Del Mar reports $164.85 million in all-sources handle at fall meet

Del Mar announced that all-sources handle reached $164.85 million during its 13-day autumn meeting that ended Sunday, a figure above the $147.2 million bet during a 13-day season in 2019, but below the $196.2 million wagered over 15 days in 2020.

The 2021 fall meeting handled $354.9 million but included Breeders’ Cup races.

The handle figures include dark-day simulcasting.

In a statement released Sunday evening, the track announced an average daily handle of $12.68 million for this year’s autumn meeting, which included ontrack, simulcasting, and account-wagering sources. The 2019 meeting averaged $11.3 million, while the 2020 meeting averaged $13.08 million.

For the year, Del Mar had an all-sources handle of $744.68 million, which includes more than $579 million handled during the summer meeting.

Field sizes at the fall meeting increased from 7.76 runners per race for the non-Breeders’ Cup portion of the 2021 fall meeting to 7.91 this year. The 2019 autumn meeting averaged 7.43 runners, while the 2020 meeting averaged 8.09 runners.

Flavien Prat led all riders with 24 wins, recording six victories on Sunday’s final day. Juan Hernandez was second with 20 wins. Hernandez began Sunday’s card with a two-race lead. Prat, 30, has won or tied for seven riding titles at Del Mar in his career, beginning in 2016.

Phil D’Amato led all trainers with 19 wins, well clear of Bob Baffert who was second with eight wins. D’Amato, 46, has won or tied for four training titles at Del Mar in his career, beginning in 2016.

Los Alamitos begins a two-week meeting Friday, followed by a six-month season at Santa Anita beginning Dec. 26.

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