Thanksgiving

Preview: Del Mar's Fall 2019 Horse Racing Season

The annual fall horse racing season runs from Nov. 8 through Dec.1

Grab your fancy hat and make your way to Del Mar: the track’s fall horse racing season returns for the next four weekends, complete with concerts and other cool events.

The Bing Crosby Season in Del Mar begins this Friday, and runs there through Dec. 1, on these dates:

  • Nov. 8, Nov. 9, and Nov. 10
  • Nov. 14, Nov. 15, Nov. 16 and Nov. 17
  • Nov. 21, Nov. 22, Nov. 23, and Nov. 24
  • Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving Day), Nov. 29, Nov. 30, and Dec. 1

Gates open at 11 a.m., with the first post daily at 12:30 p.m., except Thanksgiving Day, when first post is at 11 a.m. Each day will include between eight and nine horse races.

Just like the summer season, the 15-day fall season features a lineup of concerts and events. This includes performances by country singer Russell Dickerson on Nov. 9 and The Wailers bringing in their reggae sound to Del Mar on Nov. 16. Entry to the concerts is free with paid admission to the track, but if someone only wants to enjoy the concert, the entrance fee is $30 after the last race. Concerts are 18+.

Other Bing Crosby Season highlights this year include College Day on Nov. 16, which includes free admission to college students with a valid ID to the racetrack. Students will have access to grandstand seating and drink specials. Also, Daybreak at Del Mar will take place on Nov. 16, where fans will be able to dine and watch morning workouts. And on Nov. 17, the Taste of the Turf Club will take place where guests will enjoy meals curated by San Diego celebrity chef Brian Malarkey of Herb & Wood.

Daily admission to the track costs $6; reserved seating cost is more, and dining tables are also offered. General parking is $10, valet $20, and early bird is $10.

Seniors over the age of 62 are offered free Stretch Run admission and seating every Thursday. They also offer free admission to active military members and their dependents to Stretch Run every day when they show ID.

To learn more about the 2019 Bing Crosby Season, click here.

With horse racing under the microscope due to deaths of horses at Santa Anita, the race track in Del Mar will be focused on safety throughout the season.

There are procedures in place at Del Mar to triple-check that every horse is fit to race. Two full-time veterinarians will be watching the horses train each morning, and they will be looking to see how the animals are moving.

After taking notes on each horse, a state vet from the Del Mar track’s new, officials veterinary panel will go into the barn to examine each horse.

“If they don’t like the way a horse is moving, they will get on the radio and get that horse off the track,” said Craig Dado, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club CMP and executive vice president.

“And there’s a number of times that’s happened,” he added. “And, again, we are taking every measure we can to make this not only safe for racing but safe for training in the morning.”

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