Advance Deposit Wagering Boosts Del Mar Numbers

Boosted by the introduction of Advance Deposit Wagering, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club posted record wagering of $529,171,119 for the 2002 meet that concluded Wednesday. Average daily handle from all sources of $12,306,305 represented a 2.1% increase. ADW exceeded expectations to total $25,124,892, for a daily average of $584,300, according to the track.

With Del Mar running a full week after the Labor Day holiday, on-track attendance of 667,280 in 2002 exceeded the total of 664,594 in 2001 when Del Mar's meeting ended on the first Wednesday after Labor Day. The on-track average daily attendance of 15,518 was a nominal 0.4 % gain over 2001. Attendance at Del Mar's 16 satellite wagering facilities averaged 12,941, a decrease of 5% from a year ago. The combined on- and off-track attendance totaled 1,223,751 for a daily average of 28,459, down 2.1% from 2001. A release from Del Mar said the combined average daily on- and off-track attendance puts it at the tops in the country, ahead of Saratoga's 27,660 average.

Bob Baffert posted his sixth consecutive Del Mar training title, with 30 wins during the 43-day meet. Pat Valenzuela was leading jockey, with 45 trips to the winner's circle.