DEL MAR — Del Mar’s seaside oval is gearing up for its 87th summer racing season, kicking off with an exciting Opening Day on Friday and continuing through the weekend.
This year’s expanded 32-day season runs from July 17 through Sept. 7. Following the Friday-to-Sunday opening weekend, races will take place each week from Thursday to Sunday until closing weekend, which runs from Thursday through Labor Day Monday.
Last year’s 31-day summer meet attracted more than 513,000 fans and generated more than $535 million in all-sources wagering. In 2025, Opening Day drew a sellout crowd of 21,209 and produced a record $24.2 million betting handle.
This year, attendees will have an assortment of wagering options throughout the summer, including classic Win/Place/Show bets and six multi-race exotics, according to the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Exotics include the Early and Late Pick Four, the Early and Late Pick Five, and the Pick Six, which regularly result in million-dollar-plus pools on weekends.
For the first time this year, attendees also have the $3 All Turf Pick 3 as a betting option for the last three races on the card, every day. 
“We’re anticipating another summer season of large wagering pools and big payouts,” said Bill Navaro, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club director of mutuels. “From Show bets to multi-race exotics, there’s something for everyone at Del Mar.”
On Friday, the gates to the track will open at 11:30 a.m. Smartly dressed attendees will have the chance to enter the Opening Day hat contest, enjoy drinks in the Plaza de Mexico, and cast their bets before the first post at 2 p.m.
Opening Day will see over 100 horses entered for 10 different races, including the return of the highly anticipated $150,000 Caesars Sportsbook Oceanside Handicap, a one-mile turf race.
The favorite for the Oceanside Handicap is bay colt Bust Out, the top-weighted entry owned by Jacob and Timothy Pegram, jockeyed by Emissael Jaramillo, and trained by Mike McCarthy.
Another closely-watched race of the opening weekend will be Saturday’s San Diego Handicap, the one-and-one-sixteenths-mile dirt race with a $300,000 purse. The favorite in the seven-horse race is multiple-time stakes winner Journalism, ridden by Umberto Rispoli and also trained by Mike McCarthy.
Following the San Diego Handicap is the Grade II, $200,000 San Clemente Handicap, the one-mile turf race featuring 11 fillies, including favorite Ground Support, ridden by Adam Beschizza and trained by Kelsey Danner.
This year, Del Mar’s Signature $1 million Pacific Classic — the crown jewel of the summer meet — will take place on Aug. 22 rather than Labor Day weekend as in years past. The same variety of Graded stakes races will be offered on the card for the Grade I race.
First post is at 2 p.m. daily — including Fridays — except on the final weekend, when it takes place at 1:30 p.m.
A variety of trackside events take place throughout the summer, including new events such as Family Fun Day on July 26, Turf & Surf Fest on Aug. 8, and BBQ and Beer Fest on Sept. 5.
Every Friday, attendees can also enjoy happy-hour deals on select drinks until 4 p.m., plus additional deals for Turf Club members.
For tickets and more information, visit dmtc.com.
