Del Mar Racecourse will open its 13th Bing Crosby Season on Friday, November 6, 2026, with a 13-day autumn racing programme that will run through Sunday, November 29. The Del Mar Bing Crosby Season will feature 15 stakes races worth a combined $2.1 million, with particular attention given to the Jimmy Durante Turf Course and a series of major contests scheduled for the closing weekend.
The meeting will follow a Friday-to-Sunday schedule, with Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, providing an additional day of racing. First post will generally be scheduled for 12:30 PM throughout the season, while the Thanksgiving programme will begin earlier at 11:00 AM and conclude at 2:00 PM.
The autumn meeting will carry the name of legendary entertainer Bing Crosby, who will remain closely associated with Del Mar’s founding in 1937. The 2026 edition will mark the 13th running of the seasonal programme, which will first have taken place in 2014.
Del Mar Bing Crosby Season to Feature 15 Stakes Races Worth $2.1 Million
The stakes programme will place considerable emphasis on turf racing, with nine of the 15 scheduled stakes contests set to take place on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. The season’s most valuable races will arrive during the final weekend, when Del Mar will stage two Grade I contests.
Saturday, November 28, will feature the $300,000 Hollywood Derby for three-year-olds, followed by the $300,000 Matriarch Stakes for fillies and mares on Sunday, November 29. Both races will headline the closing weekend and will provide major attractions in the meeting’s turf programme.
The stakes calendar will also reflect Del Mar’s historical association with Hollywood and the entertainment industry. Several races will carry the names of prominent personalities from the venue’s early years, including the Betty Grable, Desi Arnaz, Bob Hope, Jimmy Durante and Cecil B. DeMille Stakes.
Thanksgiving Programme to Include Red Carpet Stakes
Thanksgiving Day, November 26, will bring a special racing programme with an 11:00 AM start and a scheduled conclusion at 2:00 PM. The day’s principal contest will be the Grade III $120,000 Red Carpet Stakes, a race for fillies and mares over a distance of one mile and three-eighths on the turf.
The holiday programme will also include a Thanksgiving Fun Run at 8:00 AM, inviting families and children to take part in a lap around Del Mar’s one-mile oval. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Helen Woodward Animal Center.
Special Events and Family Activities Across the Meeting
Alongside its racing programme, Del Mar will organise several special events for visitors throughout November. Saturday attractions will include College Day on November 7, Uncorked: Derby Days Wine Fest on November 14, and a Taco & Beer Fest on November 21.
The annual Toys for Tots Drive and Ride will take place on Sunday, November 22, adding a charitable activity to the meeting’s calendar. Free & Fun Sundays will also return, offering free admission and seating, together with discounted food and drinks.
The Del Mar Fall Handicapping Challenge will be scheduled for November 28, while free seminars will take place at noon every Saturday and Sunday, providing additional activities for racegoers.
The weekly racing schedule will generally feature eight races on Fridays, while Saturday and Sunday programmes will offer nine races each. With its Grade I turf contests, holiday racing and entertainment activities, the November meeting will provide a varied programme throughout the autumn season.
The 2026 Del Mar Bing Crosby Season will run from November 6 to November 29, featuring 13 racing days, 15 stakes contests worth $2.1 million and two Grade I highlights during the closing weekend, alongside Thanksgiving celebrations and family activities.
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