Del Mar will expand its simulcast import menu of domestic races from
the current 32 up to as many as 50 per day for its upcoming race
meeting, which will be off and running this Wednesday.
The expansion was made possible by a bill (AB 707) sponsored by
Assemblyman Martin Garrick (R-Carlsbad) and signed by Governor Jerry
Brown last Friday. The law took effect on Sunday, closing day of the
Hollywood Park spring/summer meeting.
The expansion will allow Del Mar to enhance its simulcast cards from
the major national tracks already on its menu – Saratoga, Monmouth Park,
Arlington Park and Louisiana Downs. Additionally, it will open the door
for races from several other summertime racetracks across the United
States.
“As an avid racing fan and the Assemblyman for Del Mar, I was pleased
to author legislation that will benefit patrons and tracks alike,” said
Garrick. “Increasing the viewing and wagering options will result in
much needed revenue for California facilities and result in a better
experience for fans.”
Besides importing full, or near-full, cards from major race meets,
Del Mar also regularly imports important stakes races from tracks
throughout the country. It will continue to do so and now has the
capacity to expand those offerings besides.
Additionally, the track also imports an average of 30 foreign races
daily from Canada, Australia, Chile, Uruguay and Argentina, among
others.
Simulcasting begins each racing day at 11 a.m. and continues on to
approximately 5:30 each afternoon, though the new bill allows for an
expansion of that time up until 7 p.m. if the host track desires.
On Mondays and Tuesdays, which will be “dark” days for live racing at
Del Mar, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club will offer simulcast wagering for
out-of-state tracks to its Southern California satellites. On-site, Del
Mar will be open on Mondays from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for simulcasting,
but closed all day Tuesdays. Fans considering attending a satellite on
either of those days need to check ahead to be sure that their facility
will be open.
Del Mar’s 37-day season runs until Wednesday, September 7.