Deep Fields Fuel Rise in Handle at Del Mar

The 2026 Del Mar Thoroughbred Club summer racing season concluded on September 7 with strong results across the board, driven by full and competitive fields, high-quality racing and enthusiastic fan support throughout the eight-week meet.

Over the 32-day meeting, Del Mar averaged an industry-leading 8.6 starters per race, producing some of the deepest and most competitive racing in North America. Bettors responded to the quality of the racing with handle on Del Mar races totaling $366.8 million, an increase of 3.1% compared with the 2025 summer meeting. Total all-sources wagering reached $546.8 million, an increase of 2.3% over last year.

Pacific Classic Day delivered one of the season's defining moments, highlighted by four graded stakes races and culminating in Knightsbridge's dynamic victory in the $1 Million Pacific Classic, the west's richest race. Wagering on Pacific Classic Day topped $29 million, making it the second-highest handle day in Del Mar history.

"This was a tremendous summer of racing at Del Mar," said Josh Rubinstein, President of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. "We had exceptional support from our horsemen and women. Their commitment to racing at Del Mar has produced large, competitive fields and an outstanding wagering product for our customers. We're grateful for their support and pleased to see it reflected in the strong results throughout the season."

On-track attendance was led by a sold-out Opening Day, affirming its place as one of Southern California's most anticipated summer social gatherings. Despite unusually hot and humid weather for much of the summer, fans once again enthusiastically supported racing at Del Mar. Beyond the racing, fans enjoyed a full calendar of signature events and experiences, including the BBQ & Craft Beer Festival, Turf & Surf Lobster Cookout, Uncorked Wine Tasting and College Day activities. Total attendance for the season was 279,120, compared with 282,104 in 2025.

"Del Mar demonstrated what can happen when you combine a strong purse program, great racing and the support of owners and trainers," said Gary Fenton, Chairman of Thoroughbred Owners of California. "The tremendous participation from California stables and horsemen who shipped in from across the country speaks volumes about the strength and depth of the meet. It was an exciting summer for our owners, an outstanding showcase for California racing and a strong foundation upon which to continue building."

Joel Rosario led the jockey standings with 42 wins during the 32-day meet. Doug O'Neill captured the training title, saddling 27 winners. Reddam Racing led all managing owners in wins with nine and purse earnings with $810,040.

Racing returns to Del Mar this fall for the track's annual Bing Crosby Season, running November 6 through 29. The highlight of the meeting will be the prestigious Autumn Turf Festival, featuring seven graded stakes races over Thanksgiving weekend.

Rosario, O'Neill, Reddam Have Stellar Summer

It's not often a rider joins the Del Mar jockey colony and in his first meet vaults to the top of the standings and captures the riding title. Then again, it's been a while since a Hall of Fame rider has joined the ranks. Joel Rosario returned to California to ride this summer and promptly won the jockeys' title, his fourth overall at Del Mar and first since 2011.

Rosario led the jockey standings with 42 wins during the 32-day meet, five better than the runner-up, defending champion Juan Hernandez's 37. Rosario sat behind Hernandez through the first month of the summer meet then pounced on August 20 when Hernandez left town to ride in England. Rosario grabbed the lead with a four-win day and never gave it back. 

What makes his meet even more impressive is his poor start. Rosario began the meet one for 30. 

Hernandez doesn't go home empty-handed. He led all jockeys in stakes wins with 14, falling one shy of the record for stakes wins by a jockey in a single season at Del Mar set by Flavien Prat in 2020.

Rounding out the Top 10 in the jockey standings were Antonio Fresu (32); Umberto Rispoli (27); Emisael Jaramillo (25); Kazushi Kimura (23); Armando Ayuso (16); Hector I Berrios (14); Tyler Baze (9), and Tiago Pereira (8).

Doug O'Neill captured the training title, saddling 27 winners. He practically took them wire to wire. On day three of the meet he won four races to catch the early leader Michael McCarthy. O'Neill won the first race on day four to grab the lead and never looked back. 

By the time Rosario was assuming the lead in the jockey standings in mid-August, O'Neill had built a seven-win lead in the trainers' standings. He increased the lead to double figures by August 30. He winds up 10 better than runner-up and defending champion Bob Baffert who finished with 17 victories. 

Baffert also led all trainers with six stakes triumphs.

Rounding out the Top 10 in the trainers' standings were Phil D'Amato (16); Peter Miller (15); John Sadler (14); George Papaprodromou (14); Mark Glatt (12); Michael McCarthy (11); Jeff Mullins (10), and five trainers with seven.

Reddam Racing led all managing owners in wins with nine and in purse earnings with $810,040. Reddam Racing jumped out with four wins on opening weekend and would lead the rest of the way, finishing three better than Hronis Racing's six.