![Laurel River on the way to victory at the Grade II, $252,500 Pat O’Brien Stakes on Aug. 27, 2022 at Del Mar.
Laurel River on the way to victory at the Grade II, $252,500 Pat O’Brien Stakes on Aug. 27, 2022 at Del Mar.](https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/DMT-L-racing-kelley-071124-01.jpg?w=504)
The summer season at the Del Mar racetrack will be action-packed from start to finish.
It will begin with Trevor Denman announcing, “And away they go” to the roar of the Opening Day crowd on July 20; continue with promotions or lively events each race day; and end when the final horses gallop across the finish on Sept. 8.
During the course of the season, there will be 39 stakes races contested. The marquee event will be the 34th running of the Grade I, $1 million FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic, slated for Aug. 31.
“We’re extremely pleased with the racing program we’re offering this summer,” Del Mar Vice President and Racing Secretary David Jerkens said. “Our horsemen and horsewomen have been extremely supportive of our race meets, and we look forward to working with them on another successful season.”
In addition to world-class racing, it will be 31 days of nonstop fun for all, said Chris Bahr, Del Mar’s director of events and promotions. The offerings will be familiar to regular racetrack visitors, which range from bubblies and brews to family festivities.
“They’re all very successful events, and we’re bringing them back,” Bahr said.
That’s the ticket
Four of the summer events will require tickets, and Bahr recommends buying them in advance before they go up in cost. All of them include admission, a racing program and a tip sheet; Early Bird prices are listed.
On the heels of Opening Day is the Beer Fest, set for July 21, where more than 50 brews, seltzers and ciders will be available for sampling. The current cost is $38, which will cover five tickets for tastings and a souvenir mug.
Next will be the Uncorked Del Mar Wine Fest on Aug. 3. More than 100 wines and other libations will be poured for the 21-and-older crowd. The cost for the 1 p.m. early admission is $85, while the $70 general admission fee allows entry at 2 p.m.; the event closes at 5 p.m. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit Urban Surf 4 Kids, which provides surf therapy for foster and orphan youths.
The following weekend will provide some south-of-the-border flair with Tacos & Tequila, slated for Aug. 10. The $35 general admission cost includes five small drinks plus a tequila sampling; the $55 VIP early admission price will grant entry an hour early, at 1 p.m., and also include two taco tickets.
The final ticketed event of the season will be the Taste of New Orleans on Aug. 24, which will feature Cajun cuisine and music, beverages, bead vendors and more. The $35 cost for ages 21 and older covers five drink samplers; it’s $10 for ages 11-20, and free for 10 and younger. A portion of ticket sales benefits LSU Alumni of San Diego.
To buy tickets for these events, go to dmtc.com.
Giveaways and other ‘Days’
Del Mar will be hosting the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for the third time in November. To help promote the event, the track will hold a Breeders’ Cup Tumbler Giveaway on Aug. 17. It will be free with paid admission, while supplies last.
Aug. 4 and 25 are designated as Seniors’ Days at the track. Those who are 62 and older will receive free Stretch Run admission, a racing program and a seat when they present a valid ID at Stretch Run admission gates.
Just before Labor Day, on Sept. 1, the seaside oval will host a Family Fun Day. Activities will include rock climbing walls, inflatable games, bungee trampolines, face painters, a game zone, food trucks and a meet-and-greet with the track mascot, Pony Boy.
The following weekend will kick off with College Day, on Sept. 7. Students can get in for free and receive access to grandstand seating with a valid school ID.
Closing Day, which is Sept. 8, will feature mandatory payouts for all wagers, and racegoers can watch future Triple Crown hopefuls in the Grade I, $300,000 Del Mar Futurity. There will also be a Red Cross Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Plaza de Mexico,
Up for the ‘Challenge’
There will be a trifecta of opportunities for serious horseplayers to test their skills at picking winners.
The on-track Handicapping Challenge, to be held July 27-28, has a $6,000 buy-in, which includes a $4,000 live bankroll, and $2,000 will go toward the prize pool. There will be $250,000 in prizes, including cash and entries to the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge, 2024 Pacific Classic Betting Challenge and 2025 National Horseplayers Challenge (NHC) seats.
On Aug. 11, there will be a Charity Challenge with a $600 buy-in. Half of the money goes to the live bankroll, and the other half goes to the prize pool and a donation toward LRF Cares, which helps find new homes and second careers for former racehorses. There will be $30,000 in total prizes, along with seats and entries to other contests.
Finally, there’s the Pacific Classic Betting Challenge on Aug. 31. It’s a $4,000 buy-in, with $3,000 designated for the live bankroll and $1,000 for the prize pool. As with the other challenges, the top players will receive cash and be granted seats in other contests.
Contact Bahr at [email protected] for contest questions; registration information can be found at dmtc.com.
Weekly ‘winners’
A number of “tried-and-true” promotions that have proven popular over the years will once again be on the calendar. These include:
· Free & Easy Thursdays – Diamond Club members can enjoy free admission, programs and seats, plus food and beverage specials. Sign up for Diamond Club membership through the Del Mar app.
· Newcomers Seminars – One hour before first post on Thursdays.
· Happy Hour – On Fridays, Del Mar’s signature drinks are 50 percent off, from when the gates open until 5 p.m.
· Turf Club Fridays – A higher-end happy hour that includes exclusive seating, two appetizers, two drink tickets, and chips and guacamole for the table. The cost is $125.
· Daybreak at Del Mar – 7:30 to 9 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays (except Opening Day). Early risers can watch workouts while eating breakfast and sipping on complimentary coffee in the Clubhouse Terrace. Broadcaster Michelle Yu will provide insider insights.
· Handicapping Seminars – One hour before first post on Saturdays and Sundays.
· Taste of the Turf Club – Guests will be treated to a locally inspired brunch menu and bottomless beverages in this exclusive area. Go to dmtc.com for more information.
Del Mar racetrack 2024 season
• Dates: July 20-Sept. 8
• Location: Via de la Valle and Jimmy Durante Boulevard
• Post time: Opening Day (July 20) 2 p.m.; Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays 2 p.m. July 21-Aug. 29, 1:30 p.m. Aug. 31-Sept. 8; Fridays 4 p.m. July 26-Aug. 9, 3 p.m. Aug. 16, 23, 30 & Sept. 6; Labor Day (Sept. 2) 1:30 p.m.
• General Admission: Daily-$8, Diamond Club-$4, Opening Day-SOLD OUT; free for 17 and younger and active military
• Parking: General-$10, Preferred-$20, Valet-$30; Opening Day-General-$15, Preferred-$30, Valet-$40
• Information: (858) 755-1141, dmtc.com