Del Mar Increases Purses for 2021 Fall Stakes Schedule

Del Mar will present its eighth fall meeting—officially titled the Bing Crosby Season in a salute to the seaside track's founder—with 20 stakes and a pair of overnights worth a record $3.55 million planned during a 15-day session starting Nov. 3.

Del Mar will host the 38th Breeders' Cup during its fall meet Nov. 5-6 with 14 World Championships races worth more than $31 million. The track was previously home to the 2017 Breeders' Cup.

Other than the Breeders' Cup, a highlight of the season will be two grade 1 offerings on closing weekend Nov. 27-28, the Hollywood Derby (G1T) for 3-year-olds and the Matriarch Stakes (G1T) for fillies and mares 3 and up. Each will carry a value of $400,000, the highest sum ever for a stakes race at the shore oval outside of the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic (G1).

"This is the best fall stakes schedule we've ever presented," said Del Mar Thoroughbred Club vice president and racing secretary David Jerkens. "The success of Del Mar racing over the past two years has allowed us to partner with our horsemen and horsewomen in this robust schedule. We think it will be an attraction to good horses from across the country."

Twelve of the 2021 fall stakes are graded—two grade 1, four grade 2, and six grade 3. The track has put an emphasis on grass racing during its previous fall stands and that holds true once more with 11 of the stakes, including the last seven, all contested on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. Those seven turf tests will be conducted during Del Mar's final weekend, staring on Thanksgiving, Nov. 25 and continuing through closing day, Nov. 28.

Last fall Del Mar contested 16 stakes worth $2.25 million and maintained purse levels from its 2019 stakes despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Hollywood Derby and Matriarch were run for $300,000 a year ago.

In addition to increased purses for the the Hollywood Derby and Matriarch Stakes, the Seabiscuit Handicap (G2T) and Hollywood Turf Cup (G2T), both worth $250,000 this year, have had their values increased by $50,000 from previous runnings.

Racing will be conducted Wednesday through Sunday in Week 1, then Friday through Sunday in Weeks 2 and 3 before finishing with a Thursday through Sunday session in the final Week 4.

First post daily will be 12:30 p.m. PT on all racing days with the exceptions of the Breeders' Cup Days and Thanksgiving. The first race on Breeders' Cup Friday goes off at 11:55 a.m., while the first on Breeders' Cup Saturday begins at 10:15 a.m. The Thanksgiving Day card will have a first post of 11 a.m.

As in past years, Del Mar's racing office plans to card eight races during its weekday cards and nine for the weekend programs.

Note: Stakes schedule does not include Nov. 5-6 Breeders' Cup races