Del Mar shows handle gains during 2026 summer meet
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Del Mar showed growth in handle at its summer meeting that ended Monday compared to the corresponding meeting in 2025, according to figures compiled by Daily Racing Form.
Handle on Del Mar’s races reached more than $367.8 million for the 32-day meeting that ended Monday, compared to more than $355.7 million for a 31-day season in the summer of 2025. On an average daily basis, Del Mar handled $11,495,414 on its races this year compared to $11,474,821 in 2025.
Track president Josh Rubinstein said in an interview Wednesday that the growth can be attributed to “competitive racing from start to finish.”
The season began July 17. Fields averaged 8.56 runners per race, compared to 8.67 in the summer of 2025 and 8.55 in 2024.
In a statement published Monday, Del Mar announced total all-sources handle of $546.8 million, a figure that includes national simulcasting. The all-sources handle rose 2.3 percent over 2025, according to the track’s statement.
Handle on the 2026 Pacific Classic program on Aug. 22 was more than $29.3 million, the 10th highest in track history, and the second highest on a non-Breeders’ Cup day. The first eight positions on that list are Breeders’ Cup programs.
Ontrack attendance averaged 8,722 this year compared to 9,100 in 2025.
On the racetrack, Joel Rosario led all jockeys with 42 wins, five more than Juan Hernandez, who won the riding title at the last four summer meetings.
Doug O’Neill led trainers with 27 wins, his first title at a Del Mar summer meeting since 2019. Bob Baffert was second with 10 wins.
Paul and Zillah Reddam led owners with nine wins.
On Wednesday, the racing board approved Del Mar’s application for a fall meeting from Nov. 6-29. The meeting concludes with a four-day racing week beginning on Thanksgiving through Nov. 29 with nine stakes, eight of which are on turf. The final weekend includes two Grade 1 races on turf worth $300,000 – the Hollywood Derby on Nov. 28 and the Matriarch Stakes for fillies and mares on Nov. 29.
“It should be a great closing weekend,” Rubinstein said.
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