Del Mar begins second fall meeting Thursday

For the second straight year, Del Mar will host a fall race meeting after a successful first run.

The Bing Crosby Season, or “Bing II,” will feature new betting machines, some lower prices for food and drinks for regular players and 17 stakes races worth nearly $3 million in purses. This year’s edition features 20 days of racing over five weeks and five more racing days than last year.

The season opens Thursday and runs until Nov. 29, with racing every Thursday through Sunday. Post time is 12:30 most days, except for the 12:45 p.m. start this Friday and Saturday to allow for Breeders’ Cup races to be shown live from Keeneland, Ky. The Thanksgiving Day first post is 11 a.m.

Five things to watch at the 20-day meeting:

•For starters: Jay Slender, the surfing starter, is back as the head man on the starting gate after missing Del Mar’s 76th summer meeting to battle a medical issue. The son of longtime starter Tucker Slender, Jay Slender was the Del Mar starter last fall. His crew had a rough summer without him at Del Mar. One horrendous start forced Del Mar to refund more than $300,000 in wagers.

Horses for courses: Del Mar’s horse population for the fall meeting probably will be more than triple what it was last year, up to as many as 650 thoroughbreds. The extra race days make it more worthwhile for owners and trainers to ship their horses here for a longer period to race and work. And the new dirt track and second-year turf course make it attractive for horsemen to settle in with more stock.

Titles: Trainer Peter Miller and jockey Victor Espinoza are the defending fall champions from last year. Trainer Doug O’Neill should be strong at Del Mar. He won a record five races in one day this summer and comes here fresh from winning the Santa Anita training title. Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer won the summer meeting title at Del Mar. Jockey Rafael Bejarano won the Santa Anita title to give him 23 crowns on the Southern California circuit. He won his fourth straight Del Mar title this summer to give him five titles overall at the summer meeting.

El Niño rains: Del Mar had a great trial run with an off track this summer when record rain fell on the beach on opening weekend in July. Track superintendent Richard Tedesco and his crew were able to play with their new toys, machinery that seals or “floats” the new dirt track that replaced the Polytrack for the summer meeting. There were some drainage issues on the clubhouse turn that will be watched closely if Southern California gets doused this fall.

Fan services: No question Del Mar was rattled this summer when attendance (down 12%) and on-track handle (down 5.1%) dipped. Criticism came from all directions, and Del Mar’s brass has listened. Joe Harper, president and CEO of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, said there will be lower prices for some food and drink items this fall for regular players (Diamond Club members), and Del Mar is in the midst of a marketing survey to see how else officials can improve the player experience. TVs will be tuned to Breeders’ Cup races from Keeneland early Friday and Saturday, and key college and pro football games will be shown throughout the meeting.

ed.zieralski@sduniontribune.com