Del Mar nears opening day

Sunday is the final day of the Santa Anita autumn meeting, and when Del Mar is taking entries for Thursday’s opening day of its autumn meeting. The Del Mar meeting will operate on a four-day per week schedule, from Thursday through Sunday, until it ends on Nov. 29.

The opening week of Del Mar includes simulcasts of Breeders’ Cup races from Keeneland on Friday and Saturday. The track plans to conduct nine-race programs on those days, running live events between Breeders’ Cup races.

The upcoming Del Mar meeting will be the first in Southern California with AmTote betting machines for ontrack and satellite customers. AmTote earned the contract for all California tracks and satellites facilities earlier this year. Sportech holds the contract to provide betting machines through Sunday.

As a result of the changeover, track officials are urging customers to cash Sportech tickets at a racetrack or satellite by Sunday. Any tickets not cashed can be redeemed at special windows beginning next week.