Del Mar: Meet sees rise in all-sources, ontrack handle

A strong second week of handle at Del Mar has propelled the track to significant increases over the comparable period in 2012.

Through the first two weeks of the meet, Del Mar’s overall daily handle was averaging $12,747,872, an increase of 8.6 percent from a year ago. Del Mar was up 5 percent after the first week, so the uptick during the second week was significant.

The ontrack numbers also are up, to an average of $2,596,137, a 5.9 percent jump from last year. After one week, the ontrack handle was up 3.3 percent.

The handle likely is being aided by an increase in field size, to 8.6 runners per race this year compared with 8.3 at the same stage a year ago.

Attendance is virtually even year-over-year, with an average of 19,839 this year compared with 19,846 a year ago.