Horse racing mailbag covers Del Mar, Richard Baltas and more

Del Mar limits attendance on opening day to 21,750. The 10-race card is a sellout. The feedback from fans after opening Day last year was overwhelmingly positive. Del Mar is starting its 83rd racing season.

Del Mar limits attendance on opening day to 21,750. Richard Baltas was banned from working or running horses at any of the tracks. Balta's employees administered two banned substances to his horses. The next step in Balt's case is a trial-setting conference scheduled for September 29. The trainer could miss the entire Del Mar meet. He tried to enter horses during the recent L.A. County Fair meet, but the stewards denied the entries. His horses were not running. It's been a while since the Answer Man checked in.

Life Is Good finished fourth in the Dubai World Cup. He is third in a recent poll for the Breeders' Cup Classic Top 10 contenders. Life Is good is talented and deserves another chance. Authentic won the 2020 Kentucky Derby despite being dismissed after one race.

Flightline is the horse of the year, but there are many talented horses who could win the Eclipse Award. Life Is Good, Early Voting and Mo Donegal are good bets for the award. Los Alamitos owner Dr. Ed Allred saved the racing community when Hollywood Park closed in 2013. Santa Anita and Del Mar should lengthen their meets and let Los Alitons have the quarter horses.