racetracks > Del Mar
| Betting Guide | Del Mar Stakes Races Calendar | About Del Mar Racetrack | Major Racing Events |
Del Mar Race Meet and Racetrack
Del Mar Racetrack opened on July 3, 1937 and is currently owned by the State of California and operated by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. The track was famously owned by the one and only Bing Crosby, a multi platform superstar of the 20th century. Crosby partnered with other notable people as founding members. One such member was multi-millionaire Charles S. Howard who is best known for owning Seabiscuit.
During the course of the racing season, Del Mar hosts a series of Grade-I races including the Pacific Classic, Clement L. Hirsch Handicap and the Del Mar Oaks. Below are some of the biggest races held at Del Mar.
Del Mar’s significance for handicappers
Del Mar’s summer meet is a special time on the Southern California racing circuit, anticipated by horsemen and horseplayers alike. The seven-week session, which begins toward the end of July and runs through Labor Day weekend, presents handicapping challenges because races tend to be so competitive — owners, trainers and jockeys are striving to win at the seaside track.
Del Mar is offering three new bets during the summer racing season and racing fans will now have 17 different wagers with the new trio of offerings.
- An early Pick Four starting on Race 2 daily that will be a .50¢ minimum wager.
- A late Pick Five offered on the last five races daily. It, too, will be a .50¢ minimum bet.
- A Win, Place, Show Parlay available for a minimum of two races and a maximum of six. It is a $2 bet.
Handicapping
Tools: Ultimate Past Performances from TwinSpires and Brisnet feature BRIS Class, Pace and Speed Ratings that can be a valuable tool when handicapping races. Additional data, including trainer, jockey, track bias and pedigree stats, allows further inspection into key details and Ultimate PPs also contain a predictive Prime Power Rating for every horse that’s started. Ultimate PPs are free to TwinSpires.com players when they wager on the track and day of the product purchased.
Horse-for-the-course angle: Individual records (track, distance etc) are listed in Ultimate PPs and horseplayers can expect form reversals at Del Mar. Horses who have shown an affinity for either the dirt or turf surface can display significant improvement upon recent efforts at other tracks. And vice versa – a horse in good form at Santa Anita is often vulnerable if they’ve performed below par at Del Mar previously.
Hot/cold trainers and jockeys: Well-known trainers like Bob Baffert, Doug O’Neill and Jerry Hollendorfer always gear their horses up for the summer meet and we expect to see these stables well-represented in 2-year-old races. But even top barns will go through hot and cold streaks at times and it’s a good strategy to keep tabs on how trainers have been performing during the meet because winning and losing can be contagious. Same goes for jockeys: horses can feed upon the confidence of a hot rider and logical win contenders will come up short with pilots mired in a cold slump.
Different dimensions: Turf sprints have become a staple of racing circuits across the country and Del Mar will card many 5-furlong races on its Jimmy Durante turf course. The difference between turf sprints at Del Mar and Santa Anita can be significant, with Santa Anita races being run downhill at 6 ½-furlongs. Early speed tends to be more important at Del Mar.
Best Bets
Best bets can make the difference between winning and losing – horseplayers interested in making money won’t wager the same amount on every race. Some races appear inscrutable, more wide-open than others, and that places a premium on leveraging your strongest opinions when handicapping.
Developing a game plan is simple: identify your best bets on the program and attack accordingly. Best bets can be “singled” in multi-race wagers like the Pick 3 and Pick 4, where stringing together winners is of critical importance. Singling allows you to utilize more horses in other contentious races.
TwinSpires.com is the place to bet races from Del Mar and horseplayers can rely on a wealth of reports, including Daily Selections and Workout Reports from Brisnet.com, to help take the guesswork out of selections.
Wagering At Del Mar
The Pick-6 remains one of the most popular pool bets at Del Mar with a $2.00 minimum bet on the last six races of the day.
Del Mar also boasts a Pick-4, a bet based on the last four races of a program with a guaranteed pool of $400,000 on weekends and a pool of $200,000 on weekdays.
The full list of Del Mar bets is as follows: $2 win, place and show; $1 Exacta; $2 Quinella; $1 Trifecta; $2 rolling Double; $1 rolling Pick Three; $1 Superfecta (.10¢ minimum); $1 Place Pick All; $1 Super High Five; $2 Pick Six; .50¢ Player’s Pick Five, and .50¢ Pick Four.
2018 Del Mar Racing Calendar
Del Mar Graded Stakes:
|
Bing Crosby Stakes |
Del Mar Oaks |
San Diego Handicap |
|
Clement L. Hirsch Handicap |
Pacific Classic Stakes |
Sorrento Stakes |
|
Del Mar Debutante Stakes |
Best Pal Stakes |
Rancho Bernardo Handicap |
|
Del Mar Futurity |
Del Mar Derby |
Cougar II Handicap |
|
Eddie Read Stakes |
Del Mar Oaks |
Del Mar Handicap |
Del Mar’s Biggest Graded Stakes Races Draw Future Breeders’ Cup Champions
Del Mar hosted its first-ever Breeders’ Cup in 2017 and it was an overwhelming success. Race fans from around the world got to bet the Breeders’ Cup and see one of America’s most beautiful tracks alongside the Pacific Ocean. The seaside oval features a beautiful grandstand and paddock area that not only showcases the horses, but provides fans a great entertainment venue for outdoor concerts during the racing season.
The 2018 Del Mar summer meet is a 36-day session from July 18-Sept 3 Labor Day and includes 41 stakes races worth more than $7 million in purses. The featured Grade 1 races make up 6 of those stakes races and include:
- July 28 Bing Crosby Stakes
- July 29 Clemente L. Hirsch Stakes
- Aug. 18 TVG Pacific Classic
- Aug. 18 Del Mar Oaks
- Sept. 1 Del Mar Debutante
- Sept. 3 Del Mar Futurity
Three of those Grade 1 races are “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races, where the winner will earn an automatic, all fees-paid entry into the designated Breeders’ Cup race. The featured Breeders’ Cup Challenge races include:
- $300,000 Bing Crosby – BC Sprint
- $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch – BC Distaff
- $1 million TVG Pacific Classic (G1) – BC Classic
Last year’s winners of Grade 1 races, race record and year inaugurated:
Bing Crosby, 6 furlongs (Ransom the Moon) – Since 1946, race record 1:07.65 Lord Nelson (2016)
Clement L. Hirsch, 1 1/16 miles (Stellar Wind, 2017, 2016) – Since 1973, race record 1:40.00 Matching (1982)
TVG Pacific Classic, 1 ¼ miles (Collected) – Since 1991, race record 1:59.11 Candy Ride (2003)
Del Mar Oaks, 1 1/8 miles (Dream Dancing – Since 1957, race record 1:46.26 Amorama
Del Mar Debutante, 7 furlongs (Moonshine Memories) – Since 1951, race record 1:21.40 Call Now (1994)
Del Mar Futurity, 7 furlongs (Bold d’ Oro) – Since 1948, race record 1:21.29 Declan’s Moon (2004)
Del Mar Summer Meet
| Date | Race | Grade | Purse | Restriction | Surface | Distance |
| Wed., July 18 | Ocanside Stakes | $100,000 | 3YO | Turf | 1 Mile | |
| Fri., July 20 | Osunitas Stakes | $75,000 | 3&Up | Dirt | 1 1/16 Miles | |
| Sat., July 21 | San Diego Handicap | 2 | $200,000 | 3&Up | Dirt | 1 1/16 Miles |
| Sat., July 21 | San Clemente Handicap | 2 | $200,000 | F3YO | Turf | 1 Mile |
| Sun., July 22 | Eddie Read Stakes | 2 | $250,000 | 3&Up | Turf | 1 1/8 Miles |
| Sun., July 22 | Wicker Stakes | $75,000 | 3&Up | Turf | 1 Mile | |
| Wed, July 25 | Cougar II Handicap | 3 | $100,000 | 3&Up | Dirt | 1 1/2 Miles |
| Fri., July 27 | Real Good Deal Stakes | $150,000 | Cal 3YO | Dirt | 7 Furlongs | |
| Sat., July 28 | Bing Crosby Stakes* | 1 | $300,000 | 3&Up | Dirt | 6 Furlongs |
| Sat., July 28 | California Dreamin’ Stakes | $150,000 | Cal 3&Up | Turf | 1 1/16 Miles | |
| Sun., July 29 | Clement L. Hirsche Stakes* | 1 | $300,000 | F&M 3&Up | Dirt | 1 1/16 Miles |
| Sun., July 29 | Fleet Treat Stakes | $150,000 | F3YO | Dirt | 7 Furlongs | |
| Wed., Aug 16 | CTBA Stakes | $100,000 | Cal F2YO | Dirt | 5 1/2 Furlongs | |
| Fri., Aug. 3 | Daisycutter Handicap | $75,000 | F&M 3&Up | Turf | 5 Furlongs | |
| Sat., Aug 4 | Yellow Ribbon Handicap | 2 | $200,000 | F&M 3&Up | Turf | 1 1/16 Miles |
| Sat., Aug. 4 | Graduation Stakes | $100,000 | Cal 2 YO | Dirt | 5 1/2 Furlongs | |
| Sun., Aug 5 | La Jolla Handicap | 3 | $150,000 | 3YO | Turf | 1 1/16 Miles |
| Sun., Aug. 5 | Sorrento Stakes | 2 | $200,000 | F2YO | Dirt | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
| Fri., Aug 10 | Solana Beach Stakes | $150,000 | Cal F&M 3&Up | Turf | 1 1/16 Miles | |
| Sat., Aug 11 | Best Pal Stakes | 2 | $200,000 | 2YO | Dirt | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
| Sun., Aug 12 | Rancho Bernardo Handicap | 3 | $100,000 | F&M 3&Up | Dirt | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
| Wed., Aug 15 | CTT and TOC Handicap | $75,000 | F&M 3&Up | Turf | 1 3/8 Miles | |
| Fri., Aug 17 | Green Flash Handicap | $75,000 | 3&Up | Turf | 5 Furlongs | |
| Sat., Aug 18 | TVG Pacific Classic | 1 | $1,000,000 | 3&Up | Dirt | 1 1/4 Miles |
| Sat., Aug 18 | Del Mar Oaks | 1 | $300,000 | F3YO | Turf | 1 1/8 Miles |
| Sat., Aug 18 | Del Mar Handicap | 2 | $250,000 | 3&Up | Turf | 1 3/8 Miles |
| Sun., Aug 19 | Del Mar Mile | 2 | $200,000 | 3&Up | Turf | 1 Mile |
| Wed., Aug 22 | Harry F. Brubaker Stakes | $75,000 | 3&Up | Dirt | 1 Mile | |
| Fri., Aug 24 | Tranquility Lake Stakes | $75,000 | F&M 3&Up | Dirt | 1 Mile | |
| Sat., Aug 25 | Pat O’Brien Stakes | 2 | $200,000 | 3&Up | Dirt | 7 Furlongs |
| Sat., Aug 25 | Shared Belief Stakes | $100,000 | 3YO | Dirt | 1 Mile | |
| Sun., Aug 26 | Torrey Pines Stakes | 3 | $100,000 | F3YO | Dirt | 1 Mile |
| Wed., Aug 29 | Generous Portion Stakes | $100,000 | Cal F2YO | Dirt | 6 Furlongs | |
| Fri., Aug 31 | I’m Smokin Stakes | $100,000 | Cal 2YO | Dirt | 6 Furlongs | |
| Sat., Sept 1 | Del Mar Debutante | 1 | $300,000 | F2YO | Dirt | 7 Furlongs |
| Sat., Sept 1 | John C. Mabee Stakes | 2 | $200,000 | F&M 3&Up | Turf | 1 1/8 Miles |
| Sun., Sept 2 | Del Mar Derby | 2 | $250,000 | 3YO | Turf | 1 1/8 Miles |
| Sun., Sept 2 | Del Mar Juvenile Turf | $100,000 | 2YO | Turf | 1 Mile | |
| Mon., Sept 4 | Del Mar Futurity | 1 | $300,000 | 2YO | Dirt | 7 Furlongs |
| Mon, Sept 4 | Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf | $100,000 | F2YO | Turf | 1 Mile | |
| Mon., Sept 4 | C.E.R.F. Stakes | $75,000 | F&M 3&Up | Dirt | 6 Furlongs |
About Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
Del Mar Park, located 20 miles from San Diego’s busy downtown, was founded in 1937 by entertainment icon Bing Crosby. The crooner greeted the first fan at the gates, a star-studded beginning to what has become one of America’s most notable racetracks.
Del Mar has hosted historic races, such as the famous Seabiscuit-Ligaroti match in 1938. Seabiscuit won the gruelling duel by a nose.
Stars and politicians, such as Ann Miller, Don Ameche, Ava Gardner, Red Skelton, Dorothy Lamour, Crosby and Pat O’Brien, visited the track every summer and helped to bring it into the limelight. During World War II, Del Mar was shut down and transformed into a training arena for the marines and a salvage yard for parts for the B-17 bomber.
In 1960, Del Mar unveiled a turf track with a length of 7/8th of a mile. This track was unique because it had a diagonally shaped chute that could either have a distance of 1 1/16th or 1 1/8th miles. Again, Del Mar had created a unique feature for horse racing.
In 1990, Del Mar continued to win bettors over as it led the nation with an average daily handle of $7,510,867. The Pacific Classic was introduced in that year and became the richest race in Del Mar history at $1 million.
By 1992, the “new” Del Mar was finished as the former grandstand was rebuilt and placed beside the clubhouse. The renovations cost $80 million and included 505 farms.
Presently, The Del Mar Fairgrounds hosts more than 350 events that attract an estimated three million visitors annually. The horse-racing facility is a part of the 350-acre, multi-use entertainment and exhibit arena. The facilities include 200,000 square feet of trade show and meeting space; a 15,000-seat grandstand; a 9,000-seat outdoor arena; a 100,000-square-foot satellite wagering facility; a one-mile racetrack; 1,800 permanent animal stalls; a 10-acre golf/tennis/retail outlet/RV park and the Del Mar horse park, a 64-acre equestrian facility.
Following the trend of tracks like Keeneland, Arlington Park, Woodbine and Turfway Park, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club opened its 2007 summer racing season with a new Polytrack surface on the main track. As mandated by the California Horse Racing Board IN 2008 all major Thoroughbred racetracks in California have installed synthetic surfaces on their main tracks. Both Hollywood Park and Santa Anita chose to install a Cushion Track, and Golden Gate Fields in Northern California has installed a Tapeta surface.
In 2015 Del Mar opened their fall season to a dirt surface debut. The track began the pre-planning of replacing their synthetic surface in February of 2014, seven years after installing a Polytrack main track surface.
The 2017 Del Mar Race Meets
2017 Del Mar Stakes for the Summer Meet
The 2017 Del Mar summer stakes schedule will feature 41 stakes races held over 41 days, with the entire card worth $7.3 million in purses. The San Diego County racetrack will kick off its summer schedule on July 19 and end on September 4. Its main attraction is the August 19 $1 million TVG Pacific Classic (G1).
With the the 34th annual Breeders’ Cup World Championships taking place at Del Mar this year, the racetrack’s summer meet will be more significant to the racing industry than usual. Horsemen from all over the country will flock to Del Mar more so than usual in order to use Del Mar summer races as preps for their charges pointed to the November 3-4 Breeders’ Cup.
The 41 stakes races will be broken down into two categories: eight overnight stakes worth $75,000 each, and 33 advertised stakes worth anywhere from $100,000 to $1 million. The 33 advertised stakes races feature 21 graded events and are broken down as follows: six grade one races, 11 grade two races, and four grade three races.
The highlight every year at Del Mar is the TVG Pacific Classic, which Del Mar Executive Vice-President for Racing Tom Robbins calls “the only $1-million race in the west for older horses.”
The 2016 Pacific Classic was won in dominating fashion by California Chrome. The 2017 Pacific Classic will feature Dubai World Cup (G1) and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) winner Arrogate. He will prep for the Classic by first running in the $300,00 TVG San Diego Handicap.
Another important race to keep an eye on is the Del Mar Futurity – a race that has featured three Kentucky Derby winners in the past four years, with Nyquist and American Pharoah winning both.
As in past years, the Del Mar summer meet will host five Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” races – the TVG Pacific Classic (entry to Breeders’ Cup Classic), Bing Crosby Stakes (entry to Breeders’ Cup Sprint), Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (entry to Breeders’ Cup Distaff), Del Mar Handicap (entry to Breeders’ Cup Turf), and the Pat O’Brien Stakes (entry to Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile).
The 2017 Del Mar summer meet schedule will open on a Wednesday – July 19 Oceanside Stakes – and race five days a week (Wednesday-Sunday) during the entire summer, and it will conclude with a six-day week that will see its last race held on the Labor Day Monday holiday.
2017 Del Mar Fall Meet
Del Mar Racetrack will once again hold their winter meet in honor of one of their founding member Bing Crosby. The event runs through November and included the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for the first time in 2017.
| DATE | RACE / CONDITIONS | PURSE / DISTANCE |
| Wed. Nov. 1st |
Let It Ride Stakes Three-year-olds, N/W S/S of $60,000 at 1 M o/o since April 1 |
$75,000 Added One Mile (Turf) |
| Thu. Nov. 2nd |
Lure Stakes Three-year-olds & up, N/W S/S of $60,000 at 1 M o/o since July 1 |
$75,000 Added One Mile (Turf) |
| Fri. Nov. 3rd |
DAMASCUS STAKES Three-year-olds & up |
$200,000 Guaranteed 7 Furlongs |
| Fri. Nov. 3rd |
GOLDEN STATE JUVENILE FILLIES STAKES Fillies, Two-year-olds, Cal-Bred |
$200,000 Guaranteed 7 Furlongs |
| Fri. Nov. 3rd |
THE MARATHON STAKES (GR II) Three-year-olds & up |
$200,000 Guaranteed 1 3/4 Miles |
| Fri. Nov. 3rd |
SENATOR KEN MADDY STAKES (GR III) Fillies & Mares, Three-year-olds & up |
$150,000 Guaranteed 5 Furlongs (Turf) |
| Sat. Nov. 4th |
GOLDIKOVA STAKES (GR II) Fillies & Mares, Three-year-olds & up |
$200,000 Guaranteed 1 Mile (Turf) |
| Sat. Nov. 4th |
GOLDEN STATE JUVENILE STAKES Two-year-olds, Cal-Bred |
$200,000 Guaranteed 7 Furlongs |
| Sat. Nov. 4th |
QATAR JUVENILE TURF SPRINT Two-year-olds |
$200,000 Guaranteed 5 Furlongs (Turf) |
| Sun. Nov. 5th |
Fast Parade Stakes Three-year-olds & up |
$75,000 Added 5 Furlongs (Turf) |
| Sat. Nov. 11th |
BOB HOPE STAKES (GR III) Two-year-olds |
$100,000 Guaranteed 7 Furlongs |
| Sun. Nov. 12th |
BETTY GRABLE STAKES Fillies & Mares, Three-year-olds & up, Cal-Bred |
$100,000 Guaranteed 7 Furlongs |
| Sat. Nov. 18th |
DESI ARNAZ STAKES Fillies, Two-year-olds |
$100,000 Guaranteed 7 Furlongs |
| Sun. Nov. 19th |
CARY GRANT STAKES Three-year-olds & up, Cal-Bred |
$100,000 Guaranteed 7 Furlongs |
| Thu. Nov. 23rd |
RED CARPET STAKES (GR III) Fillies & Mares, Three-year-olds & up |
$100,000 Guaranteed 1 3/8 Miles (Turf) |
| Fri. Nov. 24th |
HOLLYWOOD TURF CUP (GR II) Three-year-olds & up |
$200,000 Guaranteed 1 1/2 Miles (Turf) |
| Sat. Nov. 25th |
HOLLYWOOD DERBY (GR I) Three-year-olds |
$300,000 Guaranteed 1 1/8 Miles (Turf) |
| Sat. Nov. 25th |
JIMMY DURANTE STAKES (GR III) Fillies, Two-year-olds |
$100,000 Guaranteed 1 Mile (Turf) |
| Sat. Nov. 25th |
NATIVE DIVER STAKES (GR III) Three-year-olds & up |
$100,000 Guaranteed 1 1/8 Miles |
| Sun. Nov. 26th |
MATRIARCH STAKES (GR I) Fillies & Mares, Three-year-olds & up |
$300,000 Guaranteed 1 Mile (Turf) |
| Sun. Nov. 26th |
SEABISCUIT HANDICAP (GR II) Three-year-olds & up |
$200,000 Guaranteed 1 1/16 Miles (Turf) |
| Sun. Nov. 26th |
CECIL B. DEMILLE STAKES (GR III) Two-year-olds |
$100,000 Guaranteed 1 Mile (Turf) |
2016 Del Mar Summer Meet Results
The 2016 Del Mar Summer Meet opened on July 15th and ran through Saturday, August 20th with some of the most exciting, feature races of the year. The results of the feature races are listed below including winners.
2016 Eddie Read Stakes – Midnight Storm
Making good on the oddsmakers predictions, Midnight Storm won the 2016 Eddie Read Stakes as the 5/2 favorite. Bolo fell all the way to 9th despite being a 3/1 second choice. The big surprise was Ashleyluvssugar, who continued her ascension despite 6/1 odds. The Paul Eurton trainee took second behind Midngith Storm.
Flamboyant was good for third at 9/2 while Si Sage, Finnegans Wake and Patentar rounded out the top of the order.
2016 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes – Stellar Wind
In what can only be described as a brilliant upset, Stellar Wind announced her arrival on July 30th at Del Mar. Beholder came a close second, while Finest City finished third. This was the second meeting between Beholder and Stellar Wind since meeting in the 2017 Vanity, but this time the upstart got the better of the legend.
2016 Bing Crosby Stakes – Lord Nelson
Against a stacked field, Lord Nelson emerged triumphant yet again to keep his winning streak alive. Lord Nelson is thriving in what is likely to be the final year of competition for the four-year-old sprinter.
Indexical and Alsvid compelted the top-three, followed by Kaabraaj, Home Run Kitten, Justin Squared, Dream Saturday and Subtle Indian.
2016 Del Mar Handicap – Ashleyluvssugar
Continuing her upward trend towards stardom, Ashleyluvssugar topped the podium for the first time in 2016 by winning the Del Mar Handicap. It was a fitting finish for a filly who was last out placing 2nd in the Eddie Read Stakes, and 3rd in the Crystal Water Stakes at Santa Anita.
Metaboss erupted out of nowhere to capture second place, while Texas Ryano outdid herself to take third. El Huerfana, Wanstead Gardens and Finnegans Wake rounded out the remainder of the top-six.
2016 Del Mar Oaks – Harmonize
Harmonize returned to the winner’s circle by winning the 2016 Del Mar Oaks. It was a rebound effort for the filly, who finished 5th in the Belmont Oaks and has bounced around trying to find her groove.
Finishing second was Decked Out, a horse that has been equally unpredictable throughout the season. Her last outing was a 9th place finish in the Belmont Oaks and a 4th place finish in the Honeymoon Stakes.
Stays In Vegas took 3rd for the second time at Del Mar after finishing in the same spot during the San Clemente Handicap one month ago.
2016 Del Mar Pacific Classic – California Chrome
The Pacific Classic was easily the blockbuster event of the summer as California Chrome successfully fended off defending champion Beholder and longtime rival Dortmund. Going off at 8/5, California Chrome kept his winning streak alive and also picked up his second triumph at Del Mar. He had also won the San Diego Handicap a month prior.
It was another bitter defeat for Dortmund, one of the most impressive specimens ever produced, who seems to have continually run in to some of the most legendary racehorses of this generation.
For Beholder, this was the loss that her connections did want to see happen. They had previously hoped to run the legendary mare in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Classic, but considering that it’s the same destination as California Chrome, they’ll likely think to return to the Distaff.
Rounding out the order were Hoppertunity, Dalmore, Imperative, War Story, Hard Aces and Win The Space.