The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, in conjunction with its partners from the Thoroughbred Owners of California, announced its 2024 stakes program for a 31-day meet to be held July 20 through Sept. 8. The meet's premier event will be the 34th running of the $1 million Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) to be run Aug. 31.
Del Mar is projecting a trimmed-back total purse distribution of more than $26.6 million for the eight-week meeting, the seaside track's 85th summer session.
The Pacific Classic will be the highlight of a rich afternoon of sport that will feature five graded stakes, including the $300,000 Del Mar Handicap (G2T) and the $300,000 Del Mar Mile (G2T), both contested over the track's popular Jimmy Durante Turf Course.
All told there will be $7.875 million in stakes purses available, notable among them six grade 1 presentations. The other grade 1s include the $400,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (July 27); the $400,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (Aug. 3); the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks (Aug. 17); the $300,000 Del Mar Debutante Stakes (Sept. 7), and the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity (Sept. 8).
See the Complete 2024 Summer Season Stakes Schedule
Further, Del Mar once again will offer eight black-type events strictly for California-breds carrying overall purses of $1 million. It also has a total of 19 stakes on its Jimmy Durante Turf Course, as well as five overnight stakes, each with a value of $100,000.
As it has for decades, the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds on the grass will kick off the proceedings on opening day. Then, also as part of a tradition, closing day will be highlighted by the Del Mar Futurity (G1) at seven furlongs on the main track, the championship test for 2-year-olds at the meeting.
"We're extremely pleased with the racing program we're offering this summer," said Del Mar vice president and racing secretary David Jerkens. "Our horsemen and horsewomen have been extremely supportive of our race meets and we look forward to working with them on another successful season."
Del Mar will offer the most lucrative purses in California and the West, with an average daily distribution to horsemen and women of $860,000, however, the total stakes purse distribution for this year is 4.8% lower than last year. Maiden special weight races will be run for less, too, at $75,000 compared to $82,000 for the 2023 meet. Eleven stakes had their purses lowered, most by $25,000 with four that got cut by $50,000—the La Jolla Handicap ($100,000), Sorrento Stakes (G3, $150,000), Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2T, $200,000), and Best Pal Stakes (G3, $150,000).
Del Mar will be the host track for this year's renewal of the Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 1-2 with its more than $33 million in purses and awards to go along with its 14 championship races. In conjunction with that, the shore track will host a half dozen "Win & You're In" races as well as a trio of the "Dirt Dozen" offerings during its summer stand.
"Del Mar truly shines as the pinnacle of California racing," said Gary Fenton, chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners of California. "The summer season is also paramount to our racing ecosystem, with its handle driving significant purse generation and other benefits to both the Northern and Southern zones that our members enjoy throughout the year."
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
