David Jerkens

Del Mar's Bing Crosby Season, which opens Oct. 31 and will run an extra week through Dec. 1 this year, will play host to the Breeders' Cup championship Nov. 1 and 2. In addition to the championship races, Del Mar will offer 20 stakes worth $3,150,000 during the meet. The schedule is highlighted by a pair of Grade I events: the $300,000 GI Hollywood Derby is scheduled for Nov. 30 and the $300,000 GI Matriarch Stakes will be run Dec. 1. Six stakes races tied to the Breeders' Cup have...

The Ship & Win Bonus and Maiden Dirt Bonus will return this summer for Del Mar's 85th season of racing. Entering its 14th consecutive season at Del Mar, the Ship & Win program provides an incentive for horses from out of state to race at the seaside oval by providing a guaranteed $4,000 check for any qualified runner in their first start at Del Mar. There is also a 40% bonus applied to purse winnings for that initial start, as well as any subsequent outings during the eight-week meet. As...

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club has scheduled a 31-day/39 stakes program topped by its premier offering--the 34th running of the $1-million GI FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic slated for Saturday, Aug. 31. Del Mar is also projecting a total purse distribution of more than $26.6 million over the course of the eight-week season. The shore oval's 85th summer session staged alongside the blue Pacific opens Saturday, July 20 and races ahead to Sunday, Sept. 8. The Pacific Classic will be the highlight of a rich afternoon that will feature five graded stakes,...

In its 13th consecutive season, Del Mar's 'Ship & Win' program, which attracts out-of-state runners with bonuses and purse incentives, returns opening day July 21. "This program has proven to be an absolute home run for Del Mar and all of California racing," said David Jerkens, a Del Mar vice president and its racing secretary. "Our fields grow stronger each summer with 'Ship & Win' horses and then the lion's share of those runners stay on and race at other venues in the state." Drawing more than 2,400 equine competitors...

The $1,000,000 GI FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic tops 39 stakes over 31 days, a record-tying stakes schedule worth $8,275,000 for Del Mar's 84th season, beginning Friday, July 21. The Pacific Classic Day card, set for Sept. 2, will feature five graded stakes, including the GII Del Mar H. and GII Del Mar Mile. Del Mar has slated six Grade I races over the course of an eight-week summer stand, as well as six Breeders' Cup "Win & You're In" tests that each guarantee a spot in the starting gate for...

Del Mar will offer its richest "Ship and Win" bonus when the program, designed to encourage out-of-state horses to compete in California, returns for its 12th year at the oceanside oval's summer meeting. This year's program offers a $5,000 starter bonus and a 50% purse supplement for any dirt runner. Turf horses earn a $4,000 starter fee and a 40% purse bonus. The purse bonuses extend to additional starts at the summer meet and are designed to increase all purses won by first through fifth finishers. Further, should a 'S...

An enhanced stakes schedule at Del Mar, featuring 34 major races with more than half of them boosted above their 2021 purse numbers resulting in a record gross value of $8,275,000, has been announced for its 31-day stand. Besides the major stakes, there also will be increases from $80,000 to $100,000 for all five of its overnight stakes. Major stakes purse raises will be in effect ranging from $25,000 to $100,000, notably including amplifications to a pair of Grade I offerings--the Bing Crosby S. on Saturday, July 30 climbing from...

Ask David Jerkens, Del Mar's racing secretary, what he considers a key ingredient to the success of the coastal venue's latest summer season, which wrapped Monday, and his answer is a testament to the early bird. "There was lots of enthusiasm--I could go way back to March, when my phone was ringing with questions regarding our 'Ship & Win' program," said Jerkens, of a particular bait, now into its 11th year, used to hook out-of-state runners. "I just felt that buzz around Del Mar earlier than normal." All told, the...

Del Mar has moved up first post for next weekend's races, which will now start at 1:30 p.m. to make sure its entire card is conducted in complete daylight. "We need to be sure that we've got plenty of daylight to keep our horses and riders safe," said DMTC vice president and racing secretary David Jerkens.

Del Mar's 'Ship & Win Program' will increase for the seaside track's 82nd season, beginning Friday, July 16. Ship & Win will provide horsemen and horsewomen who bring in out-of-state runners to race at Del Mar this summer a $4,000 starter bonus for their initial outing with a further 50% purse supplement for all dirt starters and a 40% purse supplement for all races run on turf. Those are the highest incentives provided since the program began in 2011. The purse bonuses extend to additional starts at the summer meet...

Del Mar has released its 2021 summer stakes schedule, with purse increases for 21 of its races making the total program worth 30% more than 2020. The GI TVG Pacific Classic will be worth $750,000--an increase of $250,000--when it is run Aug. 21. The purse of the GII Del Mar Mile has increased $150,000 to $300,000. Receiving $100,000 increases are the GII Del Mar H. (up to $300,000) and the July 17 GII San Diego H. (now worth $250,000). "This is one of the strongest stakes schedules in Del Mar's...

Del Mar released the first condition book for the seventh Bing Crosby Season, an eight-day book that will cover the first half of the 15-day meeting, which runs Oct. 31 through Nov. 29. The condition book is available on-line at www.dmtc.com/horsemen/condition-book. Hard copies also are being distributed at racing centers throughout California. "Our fall meet has just gotten better and better as we've gone along," said Del Mar's racing secretary David Jerkens. "We're again putting the emphasis on the two things that have worked very well for us in the...