Del Mar not relaxing after its big opening weekend

Del Mar racing secretary David Jerkens, the grandson of famed trainer Allen Jerkens, had reason to sit back and cherish the track's record opening weekend. The seaside oval took in an average daily handle of $22.35 million to go with an average field size of 10.6 horses per race.

Are those numbers sustainable? Of course not. That's why Jerkens didn't show up at his office Monday, chest puffed out, demanding a threefigure raise. If the seaside oval can pull off an average field size of 8-9 horses per race, that will do just fine. It's not an easy task, considering Del Mar races four days per week, but they did it last summer and there's no reason why they can't duplicate the feat.

“Obviously, Del Mar opening week always attracts people's focus,” Jerkens said during a phone interview. “Last year we had a good start as well and I'm encouraged by this year's start for sure. I had a good feel when the stall applications were due. When my phone rings as early as March about Del Mar, that's typically a good sign. So I had an inkling there was a demand for Del Mar from the start.”

But Jerkens knows there is much work ahead if Del Mar wants to duplicate or even surpass last summer's successful meet. As he said, “We set the bar high last summer.”

“It's always good to start off well,” he said.

“I tell people if you don't do well on opening day then you're in trouble. We didn't want to just rest on our laurels after last year. We know how challenging it is to fill races across the country, typically on the dirt.”

So Del Mar came up with a new program for Cal-bred maidens.

“It's a maiden dirt bonus program that, provided a trainer has less than 60 horses, they run them for $100,000,” Jerkens said.

Jerkens, 43, came to Del Mar in 2014 after two years as racing secretary at Golden Gate Fields. He's overseen the track's first two Breeders' Cups and has lured top trainers from around the country to Del Mar during his stint with the aid of the highest purse structure Del Mar has ever offered and an expanded Ship and Win program that pays out bonuses to owners who run for the first time in California.

This summer, trainers the likes of Michael Maker (20 stalls), Patrick Biancone (six), Robertino Diodoro (20), Jack Sisterson (25), John Ennis (12), Jeff Engler (14) and Frank Lucarelli (12) have horses at Del Mar that aids in field size. As Jerkens pointed out, “Every little bit helps.”

But those trainers just don't pack up and come to California on their own.

“Communicating with owners and trainers is so vital in this game and we're constantly doing that,” Jerkens said. “Typically you just want the condition book to flow, races to be offered in a timely manner. We like to release our stakes program pretty early. My job is to get the information out there so trainers will know what we're offering at Del Mar. Then it's reaching out to individual trainers who have horses that fit ... just a reminder, keeping that communication line open is how you approach it. The main thing is making sure people know what you're offering. I'm not doing my job if somebody doesn't know when the Bing Crosby is, that type of thing.”

Jerkens said there are 1,850-1,900 horses stabled at Del Mar this summer, a number he says track officials are comfortable with. He'd like the vast majority to be race ready, but that's not always the case.

He said in many cases Del Mar sells itself.

“Owners, they look forward to this meet,” Jerkens said. “It's a short meet, and a lot of owners and trainers tell me they want to get two starts in. But again, you can't just sit back and think, `Well it's Del Mar. The races are gonna fill.' You gotta put the effort in, and I think the programs that we have instituted have certainly helped. Last summer field size was eight and a half. You look around the country and many tracks would kill for that number.”

Any track would kill for the numbers Del Mar put up during opening weekend.