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Del Mar Races: 9 Ways to Do a Day at the Track

Nine smart ways to do the 2026 Del Mar races, from Pacific Classic drama and terrace breakfast to family dates and the train-to-shuttle move.

9 rankedUpdated Aug 2, 2026✓ Verified Aug 2, 2026By The San Diego List
A field of thoroughbreds and jockeys in coloured silks running on a dirt track
Photo by Mathew Schwartz

The short answer

The signature 2026 Del Mar race day is Pacific Classic Saturday on August 22, with gates at noon and first post at 2 PM. For a more relaxed introduction, Diamond Club members receive admission, a program, and a seat on Free & Easy Thursdays.

NeighborhoodsDel Mar →Solana Beach →
01Free & Easy Thursday02Pacific Classic03Pony Express04The fall meet05Daybreak at Del Mar06Kids and Family Fun Day07What to wear08The food festivals09Outside food and parking

The Del Mar races can be polished, playful, family-friendly, transit-simple, or gloriously food-centered. Pick the version before you buy anything. That single decision tells you which date to circle, what to wear, and how early the day should begin.

Pacific Classic Saturday on August 22 is the full racing spectacle, with 4 major stakes on one card. Free & Easy Thursday gives Diamond Club members a gentler introduction. Daybreak opens the Clubhouse Terrace at 7:30 AM on weekends without requiring race admission, while Family Fun Day on September 6 gives younger guests their own reason to get excited.

Transportation can be part of the pleasure. Pony Express bundles regional transit and admission, then a free shuttle connects Solana Beach Station with the track. If you drive, remember that parking is charged at entry and there is no re-entry. Pack the cooler correctly, arrive with room to breathe, and let the card unfold race by race.

Round out the trip with things to do in Del Mar, the Del Mar neighborhood guide, Solana Beach ideas, and North County by COASTER.

EVERY THURSDAY

Del Mar Gives Thursday Away

ADMISSION, PROGRAM AND SEAT INCLUDED
DIAMOND CLUB

Thursday is the low-pressure way to fall for Del Mar racing. Free & Easy Thursdays give Diamond Club members admission, the day's program, and a seat, so you can walk in ready to follow the card instead of making a string of little decisions at the gate. The club also runs $5 Across the Board on Michelob ULTRA draft, Brandt Beef hot dogs, and refillable sodas at participating stands. Join the Diamond Club through the Del Mar mobile app before you arrive; membership is free, and the standard member admission rate on other days is $5. Then give the afternoon a real chance. Read the program, pick a horse for reasons both smart and ridiculous, and stay long enough to understand why a Thursday crowd can make the whole seaside tradition feel wonderfully accessible.

The take
Join the free Diamond Club before arrival and scan your card at the Thursday gate.

Confirm the current Thursday offer in the app before relying on admission or concession terms.

SATURDAY AUGUST 22

The Card the Whole Meet Points At

$1,000,000 GRADE I
FOUR GRADED STAKES

Circle Saturday, August 22 if you want the Del Mar day with the biggest heartbeat. The Pacific Classic is a $1 million Grade I and a Win And You're In for the Breeders' Cup Classic, but the excitement begins well before that race: the card also includes the Del Mar Oaks, Del Mar Mile, and Green Flash Handicap. Parking opens at 10:30 AM, gates open at noon, and first post is 2 PM. Arrive when the gates do so you can settle in, study the full card, and feel the anticipation build instead of rushing in for one moment. Four major races give the afternoon a real arc. By the time the Pacific Classic field arrives, you have already spent hours inside the rhythm of one of San Diego's signature summer sports days.

The take
Enter at noon and follow the full card through the Pacific Classic.

Cars may enter from 10:30 AM; spectator admission follows at noon, with racing at 2 PM.

SOLANA BEACH STATION

The Train Puts You at the Shuttle

PONY EXPRESS $15 ADULT
SHUTTLE EVERY 30 MINUTES

Let the train make race day feel like an outing before you even reach the gate. NCTD's Pony Express bundles round-trip regional transit, racetrack admission, and the Solana Beach shuttle for $15 per adult or $12 for youth and reduced-fare riders. At Solana Beach COASTER Station, free shuttles run roughly every 30 minutes beginning when the track gates open. The return stays flexible: departures leave 15 minutes after each race and 30 minutes after the final one, so your group can stay for the full card or call the afternoon when it is ready. Buy the appropriate fare, keep the return timing in mind, and enjoy arriving without a parking search. For a focused Del Mar day, this is the transportation move that turns the journey into part of the fun.

The take
Ride to Solana Beach, board the free shuttle, and choose your return after any race.

Confirm current Pony Express sale rules and shuttle timing before the race day you choose.

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NOVEMBER 6–29

The Bing Crosby Meet in November

FIRST POST 12:30PM
ADMISSION $8, OR $4 A MEMBER

Del Mar gets a second personality in November. The Bing Crosby meet runs Friday through Sunday from November 6 to 29, with gates opening 90 minutes before racing and first post at 12:30 PM. Thanksgiving shifts earlier to an 11 AM first post, and the FanDuel Racing Turf Festival fills the final stretch from November 26 to 29. Diamond Club members pay $4 admission, which makes the fall meet an easy excuse to give the track another look after summer. Pick a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, arrive before the first post, and enjoy the clean shape of a shorter racing weekend. The dates feel festive without asking you to build an entire holiday around them, and the late-November card gives San Diego one more reason to dress up and cheer before December arrives.

The take
Choose a Friday-through-Sunday date and enter before the 12:30 PM first post.

Racing runs Friday through Sunday within the November 6–29 meet; verify the exact card.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

Breakfast on the Clubhouse Terrace

7:30–9AM
NO ADMISSION NEEDED
PARKING FREE

Daybreak is for anyone curious about Del Mar but not ready to commit to a full race afternoon. The Clubhouse Terrace opens every Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 to 9 AM, giving you a crisp early window on the property before the regular racing day takes over. Admission is not required, and parking is free for Daybreak attendees. That combination makes it a lovely first date with the track, a family morning, or the beginning of a Del Mar day that continues somewhere else after 9. Arrive at 7:30 so the experience does not feel rushed, claim the time for breakfast if you want it, and let the morning introduce the venue at a gentler pace. There is something deliciously San Diego about finishing a racetrack outing before most weekend plans have even begun.

The take
Reach the Clubhouse Terrace at 7:30 AM and enjoy the full Daybreak window.

Daybreak ends at 9 AM and is separate from regular race-day admission.

17 AND UNDER FREE

Everybody 17 and Under Walks In Free

FAMILY FUN DAY SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 6
12:30–5:30PM

A family race day becomes much easier to imagine when every guest age 17 and younger walks through the gate free. Del Mar also discounts their grandstand seating, so you can give children the experience without making the afternoon feel like a major financial commitment. Family Fun Day lands Sunday, September 6, from 12:30 to 5:30 PM at the Seaside Cabana, giving the visit a clear date and home base. Children must remain with a parent or legal guardian, and wagering is reserved for adults age 18 and older. Explain the rhythm before you arrive—watch a race, explore the family event, regroup—and let curiosity lead. The track can feel huge to a child, which is exactly why a day built around small, exciting moments works so beautifully.

The take
Build September 6 around Family Fun Day and free admission for guests 17 and younger.

Children need a parent or legal guardian with them; wagering begins at age 18.

TURF CLUB

One Room Has a Dress Code

JACKET AT ALL TIMES FOR MEN
NO CODE PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE

The Turf Club is your excuse to make race day look like an occasion. Men must wear a suit or sport jacket at all times, with ties optional; tailored denim is permitted under a jacket. The guidance for women prefers suits or daytime dresses, or slacks and tailored denim with a tailored jacket. Shorts, T-shirts, athletic wear, windbreakers, flip-flops, and ripped, torn, or oversized denim are prohibited, and the rules apply to children too. Outside the Turf Club, Del Mar publishes no general dress code. Decide which part of the track you are booking before planning the outfit, then have fun with it. When the room calls for a jacket, lean into the ritual and let getting dressed become part of race day's anticipation.

The take
Confirm your seating area, then bring a jacket if the Turf Club is part of the plan.

The Turf Club turns away shorts, tees, athletic pieces, flip-flops, and distressed or baggy denim.

AUG 8, AUG 15, SEPT 5

Three Saturdays Built Around Food

FROM $39 WITH FIVE DRINK TICKETS

Give the race day a food-festival storyline. Turf & Surf runs August 8 from 1 to 6 PM, pairing racetrack admission and 5 drink tickets with a souvenir cup at the $40 early-bird tier; a 1.25-pound steamed lobster feast is a $49 add-on. One week later, Taste of New Orleans takes over August 15 from 1 to 6 PM, with early-bird admission at $39, rising to $47, and an ages-11-to-20 ticket at $13. The third Saturday is the BBQ & Beer Festival on September 5 from 12:30 to 5:30 PM, with the same $39 early-bird, $47 late-entry and $13 ages-11-to-20 prices. Choose the food theme that excites your group, buy before the early tier disappears, and arrive ready to split attention between the festival and the racing.

The take
Choose lobster and steak, New Orleans flavors, or the BBQ-and-beer finale.

Confirm current ticket inventory, inclusions, and add-on pricing before purchase.

OUTSIDE FOOD ALLOWED

You Can Carry Your Own Cooler In

GENERAL PARKING $15
NO RE-ENTRY

Your own cooler can make a Del Mar afternoon feel wonderfully personal. The track welcomes personal food and nonalcoholic beverages in most areas, so pack the snacks everyone actually wants and make the day less dependent on concession lines. The exceptions are trackside restaurant table seating, suites, and skyrooms. Outside alcohol and glass are prohibited everywhere, bags go through weapons screening, and return entry is not allowed, so pack carefully before leaving the car. Parking is charged per vehicle at entry: $15 general, $25 preferred, or $35 valet. Once you are inside, settle into the part of the venue you chose and let the cooler do its quiet magic. Familiar food, a full card, and nowhere else to be make a lovely race-day combination.

The take
Pack allowed food and nonalcoholic drinks before entering, then settle in for the full card.

Leave alcohol and glass in the car, expect bag screening, and plan to remain inside after admission.

How we rank

official facts, current access, logistics, and volatile claims are checked against dated primary sources; no venue rating is borrowed.

✓Every date, price, rule and shuttle timing below was read off Del Mar's own pages or NCTD's on July 30, 2026

Common questions

What are the key Del Mar racing dates for 2026?

Pacific Classic Saturday is August 22. The Bing Crosby fall meet runs Friday through Sunday from November 6 to 29, with first post at 12:30 PM except for the 11 AM Thanksgiving card. Check the current day-by-day calendar before going.

How can you spend less on Del Mar race admission?

Join the free Diamond Club through the Del Mar mobile app. Members receive admission, a program, and a seat on Free & Easy Thursdays; standard general admission is $10 and the regular Diamond Club rate is $5.

Where does the Del Mar dress code apply?

The published dress code applies to the Turf Club. Men need a suit or sport jacket; women are guided toward suits or daytime dresses, or slacks and tailored denim with a tailored jacket. Shorts, T-shirts, athletic wear, flip-flops, and ripped or oversized denim are prohibited there.

Can you visit Del Mar early without race admission?

Yes. Daybreak at Del Mar runs Saturdays and Sundays from 7:30 to 9 AM on the Clubhouse Terrace. Race admission is not required, and parking is free for Daybreak attendees.

How do the train and shuttle work for Del Mar race day?

Take regional transit to Solana Beach and use the free racetrack shuttle, which runs roughly every 30 minutes from gates open. Return shuttles depart 15 minutes after each race and 30 minutes after the final race. Pony Express bundles admission and regional transit.

What food and drinks can you carry into Del Mar?

Personal food and nonalcoholic drinks are allowed except at trackside restaurant tables, suites, and skyrooms. Outside alcohol and glass are prohibited everywhere. Bags go through weapons screening, and there is no re-entry.

What should families know before taking children to the races?

Guests age 17 and younger receive free admission and discounted grandstand seating but must stay with a parent or legal guardian. Wagering is limited to adults age 18 and older. Family Fun Day runs September 6 from 12:30 to 5:30 PM.

Which Del Mar race day fits your priorities?

Pick August 22 for the Pacific Classic card, Thursday for the Diamond Club's Free & Easy offer, September 6 for Family Fun Day, or a November weekend for the Bing Crosby meet. Confirm each date before buying transit or parking.

Sources and verificationOfficial planning sources and dated primary evidence used to verify this guide.

Official and first-party sources

Reporting and safety context

About the author

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By
The San Diego List

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The San Diego editorial team behind independently ranked restaurant, neighborhood, event, and activity guides, with dated evidence and a public corrections process.

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