The Del Mar Racetrack is home to action-packed horse races and fancy hats each summer but come the first weekend of November, the track in San Diego’s North County will play host to the world-renowned Breeders’ Cup.
As the seaside track’s fall Bing Crosby Season kicks off, the high-stakes 2017 Breeders’ Cup will take center stage Nov. 3 and Nov. 4, bringing 13 Grade I horse races with a total purse and awards totaling more than $28 million.
On Nov. 3, admission gates will open at 9 a.m., with the first post set for 11:25 a.m. There are four horse races that day.
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On Nov. 4, admission gates open at 8 a.m., with the first post at 10:10 a.m. There are nine races that day; the event culminates with the Breeders’ Cup Classic at 5:25 p.m., a $6 million race. The 1.4-mile race draws the top international thoroughbreds each year. Last year, Arrogate won the title, beating out fan favorite California Chrome.
General admission tickets to the Breeders’ Cup are sold out, but there are still a few high-end ticket packages available online. No tickets will be sold at the door.
If you’re one of the horse racing enthusiasts who scored a ticket, there are several ways to get to the track including ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft, taxis or the Amtrak and Coaster trains.
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There's also a park-and-ride option available from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. that include a shuttle that will take attendees to and from the Breeders Cup from three locations: Del Mar Horse Park Elijo Campus, Kilroy Realty Garage and MiraCosta College. Only attendees with pre-paid parking credentials will be allowed to park on-site at the Del Mar Racetrack.
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There will also be several events leading up to the Breeders’ Cup at “Barn at the Beach,” a custom 7,000-square-foot tent at Del Mar’s Powerhouse Park, set up for “Festival Week in the Village.” Events include the Jake’s Beach Fun Run 5K on Oct. 28 ($50 entry fee) and the Bluegrass Concert and Bourbon Tasting and community festival on Nov. 1 (entry is free, but registration is required).
Now, if you can’t make it to the Breeders’ Cup but still need your horse racing fix, the Bing Crosby fall season runs Nov. 1 through Nov. 26 at the Del Mar Racetrack.
