For the third time in eight years, the Breeders’ Cup is coming to Del Mar. This means the seaside track has apparently passed Churchill Downs in the pecking order of host sites, since the Twin Spires hasn’t hosted the two-day event since 2018.
One horseman who is pleased by Thursday’s announcement is trainer Peter Miller, who lives in Encinitas, about 10 minutes from Del Mar. When you can sleep in your own bed and don’t have to ship your horses out of state, it’s a nice set-up for a trainer.
“It’s in my backyard, I think it’s great news. Del Mar does a great job with the Breeders’ Cup,” Miller said during a telephone interview. “Hopefully, we’ll be participating.”
Del Mar has put on a spectacular show the previous two times it’s hosted the Super Bowl of horse racing. In 2017, the track set a two-day, on-track betting handle record of $25,181,317. Two years ago, Del Mar produced a two-day all-sources handle record of $183,260,127.
Miller is not surprised Del Mar will be hosting the event for the second time in four years.
“It’s kinda about what I thought,” he said. “Seems like they’re kinda on a rotation — Keeneland, Santa Anita and Del Mar. It’s sorta what I figured would happen.”
Another happy horseman is trainer John Sadler.
“We feel in California that we kind of deserve it because it works so well here,” he said. “And it looks like to me one of the factors was the really good Japanese representation we had (in 2021). It looks like the East Coast is a little far for them to go, so I would imagine in ’24 we’ll see another strong Japenese presence.
“You saw how well it went for them the last time it was at Del Mar. I think they won two races (Loves Only You in the Filly and Mare Turf and Marche Lorraine in the Distaff). It’s just a popular destination. The Euros love it. There’s not a lot to dislike.”
But three times in eight years? That’s more than any other track.
“I think they’ve just been…
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