies to Attract Horses and Trainers:
Altered Race Schedule: “Altered our menu of races” to include different claiming levels and more opportunities for California-bred horses. Increased Purses: An 8% purse increase is projected, with purses in Del Mar being double what they were in Northern California.
Ship-and-win Program: This program continues to attract top horses from outside the state.
Optimism for the Upcoming Meet:
Officials are “excited” and believe they are in a “very healthy situation on paper.”
Expectations for “capacity fields” on opening day, with a projected increase in numbers and demand.
Specific Race Previews:
Opening Day Feature: 80th Oceanside Stakes (3-year-olds, 1 mile turf) with 21 nominations.
Saturday Races: $200,000 Grade II San Clemente Handicap (29 nominations) and the Wickerr Stakes (21 nominations).
Sunday Race: $100,000 Osunitas Stakes (30 nominations). New Jockey: Mirco Demuro, an accomplished Italian jockey with a strong record in Japan, will debut at Del Mar.
Immigration Raid Preparedness:
Del Mar has developed plans in case of an ICE raid, a concern stemming from a past incident in 1985.
Officials have been communicating with stakeholders and the backstretch community about the issue.
* Recent meetings at Santa Anita and Los Alamitos did not experience ICE interference.
Overall Sentiment: The article conveys a sense of cautious optimism for the Del Mar racing season. The closure of the Northern California circuit presents both challenges and opportunities, and Del Mar appears to be proactively addressing these by adjusting its racing program and offering attractive incentives. The focus is on maximizing field sizes and wagering handles to ensure a successful meet.