As part of its upwards flow of positives for the summer 2022 race meet, Del Mar has unveiled an enhanced stakes schedule that features 39 stakes with more than half of them boosted above their 2021 purse numbers. Stakes purses total $8.275 million for the 31-day stand, the 83rd in the seaside track's rich history.
Stakes increases climb by as much as $100,000 with the six-furlong Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) July 30 and 1 1/16-mile Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) Aug. 6 both rising from $300,000 to $400,000.
In 2021, the shore oval's stakes schedule carried a gross value of $7.45 million. This year's additional $825,000 in purse monies means an approximate 10% increase for black-type runners, making it the most lucrative stakes schedule in the shore oval's history. All told 16 major stakes are worth more money for this go-round, along with the increases for five overnight stakes.
"This is Del Mar shining bright and I believe our horsemen and women are going to be delighted with it," said Del Mar vice president and racing secretary David Jerkens. "Across the board we have exceptional offerings for most any type of good horse you'd care to bring our way. We're proud to present this program and expect it will be well received."
The track's premier event is the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic (G1), which will be run for the 32nd time Sept. 3. The 1 1/4-mile race for 3-year-olds and up will be bolstered once again by four additional stakes surrounding it on a rich card that undoubtedly will be the highlight of the summer season. The race is later than usual this year after traditionally having an August date.
Along with the Pacific Classic will be a trio of grade 2s, all carrying $300,000 purses: the Del Mar Handicap (G2T) at 1 3/8 miles on turf; the Del Mar Mile (G2T) at eight furlongs on turf, and the Caesars Sportsbook Del Mar Derby (G2T) at 1 1/8 miles on turf. Also on the card is the $125,000 Shared Belief Stakes at a mile on the main track.
Joining the three grade 1 headliners already mentioned are three other top-level stakes in the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks (G1T) Aug. 20; the $300,000 TVG Del Mar Debutante (G1) Sept. 10, and the $300,000 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1) Sept. 11.
Additionally, the track will offer a stakes tripleheader Sept. 10 (TVG Del Mar Debutante, John C. Mabee Stakes, G2T, Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf), and nine other weekend dates where it has scheduled stakes doubleheaders.
Further, Del Mar also will present its usual allotment of eight California-bred stakes, part of the Golden State Stakes Series that consists of 36 races at tracks up and down the state worth more than $4.4 million. Its stakes are the $175,000 Fleet Treat Stakes, the $175,000 Real Good Deal Stakes, the $150,000 California Dreamin' Stakes, the $125,000 CTBA Stakes, the $125,000 Graduation Stakes, the $150,000 Solana Beach Stakes, the $125,000 Generous Portion Stakes, and the $125,000 I'm Smokin Stakes.
Del Mar will open its season with a three-day weekend July 22-24, then have five four-day weeks, racing Thursdays through Sunday. Then toward the close of the meet, the track will run a five-day week, adding Labor Day, Sept. 5, before finishing with a Friday-through-Sunday weekend (Sept. 9-11).
| Del Mar 2022 Stakes Schedule | ||||||
| Date | Purse | Race | Grade | Conditions | Distance | Surface |
| July 22 | $100,000 | Oceanside Stakes* | 3YO | 1 M | Turf | |
| July 23 | $200,000 | San Clemente Stakes | 2 | 3YO F | 1 M | Turf |
| July 23 | $100,000 | Osunitas Stakes* | 3&UP, F&M | 1 M | Turf | |
| July 24 | $125,000 | Cougar II Stakes | 3 | 3&UP | 1 1/2 M | Dirt |
| July 24 | $100,000 | Wickerr Stakes* | 3&UP | 1 M | Turf | |
| July 28 | $175,000 | Fleet Treat Stakes (Cal-Bred) | 3YO F | 7 F | Dirt | |
| July 29 | $100,000 | Daisycutter Handicap | 3&UP, F&M | 5 F | Turf | |
| July 30 | $300,000 | San Diego Handicap | 2 | 3&UP | 1 1/16 M | Dirt |
| July 30 | $400,000 | Bing Crosby Stakes | 1 | 3&UP | 6 F | Dirt |
| July 31 | $250,000 | Eddie Read Stakes | 2 | 3&UP | 1 1/8 M | Turf |
| Aug. 5 | $175,000 | Real Good Deal Stakes (Cal-Bred) | 3YO | 7 F | Dirt | |
| Aug. 6 | $150,000 | California Dreamin' Stakes (Cal-Bred) | 3&UP | 1 1/16 M | Turf | |
| Aug. 6 | $400,000 | Clement L. Hirsch Stakes | 1 | 3&UP, F&M | 1 1/16 M | Dirt |
| Aug. 7 | $150,000 | La Jolla Handicap | 3 | 3YO | 1 1/16 M | Turf |
| Aug. 7 | $125,000 | CTBA Stakes (Cal-Bred) | 2YO F | 5 1/2 F | Dirt | |
| Aug. 12 | $125,000 | Graduation Stakes (Cal-Bred) | 2YO | 5 1/2 F | Dirt | |
| Aug. 13 | $200,000 | Sorrento Stakes | 2 | 2YO F | 6 F | Dirt |
| Aug. 13 | $250,000 | Yellow Ribbon Handicap | 2 | 3&UP, F&M | 1 1/16 M | Turf |
| Aug. 14 | $200,000 | Best Pal Stakes | 3 | 2YO | 6 F | Dirt |
| Aug. 19 | $100,000 | CTT & TOC Stakes | 3&UP, F&M | 1 3/8 M | Turf | |
| Aug. 20 | $300,000 | Del Mar Oaks | 1 | 3YO F | 1 1/8 M | Turf |
| Aug. 21 | $150,000 | Solana Beach Stakes (Cal-Bred) | 3&UP, F&M | 1 M | Turf | |
| Aug. 27 | $250,000 | Pat O'Brien Stakes | 2 | 3&UP | 7 F | Dirt |
| Aug. 28 | $150,000 | Rancho Bernardo Handicap | 3 | 3&UP, F&M | 6 1/2 F | Dirt |
| Sept. 3 | $1,000,000 | Pacific Classic | 1 | 3&UP | 1 1/4 M | Dirt |
| Sept. 3 | $300,000 | Del Mar Handicap | 2 | 3&UP | 1 3/8 M | Turf |
| Sept. 3 | $300,000 | Del Mar Mile | 2 | 3&UP | 1 M | Turf |
| Sept. 3 | $300,000 | Del Mar Derby | 2 | 3YO | 1 1/8 M | Turf |
| Sept. 3 | $125,000 | Shared Belief Stakes | 3YO | 1 M | Dirt | |
| Sept. 4 | $125,000 | Torrey Pines Stakes | 3 | 3YO F | 1 M | Dirt |
| Sept. 4 | $150,000 | Green Flash Handicap | 3 | 3&UP | 5 F | Turf |
| Sept. 5 | $125,000 | Generous Portion Stakes (Cal-Bred) | 2YO F | 6 F | Dirt | |
| Sept. 5 | $100,000 | Tranquility Lake Stakes* | 3&UP, F&M | 1 M | Dirt | |
| Sept. 9 | $125,000 | I'm Smokin Stakes (Cal-Bred) | 2YO | 6 F | Dirt | |
| Sept. 10 | $250,000 | John C. Mabee Stakes | 2 | 3&UP, F&M | 1 1/8 M | Turf |
| Sept. 10 | $300,000 | Del Mar Debutante | 1 | 2YO F | 7 F | Dirt |
| Sept. 10 | $100,000 | Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf | 2YO F | 1 M | Turf | |
| Sept. 11 | $100,000 | Del Mar Juvenile Turf | 3 | 2YO | 1 M | Turf |
| Sept. 11 | $300,000 | Runhappy Del Mar Futurity | 1 | 2YO | 7 F | Dirt |
| * Race is restricted with conditions | ||||||
