Del Mar Thoroughbred Club has announced its 2026 summer racing season, featuring 37 stakes races with a total purse of $7,775,000. The highlight is the 35th running of the $1 million Grade 1 Pacific Classic on August 22. The season runs for 32 days from July 17 to September 7.
The 87th summer meet at Del Mar opens on Friday, July 17, and concludes on Labor Day, Monday, September 7, with first post at 2 p.m. PDT daily, shifting to 1:30 p.m. on the final weekend. The schedule includes six Grade 1 stakes, 10 Grade 2 events, and five Grade 3 races, with 18 stakes on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course and eight designated for California-bred horses.
Anchoring the program is the Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles on August 22, joined by the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks for 3-year-old fillies ($300,000), the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile for 3-year-olds and up ($300,000), and the newly elevated Grade 2 Green Flash Handicap ($200,000, up from Grade 3 and $150,000). Other Grade 1 races include the $400,000 Bing Crosby Stakes on July 25 at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and up, and the $400,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes on August 1 at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares.
The Grade 1 action continues with the $300,000 Del Mar Debutante on September 5 and the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity on September 6, both at seven furlongs for 2-year-olds—the former for fillies and the latter open to all. Five overnight stakes carry $100,000 purses each, while the Oceanside Handicap on opening day increases to $150,000 for its 81st edition.
Several 2-year-old races have extended distances: the CTBA Stakes and Graduation Stakes to 5 1/2 furlongs on August 2 and 7, respectively, and the Generous Portion Stakes and I'm Smokin Stakes to six furlongs on September 4 and 7.
Six stakes qualify as 'Win and You're In' for the Breeders' Cup: Bing Crosby (Sprint), Clement L. Hirsch (Distaff), Green Flash (Turf Sprint), Pacific Classic (Classic), Del Mar Handicap (Turf), and Pat O'Brien (Dirt Mile).
Del Mar president Josh Rubinstein stated, "This stakes schedule showcases the very best of Del Mar racing, highlighted by the $1 million Pacific Classic and six Grade 1 events, and offers a wide range of opportunities for our horsemen and horsewomen."
Gary Fenton, chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, added, "Del Mar's 2026 stakes schedule reflects a continued commitment to quality, competitiveness and opportunity. From the $1 million Pacific Classic to a deep supporting program, this is the kind of structure that benefits owners, horsemen and the long-term health of California racing."
