The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club is gearing up for a strong 31-day summer racing season, buoyed by the collapse of Northern California’s horse racing circuit. This consolidation has brought 12 to 15 additional trainers and 300 to 400 horses from Northern California to Del Mar, filling barn space and increasing field sizes. Del Mar, along with Santa Anita and Los Alamitos, now forms the sole California racing circuit, leading to higher wagering handles and an 8% purse increase. The club has adjusted its race schedule to accommodate the influx, offering more opportunities for California-bred horses and varying claiming levels to maintain competitive balance.

Notable highlights include the debut of Italian jockey Mirco Demuro and highly contested stakes races with large nomination numbers. Del Mar officials have also prepared contingency plans for potential immigration enforcement actions, a concern rooted in past incidents. Overall, the season promises to be robust, with expectations of capacity fields and increased demand, reflecting a positive outlook for Southern California racing amid the state’s shifting landscape.