Del Mar's Five-Day Week Likely to Stay

[MaryS]

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/ ... ay/?sports

Del Mar's 5-day week likely to stay
‘Overwhelmingly popular,’ GM says
By Hank Wesch
Union-Tribune Staff Writer

2:00 a.m. September 10, 2009

DEL MAR — The 70th race meeting here ended yesterday, not with a bang but a whimper, mainly because of the difference it had from 59 years of others that had come before.

Instead of the traditional closing-day Del Mar Futurity, a fixture since 1950 (but held on Monday this year), the big race was the anti-climactic Palomar Handicap.

But the meeting did end with a promise that, in terms of format, ones in the immediate future will be the same.

The first meeting with a five-racing-day-per-week format since 1946 produced track-released numbers that Del Mar Thoroughbred Club President and GM Joe Harper could more than live with.

On-track daily average attendance — last year's meeting was 43 days compared to 37 this year — was up 7.4 percent at 17,181 compared to 16,002 in 2008. On-track handle, which averaged over $2.2 million per day, was up 5.8 percent.

The average total handle from all sources (in and out of state) was off 0.3 percent with both figures being over $13 million.

Compared on a 37-day vs. 37-day basis, discounting the Mondays of 2008 (except for Labor Day), the numbers weren't as impressive. On-track average attendance was down 0.4 percent, while handle was off 1 percent on-track and down 0.4 percent overall.

But considering the general state of the economy and horse racing, Harper had no complaints with the figures no matter which way they were presented.

And, Harper said, barring unforeseen circumstances the six-day week looks to be a thing of the past.

“The key to most everything we did this summer was the change to the five-day week,” Harper said. “It was overwhelmingly popular and absolutely successful. From our racing fans, to our horsemen, to our employees, it has been win, win, win.

“We offered a better show this summer in so many ways, and the across-the-board response has been gratifying.”

Harper said when all the numbers are in, 2009 revenue could be around $1 million above 2008.

“Our profit picture is much better than it was last year,” Harper said. ...

[Vince P]

Mary,

Never mind a 5-day schedule.

I heard thru the Grapevine that Del Mar will host the 2011 and 2012 Breeders' Cup.

Is this just a rumor or am I out of my mind?

Vince P

[Vince P]

Mary,

Never mind a 5-day schedule.

I heard thru the Grapevine from a little birdie that Del Mar will host the 2011 and 2012 Breeders' Cup.

Is this just a rumor or am I out of my mind?

Vince P

[Lurker]

Mary,

Never mind a 5-day schedule.

I heard thru the Grapevine that Del Mar will host the 2011 and 2012 Breeders' Cup.

Is this just a rumor or am I out of my mind?

Vince P

Watch for the DRF one of these next few weeks, Andy Beyer is writing a coverpage story in an attempt to garner the public support for this idea. He's gonna list all the pros and cons and in the end it'll be a no-brainer for every fan of the biggest day in horse racing. The public opinion polls will be so much in favor, it'll be hard for anybody in charge to just say no.

Ohh, and the rails will be IN 7 ft, so handicap accordingly.

[Bob B]

Chrissakes, DRF is even following VinceP's travel plans for November...

http://www.drf.com/drfNewsArticle.do?NI ... bs=0&arc=1

[Lurker]

Now that's funny!
thanks for sharing Bobb

[MaryS]

Mary,

Never mind a 5-day schedule.

I heard thru the Grapevine that Del Mar will host the 2011 and 2012 Breeders' Cup.

Is this just a rumor or am I out of my mind?

Vince P

Uh, both?

[Racingform]

Interesting story today in the pasadena star news about del mar and the breeders cup...

[Vince P]

Chrissakes, DRF is even following VinceP's travel plans for November...

http://www.drf.com/drfNewsArticle.do?NI ... bs=0&arc=1

Literally Lmao Bob - I printed and mailed that article to my pops.

The funny thing is that that Victory Gallop colt (I can't even pronounce his name), imho, is the horse to beat come 5.1.2010.

He's not quite in Giacomo's class yet, but will be.

You can even get 177-1 on him at the Wynn as we speak.

Jump on board!

Vince P

[Barley]

GOOD I LIKE IT