Great Horse Racing Videos – Flightline Moving Like a Tremendous Machine

Flightline winning Pacific ClassicGrade 1 winner and horse racing superstar Flightline rated kindly in second during the early running of the Pacific Classic at Del Mar.  He took over while under an absolute strangehold before drawing off to a 19 length victory.  Trained by top California horseman David Sadler and ridden by Flavien Prat, Flightline is headed to the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland later this fall.

One YouTube viewer wrote:

“Probably the best I’ve seen since Secretariat. There’s not a horse on this earth that wants to try flightline right now. And I’ll bet he is just as good on turf as he is on dirt. This horse is a superstar. He wants to run his own race, like Secretariat, and he is a ham, did you see him looking at the crowd?, like Secretariat. I wish him and his connections the very best.”

 

Big Summer Racing Meet on Tap at Del Mar

Following a milestone year in 2021 featuring the return of fans, record-breaking wagering and the hosting of the Breeders’ Cup, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club is poised for perhaps its greatest racing season. The 2022 summer meet will see a return to full capacity in the grandstand for the first time since 2019 and the richest purses in California history with total payouts to participating horsemen and horsewomen averaging more than $800,000 per day. Del Mar and all its excitement bursts from the gate on Opening Day, Friday, July 22 and will run through Sunday, September 11.

Known as one of Southern California’s most beloved summer events, Opening Day at Del Mar attracts thousands of locals and travelers alike. The West Coast tradition features the best in racing, fashion, food and local culture. Fans will have the opportunity to wager on ten exciting races including the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes and enter the Opening Day Hats Contest, one of the long-standing Opening Day highlights. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. and the first post is at 2 p.m. Opening weekend will feature more high-end stakes racing on Saturday and Sunday with gates opening at noon. Del Mar will be limiting General Admission on Opening Day to enhance attendee experience – tickets are expected to sell out quickly, so guests are encouraged to purchase tickets early to guarantee attendance.

Del Mar is also bringing back fan favorite events to the track this year with highlights including:

August 6 – Equine Art Show: Witness many of Del Mar’s talented artists, painting demonstrations and art for purchase
Aug. 13 – Uncorked: Del Mar Wine Fest: Enjoy tastings of more than 150 wines from across the globe along with gourmet food from local San Diego food vendors
Aug. 20 – Del Mar Taco & Beer Festival: From 12-4 pm, the festival features local breweries as well as tacos prepared by local food vendors. (Admission price TBD)
Sept. 4 – Family Fun Day: Bring your family to the cabana to enjoy free attractions including face painting, kid-friendly games and more
Sept. 10 – College Day: Show your student ID for free racetrack admission and exclusive access to grandstand seating
In addition to special weekend events, Del Mar offers weekly attractions including:

Del mar chantal billboardDiamond Club Free & Easy Thursdays: Free admission + seats and food + beverage specials
Taste of the Turf Club (Sundays): An exciting opportunity for non-Turf Club members to reserve a table and enjoy a locally inspired menu with the best views of the track ($125 per person)
Happy Hour (Fridays): New in 2022, get half off signature drinks until 6 pm or upgrade your experience and enjoy happy hour drinks and appetizers in the Turf Club. (Turf Club admission price TBD)
On Saturday, September 3, Del Mar will present the highlight of its summer season, the $1,000,000 TVG Pacific Classic. The highly anticipated event showcases the nation’s leading Thoroughbreds, trainers and jockeys at the famed seaside oval.

The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club continues to lead the nation in horse racing safety and its highly successful protocols for equine and human athletes are considered the gold standard throughout the Thoroughbred racing industry.

Tickets for the summer season go on sale on Friday, May 13 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased at http://www.dmtc.com.

About the 2022 Summer Racing Season
Del Mar will present its 83rd year of racing with its Summer 2022 racing season running from Friday, July 22 – Sunday, September 11. First post daily is 2 p.m. until September 1 when first post moves to 1 p.m. First post on Fridays is at 4 p.m. (exceptions being August 26, September 2 and 9 when first post shifts to 3 p.m.). For more information, call 858-755-1141 or visit http://www.dmtc.com. You can follow Del Mar on Instagram and Twitter at @delmarracing or on Facebook @DelMarRaces.

About Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
Opened in 1937, San Diego’s iconic and the nation’s only seaside racetrack features the world’s top racehorses, the best in fashion and classic California culture where the “turf meets the surf.” What began as a Hollywood hotspot in the era of the racetrack’s founder Bing Crosby is now one of today’s premier Southern California summer destinations and a leader in racetrack safety.

Free Pace Chart for Thursday at Del Mar – Nov 4th

Complimentary Pace Report – Thursday at Del Mar

Predicting the pace of the race is a critical aspect of successful handicapping.  Today, I present a pace chart which breaks down where each runner is expected to be during the running of the race – on Thursday at Del Mar.  Check it out. 

This is the same Full-card pace chart I provide in my Breeders’ Cup analysis for both days.

DMR – Thursday, Nov. 4th
Race 1 Expected Pace Leaders Stalkers Mid-Pack Closers Unknown
8 Furlongs / Turf Honest 1-3 8-7 5-6-2 4
Race 2
6.00 Furlongs / Dirt Honest/Fast *5 6-2 1-4-3
Race 3
5.00 Furlongs / Turf Honest/Fast 5 3-4 8-7-1 2-6
Race 4
8 Furlongs / Dirt Fast 3 6-5 2-1-4
Race 5
8 Furlongs / Turf Slow/Modest 10-11 7-3-6 1-4-14-9 13-12 2-5-8
Race 6
6.50 Furlongs / Dirt Honest 5 8-6 7-1-3 4-2
Race 7
8 Furlongs / Turf Honest 5 6-3 4-2-7 9-1-10
Race 8
6.50 Furlongs / Dirt Slow 7-6 12-3-9 11-1-2-5 8-10

Del Mar Fairgrounds and Sports Betting in California?

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SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — The Del Mar Fairgrounds could become a place to bet on professional and college sports, should California voters approve a measure allowing sports gambling in November 2022.

On Tuesday, the Del Mar Fairgrounds board voted 7-0 to adjust its operating agreement with the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, allowing it to run a “first-class” sports book at its off-track wagering facility, Surfside Race Place, as soon as 2023.

The proposal hinges on the passage of a statewise proposition that would allow licensed racetracks and Native American casinos to offer on-site wagering on professional, college, and amateur sports. Gambling on high school sports and games involving colleges in California would still be illegal. The thoroughbred club’s proposal would also need to be approved by the State Race Track Leasing Commission.

“Sports wagering will generate significant additional net revenues for DMTC which, along with the additional food and beverage revenues generated, will flow to the District and Race Track Authority,” Thoroughbred Club Chief Executive Josh Rubinstein wrote in a letter to the fair board chair on Wednesday, Sept. 8…  More from 10news.com on Del Mar and Sports Betting

Breeders’ Cup News & Notes: Juvenile Turf Contender Mackinnon

A Del Mar meet with no fans? A horse racing unthinkable could become realityPost-race Notes from Del Mar Juvenile Turf Mackinnon, winner on closing day at Del Mar (9/6/21)

JUAN HERNANDEZ (Mackinnon, winner) – “Doug just basically told me to ride him with confidence. We were doing OK until we got to the far turn and I felt him get a little lazy on me. So when we went for home and he changed leads, I hit him left-handed with the stick on time and he jumped back into it. From there we just went on with it. He’s a nice horse and the way he finished out today, I think he’ll like to run on.”

O’NEILL (Mackinnon, winner) “He broke his maiden (here July 31) in a manner that we were hoping this day would come but you never know. So much credit to the owners being so patient and Juan (Hernandez) being so patient with this colt. I was a little bit concerned as the race unfolded. I knew that (Optimising) was the X-factor. I knew he was in from Europe and had been working well and had great connections and was in a great spot. But when Juan called on MacKinnon and he responded I started smiling. If he stays injury free the ($1 Million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on November 5) is the goal.”


Del Mar Juvenile Turf – Del Mar 9/6/2021

FRACTIONS:  :23.13  :46.79  1:11.67  1:23.88  1:36.24

The stakes win was the fourth of the meet for rider Hernandez, but his first in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf. He now has 11 stakes wins at Del Mar.

The stakes win was the first of the meet for trainer O’Neill and his first in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf. He now has 40 stakes wins at Del Mar.

The winning owners ERJ Racing (professional hockey player Erik Johnson of Denver, CO) and Dave Kenney.

More News & Notes on the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar

Breeders’ Cup Festival to Kick Off Nov. 1st in California

Breeders’ Cup, one of Thoroughbred horse racing’s most prestigious international events, announced today the lineup for the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Festival presented by PNC Bank. This week-long series of events and activations will run November 1-6, 2021, with events preceding and following the 38th annual horse racing World Championships which takes place on November 5-6, 2021, at the Del Mar racetrack. In partnership with Del Mar Village Association (DMVA) and sponsored by PNC Bank, the Festival will bring residents and visitors together to celebrate Breeders’ Cup while supporting local businesses and engaging with the community.

“In addition to featuring the greatest horse racing in the world, Breeders’ Cup showcases the host city’s best local food, entertainment and culture. We’re excited to be back at Del Mar for a second time, and we look forward to offering our fans a rich selection of events and activities through this year’s festival,” says Drew Fleming, Breeders’ Cup President and CEO. “There are no better partners than PNC Bank and the Del Mar Village Association to help bring this festival to life and we hope to see residents of San Diego County and beyond enjoying our Championship races and festival events, all while supporting local businesses.”

The week-long festival consists of a variety of community events leading up to Breeders’ Cup, the horse racing World Championships taking place at the Del Mar racetrack in November 2021 

The Breeders’ Cup Festival will run from Monday, November 1 to Saturday, November 6 and includes a variety of free and ticketed events. Confirmed event highlights are included below:

  • Rood & Riddle Breeders’ Cup Post-Position Draw (Monday, November 1): The official post-position draw determines the starting gate positions (number) of each horse in each Breeders’ Cup World Championships race.

    Location: Del Mar Racetrack (Paddock), 2260 Jimmy Durante, Del Mar

  • Del Mar Village Live Music (Tuesday, November 2 – Sunday, November 7): Local musicians will perform throughout Downtown Del Mar Village.

    Location: Del Mar Plaza Deck

  • Fashionable Fillies Goes West Benefiting The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation (Wednesday, November 3): A fundraiser in collaboration with Del Mar Village Stores & Boutiques will be held at the Del Mar Plaza and its surrounding shops from 3-5 p.m. For more information, tickets and sponsorships please visit Tinyurl.com/GoesWest2021

    Location: Del Mar Plaza, 1555 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar

  • Edwin J. Gregson Foundation Gala (Wednesday, November 3): A celebration honoring champion trainer John Gosden will raise money to fund scholarships for children of backstretch employees. The event will take place at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar from 6-10 p.m. Visit www.gregsonfoundation.com or call (626) 447-2339 for more information. Please reserve seats early for this can’t-miss event, as seating is limited!

   Location: 5300 Grand Del Mar Ct, San Diego, CA 92130

  • DMTC Bing Crosby Season Opening Day VIP Viewing Party & Breeders’ “Cup” of Beer & Whiskey Wednesday (Wednesday, November 3): In celebration of Del Mar’s Bing Crosby Fall racing season Opening Day, Monarch Ocean Pub will hold a VIP viewing party from 12:30 – 5 p.m. and a barrel beer and whiskey tasting with small bites and live music from 6-9 p.m.

    Location: Monarch Ocean Pub, 1555 Camino Del Mar Suite 322, Del Mar

  • Festival Golf Tournament (Thursday, November 4): Highlighting one of the area’s most coveted golf courses, the Del Mar Country Club tournament will host up to 100 guests for a day of friendly competition.

    Location: Del Mar Country Club, 6001 Clubhouse Dr, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067

  • DMVA Breeders’ Cup VIP Welcome Party (Thursday, November 4): DMVA will host a Del Mar Village Breeders’ Cup kick-off event from 6-9 p.m. presented by PNC Bank with music, curated cocktails, ocean views and Del Mar flavors. Tickets are available by invite only.

    Location: Monarch Ocean Pub, 1555 Camino Del Mar Suite 322, Del Mar

Additional events throughout the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Festival include a poker tournament, a Tacos & Tequila Tuesday in Del Mar Village and daily Viewing Parties at Del Mar Village businesses with special Breeders’ Cup cocktails. There will be fundraisers including an event in support of the Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA). Details for all events are being confirmed and will be available on the Breeders’ Cup Festival website, www.BreedersCupFestival.com, in the coming weeks.

In 2017, Breeders’ Cup and the accompanying festival drew thousands to the San Diego region, setting the highest recorded economic impact for the championship event with $97 million in economic benefits. “We are grateful to Breeders’ Cup for returning to Del Mar and the economic support it brings to our community,” says Craig Dado, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club CMO. “This is a milestone event for our city and we look forward to repeating 2017’s success.”

Breeders’ Cup tickets are still available for purchase online at BreedersCup.com/Tickets or by calling the ticketing office at 1-877-849-4287. Fans are required to purchase tickets in advance of the event.


ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP

The Breeders’ Cup administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The Breeders’ Cup is also a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, an organization composed of industry leaders committed to advancing safety measures in Thoroughbred racing and improving the well-being of equine and human athletes.

The 2021 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Championship races, is scheduled to be held on November 5-6 at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event will be televised live by the NBC Sports Group. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.

About Del Mar Thoroughbred Club

Del Mar will present its 82nd year of racing with its Summer 2021 racing season running from July 16 – Labor Day, September 6. The Bing Crosby Fall Racing Season will run Wednesday, November 3 – Thanksgiving, November 28. The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club will host the Breeders’ Cup Horse Racing World Championships on November 5-6, 2021 for the second time in track history.  For more information, call 858-755-1141 or visit www.dmtc.com. You can follow Del Mar on Instagram and Twitter at @delmarracing or on Facebook @DelMarRaces.

About Del Mar Village

Del Mar is a quaint seaside village 20 minutes north of San Diego on the Southern California Coastline and 2 minutes from the renowned Del Mar Racetrack. Del Mar is rich with beauty, amenities, and history. Since the legendary days of Hollywood’s golden years, Del Mar has been the destination of choice for movie stars as well as those with a taste for fast horses, breathtaking vistas, stunning sandstone canyons, accessible pristine beaches, and award-winning cuisine with dazzling ocean views. The affluent and historic Del Mar Village offers a variety of unique mom and pop shops, spectacular ocean-view restaurants and charming beach-style hotels. For more information about the Del Mar Village, visit www.visitdelmarvillage.com.

AGOS Horses to Watch and Trip Notes – Aug 8

Complimentary horses to watch and trip notes for Agameofskill.com visitors

DEL MAR

WARREN’S CANDY GIRL (Race 1 at Del Mar, July 30) – Turf runner made a powerful late run to take over at the top of the lane and draw off to an impressive win.

SARATOGA

FULL COURT PRESS (Race 13 at Saratoga, August 1) – bumped hard start and then raced wide throughout most of the running.  Drew off strongly in the lane and won this race despite wide trip.  Tom Morley runner could win back in the right spot.

CREATE AGAIN (Race 6 at Saratoga, July 29) – Peter Walder runner was boxed in during most of this race despite the short, four-horse field.  When he finally got clear he couldn’t run down the horse who dictated the pace.  Solid effort for potent new barn and should prove tough in similar spot.

Brickyard Ride the One to Beat in Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar

The Craig Lewis-trained Brickyard Ride, bred in California, will take on six Kentucky breds and two Florida breds in Saturday’s $300,000 Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar. Brickyard Ride, who will be ridden by Juan Hernandez, goes into the 6-furlong sprint off a victory in the $100,000 Thor’s Echo Stakes at Santa Anita last month.

Lewis also will saddle the only Cal-bred in Sunday’s $300,000 Grade I Clement L. Hirsch Stakes when he sends out Warren’s Showtime in the seven-horse field. Del Mar publicity official Hank Wesch asked Lewis if he feels the weight of the Cal-bred world on his shoulders.

“I’ve carried weight before, I can deal with it,” he said.

What’s New with Wagers at Del Mar?

New takes on a pair of Del Mar betting favorites are on tap for the 2021 Del Mar racing season which breaks from the gate on Friday, July 16.

The track’s Pick Six, long a staple at a $2 price, instead will switch to a 20¢ ticket, a wagering increment that has proven to be very popular with players of all levels. The bet will be called the “Rainbow Pick Six.”

Additionally, Del Mar’s Super High 5 – available on the day’s last race – will change its “play” denomination from $1 down to 50¢. Track officials believe the lower price will encourage players to take bigger swings at the day’s final prize.

Track announce Trevor Denman is back.  Learn more.

Otherwise, the track where the turf meets the surf once again will offer its fans the same 17 different ways to wager that have been presented over all recent seasons. It starts with the traditional win, place and show wagers and expands all the way out to several five- and six-horse combinations.

The Pick Six at 20¢ and its large mandatory payout days have proven to be solidly in favor at racetracks throughout the country. Del Mar will be offering two mandatory payout days in conjunction with the bet – TVG Pacific Classic Day (Saturday, August 21) and closing day (Monday, September 6). Pools of from $3- to $5-million are both possible and likely on those days, a sure ticket to bring on the big betting buzz, which makes a special day even more so around the track.

“We’re excited about the large wagering pools the ‘Rainbow Pick Six’ will generate,” said Del Mar’s director of mutuels, Bill Navarro. “The 20¢ minimum gives small and mid-level players the ability to spread deep throughout the card.”

Del Mar’s ‘Rainbow Pick Six’ will payout 70% of the pool each day to those with the most winners and the remaining 30% will carry over, provided there are no single-ticket winners.

Three relatively new multi-race bets that have been warmly welcomed by the track’s players are slated again this summer. They are the early Pick Four, beginning on Race 2 at a 50¢ price; a late Pick 5 offered on the last five races daily, also at the 50¢ level, and a Win, Place, Show Parlay available for a minimum of two races and a maximum of six. It is a $2 bet.

exacta horse racing basicsIn addition to its Early Pick Four, the track will continue to offer its usual Pick Four on the last four races on the day’s card, a bet that has proven to be one of the most in demand in the country and regularly registers $1-million-plus pools on weekends. Further, the late Pick Five will be similar to the track’s early Pick Five held on the day’s initial five events.

The full array of Del Mar bets is as follows: $2 win, place and show (all races); $1 Exacta (all); $2 Quinella (all); 50¢ Trifecta (all); $2 Rolling Doubles (all except last); $1 Rolling Pick 3 (all except last two); $1 Superfecta (10¢ minimum – all); $1 Place Pick All (starts w/Race 1 or 2); 50¢ Super High 5 (last); 20¢ Pick Six (last six); 50¢ Players’ Pick 5 (first five and last five); 50¢ Pick 4 (Races 2 thru 5 and last four), and $2 Win-Place-Show Parlay (all races but last).

The Racing Schedule

Del Mar will race on a Friday – Saturday – Sunday schedule for the first two weeks of its meet, then switch to a Thursday – Friday – Saturday – Sunday plan for the balance of the session, finishing up with its tradition closing day on Labor Day Monday, September 6. First post daily will be 2 p.m. with the exceptions of all Fridays (other than the opener) when racing begins at 4 p.m.

Source: Dmtc.com

Racetracks Announced for NHC Tournament in Las Vegas

NTRA NHC logoLEXINGTON, Ky. (Friday, June 25, 2021) — Seven North American racetracks, including premier summer-time race meetings Del Mar, Saratoga and Monmouth Park, make up a menu from which all mandatory and optional races will be selected when the world’s richest and most prestigious handicapping tournament – the NTRA National Horseplayers Championship (NHC), presented by Racetrack Television Network, Caesars Entertainment and Bally’s Las Vegas – is contested Aug. 27-29, 2021. The official NHC 2021 racetracks are Del Mar, Ellis Park, Golden Gate Fields, Gulfstream Park, Monmouth Park, Saratoga Race Course and Woodbine Racetrack.

This year’s NHC, which includes more than 600 entries, was originally scheduled to be held February 9-11, but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and was rescheduled for late August. The total cash and prizes to be awarded at the 2021 NHC are estimated to be nearly $3.8 million, including an estimated $3 million in prize money.

“The menu of racetracks represents the best possible mix of quality racing and geographical diversity,” said NTRA Chief Operating Officer and NHC Tournament Director Keith Chamblin. “Del Mar and Saratoga, which on Saturday, Aug. 27, will feature six Grade I events headed by the Runhappy Travers Stakes, highlight the racing, but it will be great to introduce Ellis Park, Monmouth Park and Woodbine to NHC contest play.”

The three-day NHC requires players to make mythical $2 win and place wagers on eight mandatory races and 10 optional races on each of the first two days. The top 10 percent of players achieving the highest bankroll at the conclusion of the first two days will advance to Sunday morning’s Semi-Final round which will consist of 10 optional plays. The top 10 players following the Semi-Final round will advance to Sunday’s Final Table where they will compete in seven mandatory races to determine the National Champion. The winner will receive $800,000 and an Eclipse Award as the Horseplayer of the Year.

The NHC is the most important tournament of the year for horseplayers and is the culmination of a year-long series of NTRA-sanctioned local tournaments conducted by racetracks, casino race books, off-track betting facilities and horse racing and handicapping websites, each of which sends its top qualifiers to the national finals. There are no buy-ins to the NHC. Each year, the NHC winner joins other human and equine champions as an honoree at the Eclipse Awards. The NHC is presented by Racetrack Television Network, Caesars Entertainment and Bally’s Las Vegas.

For more information on the NHC Tour and a complete contest schedule, visit NTRA.com/nhc.

ELIGIBLE TRACKS FOR 2021 NHC IN LAS VEGAS*

Del Mar

Ellis Park

Golden Gate Fields

Gulfstream Park

Monmouth Park

Saratoga Race Course

Woodbine Racetrack

* Subject to change