Del Mar Opening Day Recap; Owner’s Circle Photos

Horseracing is alive and well in California. Del Mar Racetrack hit a record in attendance yesterday with 47,399 race fans betting $14.1 million on opening day. That’s a substantial increase in betting from last year with only $13.2 million. Wednesday marked the eighth straight year attendance had reached over 40,000 race fans.

Midnight Crooner and My Best Brother both placed first if different divisions of the Oceanside Stakes at one mile over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course on opening day at Del Mar.

Unfortunately, in the fifth race, a 2-year-old named Playful Council broke down and became Del Mar’s first fatality of the 37-day meet. Several other horses were taken off the racetrack with no other reported fatalities.

The 2012 Del Mar season began Wednesday July 18 and runs until September 5^th. There are no races on Mondays and Tuesdays with a total of 37 racing days. Happy Betting!