by Steve Schuelein

A track-record crowd of 44,907 jammed Del Mar on Wednesday in balmy 82-degree weather and witnessed the highs and lows of the sport.

The highs were an impressive 2½-length victory by Afleet Eagle in his stakes debut in the $112,800 Oceanside Stakes for three-year-olds and an on-track attendance number that eclipsed the 44,181 figure on Pacific Classic (G1) day in 1996.

The low was the fatal breakdown in the third race of Mi Rey (Arg), whose jockey—Rafael Bejarano—was hospitalized with injuries to his face and shoulder.

Joe Harper, Del Mar track president, chief executive officer, and general manager, called the day, “the old emotional roller-coaster, ups and downs.”

On Mi Rey’s breakdown in front of a large, opening-day crowd, Harper said, “Well, it’s tough [to see], and when you get a crowd that comes to the races once a year, it adds a little more impact.

“The guys handled it as well as it could be handled. The jockey is going to recover, and racing will go on.

“The rest of the day was good,” continued Harper. “I was really pleased with the crowd. I thought it would be smaller.”

Total handle for the ten-race card was $13,182,915, down from $13,956,989 for a nine-race program last year.

Harper said he hoped to get a clearer picture of the meet, which was reduced from six to five cards per week, after a full week of racing.

“Opening day has a life of its own,” said Harper. “You don’t draw any conclusions until you go through the first weekend, especially now with a five-day week.”

Steve Schuelein is a California-based correspondent for THOROUGHBRED TIMES