Del Mar’s summer season returns on Friday, July 17, promising an exciting blend of tradition and innovation as the seaside track readies for its 87th consecutive season. Racing fans and horsemen alike are looking forward to enhancements that highlight two standout programs: the long-running “Ship & Win” initiative and the introduction of high-value 2-year-old dirt maiden races.
The “Ship & Win” program, now in its 16th year, has become a hallmark of Del Mar racing, attracting more than 3,000 horses to the track since its inception. Designed to encourage owners and trainers to bring horses to Del Mar from across the country, the initiative rewards first-time local starters with bonuses ranging from $4,000 to $5,000, depending on surface, while also adding a 40–50% purse uplift to top finishers.
This year’s juvenile dirt Maiden Special Weight races are set to break new ground with base purses of $100,000 that can rise to $150,000 for qualifying “Ship & Win” entrants. The program extends beyond a single race, with bonuses applied to all starts for participating horses throughout the meet, providing tangible incentives for newcomers and boosting the overall quality of competition.
Local stables continue to be the backbone of the program, while many out-of-state horses brought in for the bonuses often stay on to race in California, strengthening the depth and excitement of the summer circuit. Del Mar senior vice president and racing secretary David Jerkens commented, “‘Ship and Win’ has been an extremely successful program for Del Mar and California racing overall. Our owners and trainers continue to take advantage of this powerful economic boost.”
Del Mar’s summer meet spans 32 days of racing, concluding on Labor Day Monday, September 7. After the opening three-day weekend, the schedule will run Thursday through Sunday, with a daily first post at 2 p.m., shifting to 1:30 p.m. on the closing weekend. The combination of seasoned campaigns and rising juveniles promises a captivating summer at the Del Mar seaside oval.
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