‘Tremendous Summer Of Racing’: All-Sources Wagering Up At Del Mar Meet
The 2026 Del Mar Thoroughbred Club summer racing season concluded with increased wagering and high-quality competitive fields. Despite challenging weather, the event saw strong fan support and significant financial success, including the second-highest handle day in the track's history.
Why it matters
The data reflects the ongoing economic health and popularity of the horse racing industry in Southern California.
The 2026 Del Mar Thoroughbred Club summer racing season concluded on Sept. 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 percent compared with the 2025 summer meeting. Total all-sources wagering reached $546.8 million, an increase of 2.3 percent over last year.
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