Thursday, July 02 2009

“Daybreak at Del Mar” Bargain Special for Summer Weekends

Racing fans and all San Diegans once again will have a different -- and inexpensive -- way to start off their weekends throughout the summer with the return of "Daybreak at Del Mar" during the 37-day meeting at Del Mar’s seaside course.

From 7:30 to 9:30 each Saturday and Sunday morning the track presents a sunny outdoor setting next to the ocean to enjoy breakfast and watch beautiful Thoroughbreds strut their stuff in their workouts and gallops. There is no admission charge to the sessions, held at the track’s Clubhouse Terrace Restaurant overlooking the stretch.

Wednesday, July 01 2009

DelMarBets.com Offers Online Action, Advantages

Racing fans who like to wager online or by phone -- on races at Del Mar, or on virtually any racetrack in the country year-round -- have a new way to "get down" that provides easy access and notable advantages through the latest in wagering accounts – DelMarBets.com

The wagering platform, powered by XpressBet, begins operation July 1, and charges no membership, monthly or per-wager fees. Account holders also will be able to access limited free audio and video streaming of races online.

Tuesday, June 23 2009

Del Mar to Host Eight Breeders’ Cup Challenge Races

The Breeders' Cup Challenge, a series of automatic qualifying races for the $25.5 million 2009 Breeders' Cup World Championships, will increase expansion this year with a record 62 races taking place in seven countries at the world’s greatest racing venues, it was announced today. Del Mar Race Track will host eight races during the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Challenge Season beginning on August 2 with the San Diego Handicap, a Dirt Mile qualifier. Additionally, the $1-million Pacific Classic is one of three Challenge races that will serve as a Breeders’ Cup Classic qualifier. Click here for complete 2009 schedule.

Wednesday, June 10 2009

Seniors Will Find Thursdays Friendly at Del Mar in 2009

Thursdays are good days for seniors at Del Mar this summer and a pair of them -- the first (July 23) and last (September 3) of the meet -- are especially sweet.

Those two Thursdays will provide all seniors with both free Stretch Run admission and a free Stretch Run reserved seat, as the track salutes its fans aged 62 and up. Additionally, a free program is part of the mix.

Thursday, May 14 2009

“Free & Easy Wednesdays” a Winner at Del Mar This Summer

With a "long" weekend (two days instead of one) on the agenda at Del Mar this summer, as well as the realization that everyone now is looking for ways to make their dollars go further, track officials wanted to come up with a way to welcome back their fans following the Monday-Tuesday break while providing them with what amounts to the best bargain in town. Thus was born "Free & Easy Wednesday."

And just as it sounds, the new promotion will offer racegoers big-gain-no-pain access to a day's fun at the seaside palace just north of San Diego, starting with free admission and a free reserved seat, along with half-price drinks and food for those welcoming back those thundering Thoroughbreds following their break.

Friday, January 09 2009

DEL MAR, DARLEY TO PARTNER IN 2009

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and Darley have announced a partnership starting in 2009 highlighted by the renaming of the Del Mar Debutante as the Darley Debutante.

The Grade I Debutante, Del Mar's championship race for 2-year-old fillies, has been won by six juvenile filly Eclipse Award winners in recent years and was captured this past summer by Stardom Bound, a solid favorite to earn an Eclipse as the latest 2-year-old filly queen. The 59th running of the seven-furlong headliner has been scheduled for Saturday, September 5 during the closing weekend of the seaside track’s annual summer meeting. Additionally, its purse will be enhanced from $250,000 to $300,000.

Tuesday, December 02 2008

Del Mar’s Hirsch, O’Brien Are Lifted to Grade I Status

Two of Del Mar's major stakes races were enhanced to Grade I status for the 2009 racing season by the American Graded Stakes Committee at its annual grading session in Lexington last week.

The Clement L. Hirsch Handicap and the Pat O’Brien Handicap both were elevated from their current Grade II status to the highest ranking for North American stakes races, giving the seaside track nine Grade I races -- the most in its history -- among its 31 advertised stakes. It also features eight Grade II and two Grade III events.

Thursday, September 04 2008

Del Mar Remains A State, National Racing Leader

"No doubt, we were swimming against a strong (economic) current this year. But we swam well and we will get stronger because of it. While this economy has threatened to drown a lot of folks out there, we held our own and we don't need to be making any excuses for that."
--- Joe Harper, president and general manager, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.

Del Mar closed out its 69th summer of racing Wednesday with a 10-race card highlighted by the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity, a Grade I test that was won in dramatic fashion by the promising colt Midshipman in a comeback of sorts for the track's leading stakes trainer, Bob Baffert.

MIDSHIPMAN WINS DEL MAR FUTURITY

Stonerside Stable's Midshipman and jockey Tyler Baze forged to the front in the final stride to edge out Coronet of a Baron and win the featured Grade I $250,000 Del Mar Futurity for two-year-olds Wednesday, closing day of the 43-day Del Mar summer season.

Closing gamely in the middle of the track, Midshipman gave trainer Bob Baffert his first success in the seven-furlong Futurity since 2002 when Icecoldbeeratreds supplied the conditioner with his seventh consecutive success in the race.

Del Mar Stable Notes 9/3/8—CLOSING DAY

RIDER CHANGE FOR BELIEVE IN HOPE FOLLOWS VALDIVIA INJURY

High hopes for impressive maiden winner Believe in Hope, pegged at 9-2 odds on the morning line for the Grade I, $250,000 Del Mar Futurity, took a little dip when an injury to regular rider Jose Valdivia Jr. sidelined him for today's big race. He's off all his mounts.

Valdivia suffered a broken toe when his mount, Kindred Creek, in Monday's third race stepped on his foot after unseating him in the gate. The rider was excused from his mounts for the rest of the day.

Joe Talamo will ride Believe in Hope for trainer Ron Ellis.

Tuesday, September 02 2008

STARDOM BOUND WINS DEL MAR DEBUTANTE

Rallying from the clouds under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, Stardom Bound charged from twelfth and last place to win Monday's Grade I $250,000 Del Mar Debutante and clinch the two-year-old filly championship of the 2008 Del Mar meeting.

Slow from the gate in the seven-furlong sprint, Stardom Bound, a non-winner in two maiden races in which she was second, looped her rivals on the stretch turn and continued on powerfully to win by 4 1/4 lengths in 1:22.50. She became only the second maiden in the history of the race to win, emulating the feat of Cindy's Hero in 2000.

I’m Smokin Stakes

GARRETT GOMEZ (Babs Moossa) -- "I'm sittin' there on the fence and I'm watching Russell (Russell Baze on Control Seeker). He's got horse and he's ahead of me and he's got to make a decision. I'm thinking he's an old (veteran) rider and his first decision has got to be to keep his horse out of trouble. So I figure he's going to go to the outside and leave the inside to me. Sure enough, it happens that way. This time it worked out. Sometimes it doesn't. You're either a hero or a zero."

RUSSELL BAZE (Control Seeker) -- "This is only his third start and he's still figuring things out. He's still putting it together. I had a good trip and just got beat. No complaints."