The Del Mar Fairgrounds will host its 87th season of thoroughbred racing when Del Mar Racing opens on Friday, July 17, 2026. The summer meet runs 32 days through Labor Day, September 7, and features a 37-race stakes schedule offering $7.775 million in total purses. Six Grade I stakes headline the card, anchored by the $1 million Pacific Classic on August 22 — the richest race on the West Coast.
Key Dates for the 2026 Season
Opening Day on July 17 is Del Mar's signature social event, drawing thousands for an afternoon of racing, fashion contests, and celebration that spills into the village after the final race. The $400,000 Bing Crosby Stakes follows on July 25, then the $400,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes on August 1. The Pacific Classic anchors a stacked August 22 card that also presents the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks, the $300,000 Del Mar Mile Stakes, and the $200,000 Green Flash Handicap. Championship races for two-year-olds — the Del Mar Debutante on September 5 and Del Mar Futurity on September 6 — close the season. Six races carry Breeders' Cup Challenge Series Win and You're In designations, giving the meet national significance.
Friday post times for 2026 have moved from 4:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Tickets go on sale May 8 through SeatGeek, the track's official primary ticketing partner. Closing weekend cards on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday will go off at 1:30 PM.
Where to Stay, Eat, and Drink During Race Season
Racing season transforms the entire Del Mar community. Hotels like L'Auberge Del Mar, the Hilton San Diego/Del Mar, and the Best Western Premier Hotel Del Mar book quickly for Opening Day weekend. Post-race crowds migrate to bars and pubs along Camino Del Mar — Jimmy O's, Sbicca, and Monarch Ocean Pub all see their busiest weeks of the year. Poseidon on the Beach and Il Fornaio offer ocean-view dinners minutes from the fairgrounds. Visitors from Coronado and La Jolla often combine a day at the races with dinner in the village — it's one of the few events that draws equally from across San Diego County.
