ESSENTIALS

Event extras

  • what to do around event iconWhat To Do

    What To Do

    Del Mar has been a popular destination for the rich and famous with the attraction of sandy beaches, top quality racing and award-winning cuisine.

    Del Mar Fairgrounds

    Del Mar Fairgrounds is home to the Del Mar Races and San Diego County. Apart from the races, there also family events in the fairgrounds and many more events including concerts and food festivals.

    Del Mar Village

    The historic Del Mar Village offers a variety of shops, restaurants and luxury hotels while The Del Mar Plaza overlooks the Pacific Ocean and offers an upmarket shopping experience in both fashion and food. The plaza is elegantly landscaped with fountains, sculptures and palazzo-style terraces.

    Del Mar Beach

    Del Mar is famous for its golden sands with North Del Mar City Beach considered to be one of San Diego’s finest. Take a drive along the coastline on Historic Highway 101 from Oceanside to luxurious La Jolla to discover the diverse coastal communities of a Southern California beach vacation.

    Hot Air Balloon Ride

    For the more adventurous, take a hot air balloon ride up to 3,000 feet on a clear day while sipping champagne and enjoying the stunning scenery. Del Mar is one of the few places in the world where a balloon can fly both at sunrise and sunset.

    Del Mar Nightlife

    Del Mar’s nightlife provides for all tastes from a rich dining experience to a casual walk on the beach. Flavor Del Mar in Del Mar Plaza brings the two together with locally-sourced California cuisine while watching the sun set over the ocean. There is also entertainment on Friday evenings with a DJ to take you through to closing time.

     

    Book your trip to Del Mar to enjoy the Breeders’ Cup in spectacular surroundings!

  • bed icon for places to stay for the eventWhere to Stay

    Where to Stay



    Booking.com


    Hilton San Diego/Del Mar Hotel is a stylish hotel in affluent Del Mar Beach. It is situated less than a mile from beautiful beaches, across the street from Del Mar Racetrack and close to San Diego’s most popular attractions.



    Booking.com


    You can enjoy complimentary transportation within a five-mile radius of the hotel and amenities include a beautiful outdoor pool.

    Fairmont Grand Del Mar guarantees a warm reception with true Southern California charm. The hotel provides top quality service and delivers every indulgence, including a championship golf course, five-star spa and exquisite dining. It is set in Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve and has 249 luxurious rooms, capturing the elegance and style of a traditional Mediterranean estate.



    Booking.com


    Fairmont Grand Del Mar’s signature restaurant is Addison, featuring Relais and Châteaux Grand Chef William Bradley’s approach to cooking, combining local ingredients with contemporary French cuisine. Club M is the estate’s nightclub with live music and guest DJ’s every weekend.

    The Lodge at Torrey Pines overlooks the world-renowned Torrey Pines Golf Course with breath-taking ocean views.



    Booking.com


    The AAA Five Diamond rated resort provides world-class dining, a spa and the highest possible level of service. The Lodge is just a 20-minute drive from San Diego International Airport.

    San Diego Marriott Del Mar at 11966 El Camino Real is only minutes away from Torrey Pines and the Carmel Valley.



    Booking.com


    It provides fine catering options and luxury amenities with an array of diverse entertainment. It is also close to beaches for surfing or sunbathing.

     

    Book your stay for the Breeders’ Cup well in advance to avoid disappointment!

  • utensil and plate icon for finding what to eat for the eventWhere to Eat

    Where to Eat

    Restaurants at Del Mar Racetrack

    Racecourse patrons can choose from several dining options from trackside tables to Paddock views.

    Il Palio Restaurant

    Il Palio Restaurant is a premium dining space located on the sixth floor of the Clubhouse with exceptional views of the racetrack.

    Turf Club Restaurant

    Guests enjoy shaded trackside dining from the fourth level of the Clubhouse with luncheon included.

    The Celebrity Grill

    On the third level provides air-conditioned interior dining with access to a private covered balcony and views of the paddock.

    Del Mar Village

    is home to a diverse selection of award winning cuisine.

    Jake’s at 1660 Coast Boulevard

    Provides the very best in fresh seafood, along with premium steaks and regional specialties. Their menu includes the beachside vegetarian, offering Parisian herb gnocchi, brussels leaves, butternut squash and pecorino veloute.

    Pacifica Del Mar

    Has been awarded the prestigious Gold Medallion for “Best Seafood Dining in San Diego” and Wine Spectator’s “Award of Excellence”. The top quality cuisine at Pacifica includes pan roasted seabass with soy glaze, sticky rice, bok choy and green curry-coconut sauce.

    Cafe Secret

    Is run by Peruvian couple, Bratzo and Daniella. Their aim is to combine good food with great company in the tradition of their native Peru. The Baked Empanadas are homemade and served with local spinach and wild arugula.

     

    Book your stay and sample the finest foods that Del Mar has to offer during the Breeders’ Cup!

  • transportation iconHow to Get There

    How to Get There

    By Air

    For International air travellers, San Diego Airport is the first choice. It is only twenty miles away from the race track and will have frequent bus and taxi services running throughout the Breeders’ Cup.

    The nearest airport to Del Mar is McClellan-Palomar but is primarily for corporate aircraft and domestic commercial services.

    By Car

    If driving to Del Mar, the racecourse is located just west of the i-5 freeway. Exit Via de la Valle and head west.

    Do you want to experience the area first hand? Hire a car with our search engine

    By Train

    Rail users travelling via Amtrak and Coaster trains should alight at the nearby Solana Beach station.

    Shuttles From Solana Beach

    Del Mar provides a complimentary shuttle service to and from the track on race days. The free double-decker race shuttle buses will be clearly visible upon arrival at Solana Beach.

     

    Book your travel arrangements for the Breeders’ Cup now!

  • history pillar icon for the describing the history of the eventHistory

    History

    How the Breeders’ Cup Started

    The event was created as a year-end championship for North American Thoroughbred racing but quickly attracted interest from Europe and elsewhere. The Breeders’ Cup World Championships was first staged in 1984 and is run by Breeders’ Cup Limited. It remained a single-day event until 2006 when it was expanded to two days in 2007.

    Breeders’ Cup Attendance

    The attendance at the event varies according to the capacity of the host track. Santa Anita Park set a new record two-day attendance of 118,484 in 2016. Total prize money exceeded $28 million in 2016 with $6 million of that being for the Classic.

    The 2 Races

    Two Breeders’ Cup races are ranked among the top ten Grade 1 races in the world. The Classic is ranked fourth with the Turf tenth. The Mile and the Distaff are also regarded among the most prestigious races in their particular sphere.

    Each Breeders’ Cup winner has a garland of flowers draped over their withers. The official flower garland is comprised of Beauty Asters, Golden Asters, Cremons and Catteleya Orchids.

    Breeders’ Cup Recent History

    The 2015 Breeders’ Cup was significant as it was the first time that a Triple Crown had been won since the inception of the event.

    American Pharoah made all of the running to land the Breeders’ Cup Classic to crown a brilliant career. In 2016, Santa Anita hosted the Breeders’ Cup for a record ninth time with Arrogate running down California Chrome in the Classic.

Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky Start Date: 02/11/2018 End Date: 03/11/2018

The Race 0f the Champions

The Breeders’ Cup is a two-day festival of top International racing with 14 Championship races on turf and dirt. The venue alters every season but it has only been staged once outside of the United States when it was held at the Woodbine Racetrack in Canada in 1996.

The Race 0f the Champions

The Breeders’ Cup is a two-day festival of top International racing with 14 Championship races on turf and dirt. The venue alters every season but it has only been staged once outside of the United States when it was held at the Woodbine Racetrack in Canada in 1996.

There is always a strong European challenge and they have been increasingly successful, particularly in the turf races. The meeting was first staged in 1984 as a single day but was extended to two in 2007. The Blue Riband event is the $5 million Classic that brings the meeting to a close.

Breeders’ Cup Highlight Moments

Highlights include victory for Cigar in 1995 and a heart-breaking first and only defeat for Zenyatta in 2010. In the same year, the French-trained mare Goldikova became the most successful horse in the history of the Breeders’ Cup when she took the mile for a third consecutive season.

  • The Breeder’s Cup 2018 will be hosted at Churchill Downs, also home of the Kentucky Derby

Del Mar Racecourse

Del Mar is a beach town located in Southern California with the racecourse situated astride the Pacific Ocean.

The First Race at Del Mar 

The racecourse was opened in 1937 and was effectively put on the map the following year with a match race. America’s champion Seabiscuit faced South American champion Ligaroti with “The Biscuit” prevailing by a nose in a thrilling duel. The horse would go on to be the subject of numerous books and a film which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2003.

Luanching Champions

Del Mar has a reputation as the launch pad of champions. Recent Del Mar Futurity winners include California Chrome and Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. The $1 million Pacific Classic has also attracted some of the leading middle-distance performers with high profile winners like Pleasantly Perfect, Game On Dude and Beholder.

More Top Races at Del Mar

Other major races held at Del Mar include the Del Mar Oaks, the Bing Crosby Stakes, the Clement El Hirsch Stakes and the Del Mar Debutante. In 2014, Del Mar added a new meeting to commemorate the closure of Hollywood Park racecourse. The card features the Hollywood Turf Cup, the Hollywood Derby and the Matriarch Stakes. Significant improvements to facilities and some excellent marketing has led to Del Mar hosting the Breeders’ Cup for the first time in 2017.

 

Breeders’ Cup 2017

Del Mar hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for the first time on 3rd and 4th November 2017. Del Mar was the perfect setting for the 34th Breeders’ Cup, with parties and events galore to celebrate some of the best racehorses in the world.

Tickets sell quickly for the Breeders’ Cup. Don’t delay – reserve your tickets for Del Mar today!

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