Racing at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club begins July 16th and ends September 6th

July 17, 2021

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Racing at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club begins July 16th and ends September 6th. The year 2020 held no in-person spectators because of the pandemic, but Del Mar's 82nd racing season will open up to horse racing fans as they can fill the stands to 100-percent capacity. Tickets for opening day are sold out!

What to Expect

In 2021, the award-winning South African American sportscaster Trevor Denman will return to Del Mar for his 34th season. Denman served in this role from 1984 to 2019. He missed last year because of the pandemic, where Larry Collmus filled in temporarily. Instead of the $1 minimum from previous years, 2021 will start with a 50 cent minimum. Del Mar also plans to introduce a Rainbow Pick Six where they have a minimum 20 cent wager.

Promising Jockeys in 2021

Umberto Rispoli and Flavien Prat dominated in 2020 with Flavien taking home the crown. In 2021, Umberto and Flavien return to the track with shining promise. Kent Desormeaux, two-time Eclipse Award Winner and thoroughbred Hall of Fame jockey, will once again rise to prominence in the coming season. He still holds the US record for the most races won in one year with 598 wins in 1989.

Tread Lightly Early On

The surface of the track, because of its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, can transform itself from one day to the next. Its unpredictability means that you may want to tread lightly on dirt angle. Most often in 2020, the inner starting positions had the highest winning percentages.

Trainers Worth Knowing

Last summer, Peter Miller became a clear first with 28 first-place finishers and 116 starters. Most respect him as a worthy opponent difficult to beat. His depth and ability to send riders out in all races made him a fierce competitor. You can expect other successful and well-known trainers in 2021 as well, such as names like:

• Bob Baffert
  
• Doug O'Neill
  
• Phil D'Amato
  
• John Saddler
  

In the 82nd horse racing season of Del Mar, the return to the race track looks promising with many exciting developments in 2021. Several new jockeys will join the line-up this year, and the horse racing looks as great as ever. Del Mar will have a new string of horses and stables that come from outside California this year.