Del Mar Prepares for Back-to-Back Breeders’ Cups

Del Mar Racetrack, known as where the turf meets the surf, will host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in 2024 and 2025. This is the first time the event will be held at the same venue for two consecutive years, after Santa Anita’s three-year run from 2012 to 2014. Del Mar joins this exclusive group with its upcoming events. Located 20 miles north of San Diego along the Pacific Coast Del Mar offers an iconic racing experience drawing fans worldwide with its unique seaside setting.

The Breeders’ Cup renowned for its 14 high-stakes races with a total prize purse of over 33 million USD, brings elite horses and jockeys to Del Mar for two days of intense match. Event tickets are quite in demand, with the general admissions priced between 350 USD and 700 USD for reserved seats all indicating a significant number of fans and expenditure into the local economy. With nearly 40,000 attendees anticipated daily, Del Mar and the surrounding areas in San Diego County are projected to see a 100 million USD economic impact from each Breeders’ Cup event.

Mark Neville, CEO of Sports San Diego, highlighted the local significance of the Breeders’ Cup, saying, “We’re thrilled to welcome back the Breeders’ Cup to Del Mar and expect another can’t-miss event with a full house. Del Mar’s hosting of the event in 2017 brought 96.8 million USD in economic impact, and we look forward to even more in 2024 and 2025.”

Del Mar has prepared extensively for these events, expanding its luxury seating options to accommodate record-breaking crowds. In 2017 these upgrades led to an unprecedented two-day betting record. After hosting the 2021 Breeders’ Cup with limited attendance due to the pandemic. Del Mar is now ready to operate at full capacity. Reinforcing its position as a leading racing venue. “We’re honored to host the Breeders’ Cup in back-to-back years,” said Josh Rubinstein, President of Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. “This event brings international audiences and substantial economic growth to our community. We’re excited to build on our successes from 2017 and 2021.”

The recent summer racing season at Del Mar capped a successful year with impressive wagering numbers and high daily average purses. This summer’s FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic card, which included five graded stakes races, drew notable attention as it became the first North American race outside of the Breeders’ Cup and Kentucky Derby to feature betting from Hong Kong. The Pacific Classic event attracted over 28.55 million USD in wagers, showing Del Mar’s growing influence in international racing circles.

FanDuel Racing has played a significant role in Del Mar’s summer season, sponsoring the Pacific Classic and bringing major attention to the event. The FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic showcased several Breeders’ Cup Classic hopefuls, adding an exciting preview of the upcoming championships. Other highlights included lifestyle events such as craft beer festivals, a college day celebration, and a sold-out Opening Day, further cementing Del Mar’s appeal as a social and sports venue.

Del Mar’s history and its emphasis on community and partnership are major reasons for its appeal. Jockey Juan Hernandez trainer Bob Baffert and Hronis Racing had the spotlight this season as all of them enjoyed great accomplishments. As Delmar looks ahead to back-to-back Breeders’ Cups, he is committed to providing a world-class racing experience that benefits the community and attracts fans from around the world. Originally scheduled for later in the week, the 2024 Breeders’ Cup press announcement was hurriedly moved to an earlier date because of media leaks highlighting the ever-increasing stature of Del Mar in the horse racing scene.  The forthcoming activities showcase Del Mar’s distinctive appeal as a beach racing venue where the horses roar alongside the ocean, which everyone will appreciate.