Del Mar's 87th summer racing season wrapped up Monday, Sept. 7, with wagering on track races reaching $366.8 million, a 3.1% increase from 2025.

The 32-day meet averaged 8.6 starters per race, an industry-leading figure that fueled competitive fields and strong betting interest, according to the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Total all-sources wagering hit $546.8 million, up 2.3% from last year.

Attendance dipped slightly to 279,120, down from 282,104 in 2025. Opening Day sold out, and Pacific Classic Day on Sunday, Aug. 23, drew 15,187 fans, a 13% jump over the prior year. Wagering that day topped $29.14 million, the second-highest handle day in Del Mar history.

Hall of Fame jockey Joel Rosario claimed the riding title with 42 wins, five more than defending champion Juan Hernandez's 37. It was Rosario's fourth jockey title at Del Mar and his first since 2011. He started the meet one-for-30 before surging to the lead on Thursday, Aug. 20, when Hernandez left to ride in England.

Hernandez still led all jockeys with 14 stakes wins. That total fell one short of the single-season Del Mar record set by Flavien Prat in 2020.

Trainer Doug O'Neill won the training title with 27 victories, 10 more than runner-up Bob Baffert's 17. Baffert led all trainers with six stakes wins. He captured his 20th Del Mar Futurity on Sunday, Sept. 6, with Hughes, extending his streak to six consecutive victories. That win pushed Baffert's all-time Del Mar total to 196.

Reddam Racing, owned by J. Paul Reddam, topped the owner standings with nine wins and $810,040 in purse earnings. Hronis Racing finished second with six wins.

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club president Josh Rubinstein said the season reflected strong horsemen support. "Their commitment to racing at Del Mar has produced large, competitive fields and an outstanding wagering product for our customers," Rubinstein said in a statement.

Racing secretary David Jerkens said on closing day that 80% of condition book races filled. The Pacific Classic drew 11 entries, the most since 2013, according to Jerkens. Knightsbridge won the $1 million race, the west's richest.

Jerkens also noted the meet weathered unusually hot and humid conditions without a single rain-out or interruption.

Racing returns to Del Mar for the Bing Crosby Season, running Nov. 6 through Nov. 29. The 13-day fall meet will feature the Autumn Turf Festival with seven graded stakes races over Thanksgiving weekend.