Unlike other races this fall at Del Mar, current plans do not call for computer-assisted wagering groups to be excluded from win wagering inside two minutes to post during the two-day Breeders' Cup—a deviation from current wagering policy in Southern California.
Del Mar officials announced a continuation of their ongoing CAW restrictions during the California Horse Racing Board's monthly meeting Oct. 16. When a track hosts the two-day Breeders' Cup, Breeders' Cup and not the host track largely are responsible for operations.
Del Mar initiated its CAW win pool restriction—since adopted by Santa Anita Park in Southern California—after frustration from retail gamblers over a series of dramatic late odds changes displayed during its races in the early part of the summer. Their action followed a policy in place at New York Racing Association tracks, but not adopted throughout the industry. Some tracks are reluctant to restrict CAW play due to the vast sums of money wagered by such groups, accounting for 20% or more of the handle at some racetracks.
The influence of CAW teams has raised the effective takeout for retail players, a fact acknowledged even by those associated with CAW.
Usually, CAW wagers are sent in the final moments before a race's start through sophisticated wagering technologies. The information on those odds changes often isn't fully available until after the starting gate opens.
"Fortunately, due to the substantial liquidity in our multimillion-dollar wagering pools, the late odds fluctuations that frustrate horseplayers have not been an issue at the World Championships, including last year at Del Mar," a statement attributed to a Breeders' Cup spokesperson noted. "In addition, the competitive nature of our races—with full fields of the best runners from around the globe—has historically provided recreational players with great betting value and opportunities for generous returns."
Del Mar president Josh Rubinstein and CHRB executive director Scott Chaney also mentioned the Breeders' Cup's large liquidity during the Thursday meeting.
Del Mar's CAW policy applies to its fall meet dates from Oct. 30 to Nov. 30, except for the two-day Breeders' Cup Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
Also related to its fall meet, Rubinstein said during the CHRB meeting that the track had addressed telephone communications between jockeys and stewards when discussions are needed during claims of foul and stewards' inquiries. Because of crowd noise, the parties had at times struggled to hear one another.
Jockeys will now "have a headset with a microphone, and we've tested it out, and that should alleviate the problem," Rubinstein said.
Discussions of CAW and jockey communications were raised by vice chair Oscar Gonzales, who presided over Thursday's meeting, which had three board members absent.
Purses for the Del Mar fall meet are up 7%, and Del Mar is compensating trainers $400 for each start to offset their fall-meet starting expenses, racing secretary David Jerkens said. An equine positron emission tomography scanner also will be on site, he added.
In other discussions from the Thursday board meeting:
- CHRB equine medical director Dr. Jeff Blea cited statistics from the 2024-25 fiscal year showing that horses scratched by regulatory veterinarians in the post parade and horses with claims voided by regulatory veterinarians are statistically more likely to be away from the races for more extended periods than their cohorts. This data, he said, indicates the actions of the regulatory veterinarians—often criticized by impacted connections—are justified. His comments come in advance of the Breeders' Cup, when scratches and withdrawals are more frequent amid strict veterinary scrutiny.
- Chaney noted that California's day racing handle (when major Thoroughbred racing is conducted) was down 16% during September, and night racing handle was down 5% (when Quarter Horses and lower-level Thoroughbreds competed).
- "And of course, there was no Northern California racing, as there was in 2024," he continued. "Even given that fact, for calendar year 2025 day racing is down 6%, night racing is up 8%, and total racing is down 5% compared to total handle for the first nine months of 2024. I'll leave it to the board and pundits to decide whether down 5% without a Northern California circuit is a good thing or problematic."
- The board approved Southern California race dates for 2026, mirroring those from 2025, but with Santa Anita picking up a week's worth of dates that Del Mar picked up this fall due to hosting the Breeders' Cup. Next year, the Breeders' Cup is at Keeneland.
- George Schmitt of Bernal Park Racing told the board during the public comment period that Bernal Park Racing again would apply for racing dates for Northern California fairs, suggesting the application would come before next month's CHRB meeting. He and the late John Harris, who formed Bernal Park Racing, were unsuccessful in Bernal Park Racing securing approval to race in 2025. The cancellation of Northern California racing redirected simulcast monies to Southern California and boosted purses there.
- Schmitt highlighted to the board the decline of foal crops in California and how some groups of horses formerly based in Northern California have departed the state to find less-demanding competition than what takes place in Southern California.
