DEL MAR, CA — Del Mar Racetrack will open its annual Bing Crosby Season on Friday, Nov. 6, kicking off 13 days of thoroughbred racing, special events and $2.1 million in stakes purses.
The fall meet will run Fridays through Sundays until Nov. 29, with an additional racing program on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26.
Races will begin at 12:30 p.m. on most days, while the Thanksgiving program will start at 11 a.m. Gates will open 90 minutes before the first race.
The racetrack is at 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. in Del Mar, near the intersection of Jimmy Durante Boulevard and Via de la Valle.
General admission costs $8, with discounted $4 admission available to Diamond Club members. Members will also receive free general admission on opening day, Nov. 6. Seating is sold separately.
Children 17 and younger receive free admission when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Active-duty and retired military personnel and their dependents also qualify for free admission with appropriate military identification.
The season will feature 15 stakes races, including nine on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.
Closing weekend will highlight two Grade 1 races: the $300,000 Hollywood Derby for 3-year-old horses on Saturday, Nov. 28, and the $300,000 Matriarch Stakes for fillies and mares on Sunday, Nov. 29.
Other stakes races will honor Hollywood figures, including Betty Grable, Desi Arnaz, Bob Hope, Jimmy Durante and Cecil B. DeMille.
The Thanksgiving Day program will feature the Red Carpet Stakes and is expected to conclude around 2 p.m. An 8 a.m. family fun run around the racetrack will benefit the Helen Woodward Animal Center.
Additional events scheduled throughout the season include College Day on Nov. 7, Uncorked: Derby Days Wine Fest on Nov. 14, Taco & Beer Fest on Nov. 21 and the Toys for Tots Drive and Ride on Nov. 22.
The Del Mar Fall Handicapping Challenge is scheduled for Nov. 28. Free handicapping seminars will also be offered at noon Saturdays and Sundays.
The racetrack will offer Free & Fun Sundays, featuring free admission and seating for eligible Diamond Club members, along with food and beverage discounts.
Friday racing programs will generally feature eight races, while Saturday and Sunday programs will typically include nine.
The Bing Crosby Season, named in honor of the entertainer who helped establish Del Mar Racetrack in 1937, was first introduced in 2014.
For tickets, the full racing calendar and additional event information, visit the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club website or call 858-755-1141.
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