Del Mar to Begin Expansion of Turf Course
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Del Mar will begin an expansion of its turf course Sept. 13 to accommodate more horses in an effort to host a future Breeders' Cup World Championships event.
Officials at the California racetrack said the project is expected to cost just under $5 million.
The wider course will accommodate 14 horses from the current 10-horse maximum, and the turns will be softened to make it safer for horses and riders. It will be widened to 80 feet from the current 63-foot width on the straightaways, and it will consist of 10.5 acres of grass compared with 7.7 acres on the existing course.
Officials have indicated the changes could make Del Mar eligible to host the Breeders' Cup as early as 2015.