The number of equine fatalities at Delaware Park dropped to its lowest recorded level in 2016. Why? Many reasons, industry participants say.
Delaware Park, with a meet beginning June 3, today revealed its 2017 stakes schedule, which is topped by the 80th running of the G1 Delaware Handicap.
Delaware Park will shift the start of its 2017 season to June 3, about two weeks later than has been typical in recent years.
Average daily handle was off 12 percent in October versus the prior month, and total handle also fell.
Delaware Park and the state’s horsemen agreed to 81 days of live racing in 2017 despite a 2016 season that saw handle drop by ten percent.
Delaware Park concluded its 2016 meet Saturday, and there were plenty of good performances — and other surprises — during the stand.
Delaware Park racing director John Mooney spent much of last winter scouring tracks for horsemen to come to Delaware. Those efforts seem to be bearing fruit.
Total mid-Atlantic handle rose in September versus the prior month, but the average daily handle fell.
Jockey Erick Rodriguez shifted his tack to Delaware Park this year — not to find more wins but to be closer to his children. Being tied for fifth among riders doesn’t hurt, either.
Recent college grad Andre Stock is pursuing what he calls his PhD in horsemanship with one of the best profs in the game: trainer Larry Jones.