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Racetrack closes another year
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Del Mar’s first year with Polytrack was considered a big success. |
The proclaimed “new era” of racing at the Del Mar Racetrack turned out to look a lot like the old era, with yet another record-breaking summer.
The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club with its new Polytrack racing surface once again secured its reputation as one of the most popular and successful race meetings in the United States, with increases in handle — the amount of money wagered on Del Mar races — and an increase in on-track attendance.
The handle saw an increase of 3.3 percent from last year to a daily average of $13,987,295. The total handle for the season of $601,453,672 ranks as the second highest in the track’s history. Since 2000, the handle numbers have risen about 19 percent.
Bettors were not shy about opening their wallets on two of biggest days of racing.
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On Pacific Classic Day, Aug. 19, a single-day handle record was set with $24,667,351 bet, and the track reached its fourth highest one-day total on closing day last Wednesday, Sept. 5 aided by a $5,063.435 Pick Six pool — an all time record for that popular bet.
Although the season attendance increase was minimal at 0.4 percent for a daily average of 16, 719 patrons per day, it was welcome news to track officials because it reversed a downward trend last year when attendance dipped by some 2 percent. The track also set a one-day record for attendance when 42,842 people passed through the gates on July 18’s Opening Day — the second highest crowd in history.
Undoubtedly part of the increase in patronage came from a curiosity factor involved with Polytrack, the synthetic racing surface installed this year at a cost of $9 million.
“We did well in the counting house, but best of all we did well on the racetrack,” said the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s president and general manager Joe Harper. “We took an educated chance with Polytrack — with no guarantees that it would do all that we’d hoped or how it would affect our business. But it performed wonderfully and the response to it by our horseman and our fans tells us we’ve backed a winner.”
Touted as an answer to safety concerns after a rash of fatal injuries over the past few years by horses racing on its old dirt surface, Del Mar did indeed make great strides in the equine injury department this season. But the safety record wasn’t perfect, as it looked it might be for a time.
After well over a month of racing saw no catastrophic injuries on Polytrack, the final weeks of racing witnessed two-racing related breakdowns that resulted in the euthanization of both horses and four fatal breakdowns during early morning training. Additionally, five horses racing on the track’s turf course suffered fatal injuries bringing the year’s total to 11. Last year, 18 horses were euthanized during the 43-day race meeting.
But the overall injury results were still encouraging to officials.
“What was way up were the number of horses that are still here and racing and not sore or injured and turned out,” said Harper during a press conference after the last race of the season.
Dr. Rick Arthur, the California Horse Racing Board’s equine medical director, agreed with that assessment.
“In terms of reduction of injuries and especially catastrophic injuries, the Del Mar meet on Polytrack is the best meeting we’ve had in California in many, many years. It is very encouraging to see what has unfolded. And as our trainers become more proficient with it, I think we’ll see even better results at Del Mar and other tracks in the state where synthetics have been installed.”
Those results were indicated this year by an increase in the number of horses both racing and training on the Polytrack surface. There were almost 1,000 more recorded workouts this year than last.
“What you’re seeing is reflective of what is happening and what will happen with Polytrack and other synthetics,” said trainer Richard Mandella. “There are more horses capable and available to race. It is going to mean a revival at all our tracks.”
Not that Del Mar exactly needs a revival, judging by this year’s results.
Financial experience a key for new city manager
Del Mar, you have a new city manager.
After a long examination process accomplished with the assistance of executive search firm Peckham & McKinney, the Del Mar City Council has chosen Karen P. Brust to replace the retiring Lauraine Brekke Esparza.
“The members of the Del Mar City Council just completed a thorough and exhaustive process to select our new city manager,” said Mayor Carl Hilliard in making the announcement, “and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results.”
Not surprisingly, with numerous key capital projects on the horizon, the council’s choice centered on a need for financial expertise.
For the past nine years, Brust, 46, has served as the director of finance and treasurer of the San Diego County Water Authority. Before that, she served for four years as director of finance for the city of Gardena, California near Los Angeles and three years in the same post for the city of South Gate, also located in Los Angeles County.
Brust, a resident of nearby Olivenhain, earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Central Connecticut State University and also earned a Masters of Science in Organizational Management from the same school. She has been a member of the International City Manager’s Association since 1995.
“I am deeply honored to be selected as the city of Del Mar’s next city manager,” said Brust. “I’ve always considered Del Mar to be a quality organization and a gem of a city.”
Hershell Price, who has served as Del Mar’s representative to the water authority for three years, says he is very familiar with Brust and thinks the city has made a good hire.
“Karen Brust is a great loss for the County Water Authority, but a fantastic hire for the city of Del Mar,” said Price. “It would be hard to imagine that our city council could have chosen a better person to manage the affairs of our city over the next many years. Karen is an excellent administrator and will keep our financial house in order.”
That house will be vastly different from Brust’s previous place of employment.
As finance director for the water authority, which oversees the distribution of water to 24 member agencies, Brust last prepared and administered a $1.48 billion two-year operating budget and $3.5 billion capital budget. Last year the authority listed over $2 billion in total assets and operating expenses of over $280 million. That’s a far cry from the $18.8 million budget of what is the smallest city in the county, but a challenge nonetheless according to Brust.
“I may be going from billions to millions,” she said, “but that doesn’t take away from the issues that are so important to the city.”
Brust says she has already started getting up to speed on aspects of Del Mar’s city government, pouring over numerous documents on the city’s Web site.
Brust was selected from a pool of over 70 applicants vying for the city manager position, which has been held by Brekke-Esparza for the last 14 years. Through several closed sessions, members of the City Council narrowed that field to six and then eventually to three, before unanimously choosing Brust.
According to Deputy Mayor Dave Druker, his fellow council members were united in their support of Brust due to her extensive experience in municipal finance coming from one of the largest governmental organizations in San Diego County.
“We unanimously selected Ms. Brust,” said Druker, “and that is a very important consideration.”
Brust will begin work on Monday, Oct. 1. Her contract, which was approved by the City Council at their Monday, Sept. 10 meeting, indicates her salary will be $170,000 a year including benefits.
Brekke-Esparza’s last day of work will be Sept. 21. The city is holding a reception in her honor on Tuesday, Sept. 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Del Mar’s Powerhouse Community Center.
“I know Lauraine was very beloved.” said Brust, “and this is a very professionally run city.”
Brust says she is committed and ready for her new role.
“I’ve always considered becoming a city manager as a career goal,” she said. “I am so looking forward to this.”
