Del Mar Fall Meet Concludes With Increase in Handle

[Wandering Eyes]

Del Mar rounded out its 12th Bing Crosby Fall Meet on Sunday with a 9.4% gain in total handle, despite running one fewer day than in 2024 due to a weather-related cancellation.

Total wagering for the recently concluded 13-day fall meet rose to $183.4 million compared to $167.6 million for the 14-day 2024 fall season. Average daily handle for the 13 race days was $14.1 million an increase of 17.8% from last year. Field size for the fall season remained steady at 7.77 runners per race versus 7.72 in 2024.

For the second year in a row, the highlight of the fall session was the Breeders' Cup World Championships held on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. (The 2025 handle and field size figures exclude races conducted over the two Breeders' Cup cards.)

The 2025 Breeders' Cup–Del Mar's fourth time hosting the World Championships in the past nine years–highlighted domestic and international runners with the handle topping $180 million for only the third time in the history of the event.

The nation's premier fall season turf racing was conducted over Del Mar's Jimmy Durante Turf Course and featured the FanDuel Racing Turf Festival–six graded stakes races over the final weekend.

“The recent strong business results at Santa Anita, along with those from our own summer and fall meets, show that the public is embracing the single-circuit model to the benefit of California racing stakeholders,” said Del Mar President Josh Rubinstein. “We're grateful for the continued support from owners, trainers, and horseplayers across the country, and we remain focused on finding additional ways to strengthen the economics of racing in California.”

Leading jockey honors came down to the final day of the meet, with Umberto Rispoli securing the title with 17 wins. In the race for leading trainer, George Papaprodromou finished atop the standings with 11 victories. The leading owner for the fall season was Juddmonte, concluding the meet with four wins.

“The results from Del Mar's fall meet reaffirm that California racing is moving in the right direction,” said Thoroughbred Owners of California Chairman Gary Fenton. “Handle growth, competitive fields, and the success of the Breeders' Cup showcase the value of a unified, single-circuit approach. TOC will continue working with our partners to build on this momentum and deliver a healthier, more sustainable future for our owners and the entire racing ecosystem.”

Del Mar will resume racing at its 2026 summer season, scheduled from July 17 through Sept. 7.

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