Officials at Del Mar have announced that its popular 'Ship and Win' program that offers incentives to the connections of out-of-state horses for the first time they run at the track, will be enhanced for the upcoming racing season.
Now in its seventh season, the “S&W” program previously offered a $1,000 bonus to connections of horses making their initial starts at Del Mar in addition to a 30% bonus on top of whatever purse money is earned. This year, the automatic check has been bumped by 50% to $1,500, while the 30% bonus remains in effect.
Since its inception in 2011, some 800 horses have taken advantage of the incentive. In addition to the marquee summer meeting, better than 100 horses have been lured to Del Mar in the fall meeting since the Bing Crosby meet was introduced back in 2014.
Based on in-house tracking, Del Mar reports that the majority of the “S&W” horses stay on in California, making an estimated 3,000 additional starts at the state's racetracks.
'Ship and Win' is a winner all around for everyone involved in it,” notes Del Mar's Racing Secretary David Jerkens. “We want our local owners and trainers to see it as an opportunity that can work to their advantage in two ways–for personal gain and for upgrading racing in the state. We also want racing outfits across the country to know that we've got open arms for those with runners at all levels to come be part of one of our sport's best circuits.”
In order to be eligible for the “Ship & Win” incentives, a horse must have made its most recent start outside California and cannot have raced in the state in the previous 12 months. First-time starters are not eligible. Stakes horses are entitled to the $1,500 bonus, but no stakes runners are eligible for the purse kicker.
For further information, contact Del Mar's executive vice president for racing Tom Robbins at (858) 792-4230.
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