Del Mar Thoroughbred Club President Josh Rubinstein told the board of directors at the Del Mar Fairgrounds Sept. 15 meeting that there were “strong results across the board” during the summer meet.
“Our recently concluded eight-week summer meet saw full fields and competitive racing with enthusiastic fan support,” Rubinstein told board members during their regular monthly meeting. “Average field size was a leading 8.6 runners per race and we reported we were right at that level at the August board meeting. We weren’t sure if we were able to continue it and we did.”
The summer meet included a first post that was primarily at 2 p.m. on all race days, including on Fridays, which were previously 4 p.m. The switch created “a consistent post time throughout the week and provided fans, horsemen and women, and industry partners with a streamlined schedule,” according to a news release by the thoroughbred club.
The summer meet started on July 17, less than two weeks after the close of the San Diego County Fair, and ended Labor Day, with a closing weekend that had 1:30 p.m. races each day.
“Wagering across most all platforms increased,” Rubinstein told the fair board. “Our most profitable segment is wagering our live product and that was up 3.1%. The opening day crowd was a sellout and we saw positive attendance trends throughout the season.”
Rubinstein also mentioned ongoing marketing efforts to bring in new fans, with the popularity of horse racing nationwide waning in recent years.
“We continue to focus on social and digital media efforts, including influencers,” Rubinstein said. “We really saw that pay off with food and beverage sales, as food and beverage sales increased. The total number for the eight-week race meet was $11.82 million.”
Board members also discussed the ongoing safety and animal cruelty concerns that have contributed to the sport’s decline.
“We continue to make significant investments in programs that enhance equine safety, including veterinary oversight,” Rubinstein said.
Horses break from the starting gate during the sixth race of Opening Day at the Del Mar Racetrack on Friday, July 17, 2026, in Del Mar. (Photo by Meg McLaughlin, The San Diego Union-Tribune/SCNG)