DEL MAR – For the second year in a row, Del Mar yesterday drew the largest Opening Day crowd in track history and the second-largest all-time.

The end of the 10-month hiatus of live racing, the traditional hats, hoopla and horses and the historic aspect of the first day of racing on the new Polytrack surface lured 42,842 here.

That topped the 42,005 for opening day in 2006 and is second only to the 1996 Pacific Classic, for which 44,181 came out to see Cigar make an unsuccessful bid to break Citation's record of 16 straight victories.

EDUARDO CONTRERAS / Union-Tribune The second division of the Oceanside Stakes demonstrates the meaning of "jockeying for position" out of the gate.

The total handle, on track and off, was $15,297,608, compared with $14,950,200 a year earlier.

Even track President, CEO and General Manager Joe Harper was surprised by the numbers.

“I didn't think we would (set the record). I'd have been very happy with 40,000,” Harper said. “The crowd came early and it didn't fall off as the day went on.”

It was a huge day. But it wasn't perfect. The five races on Polytrack were run in slower times than usual, but without a hitch and without a breakdown. So were three of the four turf races.

But in the eighth race, the third division of the Oceanside Stakes, 8-5 favorite Mayor Bozarth, in a line with several rivals across the track in deep stretch headed for a driving finish, apparently took a misstep on the turf and suffered a fracture to the left-rear pastern, the bone between the ankle and hoof, and was euthanized.

EDUARDO CONTRERAS / Union-Tribune Michael Baze and Knockout Artist get thumbs up for an Oceanside Stakes win. A big opening day Yesterday's on-track attendance was a record for Opening Day at Del Mar, and the second-highest all-time: CROWD DATE ATTRACTION 44,181 Aug. 10, 1996 Cigar in Pacific Classic 42,842 July 18, 2007 Opening Day 42,205 July 19, 2006 Opening Day 40,682 July 23, 2003 Opening Day 40,046 July 20, 2005 Opening Day Online: For a multimedia presentation on the new Polytrack surface at Del Mar, go to www.uniontrib.com/sports

The 3-year-old colt, trained by Hall of Famer Robert Frankel for former Mattel Toys CEO John Amerman, was pulled up just past the finish line by jockey Brice Blanc and quickly vanned from the track.

“Things like that take away from all of us emotionally,” Harper said. “But all eyes were on Polytrack and that performed great.”

The much-anticipated first race on the artificial surface (the second race of the day), installed over the winter at a cost of $9 million, was won by Special Smoke, a gray 3-year-old filly trained by Thomas R. Bell II and ridden by Jon Court.

“As with every race, it's great to win,” Bell said. “I'm very honored since this will go down in history as the first on Polytrack at Del Mar.”

Said Court: “It's always good to win, but on Opening Day at Del Mar, my first race of the meeting and the first race on Polytrack, it's a sensational feeling.”

The first race on Polytrack was won from off the pace and, as expected, in a slower time than fans were used to seeing in previous years on the dirt. Six furlongs was covered in 1:13.95.

Subsequent Polytrack race winners came from both the lead and far back, showing no “bias,” and the times remained consistently slow. Professional handicapper Bob Ike estimated winning times to be 2-3 seconds slower on the new surface than ones at comparable competitive levels and similar distances in previous seasons.

“I love it,” Harper said. “I don't think, to the average fan, that time means anything. I don't think speed is always good for a horse.”

Comments from jockeys and trainers regarding the new surface were overwhelmingly positive.

“They're doing a good job with the Polytrack,” Court said. “I'm happy with it; it feels good. It's equine-friendly and the kick-back is not severe.

“I'm glad we're moving forward to a surface that will create soundness for the horse. And it will create soundness for the business, which is the way we want to go.”

Trainer Kathy Walsh didn't get a win on the Polytrack. Hers came with Irish-bred Vauquelin in the third division of the Oceanside Stakes, the race of the breakdown.

But she was not hesitant to give a Poly opinion.

“I like it very much and I think it will be the revival of racing,” Walsh said. “I think we should give it a chance. You get full fields, close finishes and days like this and the people are going to love it.”

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Hank Wesch: (619) 293-1853; hank.wesch@uniontrib.com