Race meets at Del Mar and Saratoga are summertime staples.
As the horses cross the finish line of the Belmont Stakes each year, the hearts and minds of horse racing enthusiasts everywhere begin to fill with excitement as we are finally allowed to anticipate the arrival of summer and the race meets drenched in tradition at Del Mar and Saratoga. Each year, these meets draw horses, trainers, owners and fans from across the country to participate in the richest thoroughbred meets in the country.
At these magical places, legacies are forged, dreams come true and fortunes are won and lost. During any particular year, you will find Triple Crown winners, Breeders Cup Champions, established international megastars and the adolescent hopefuls of tomorrow. They are all there. The meets are a boon to horseplayers because of the full fields and the wagering attention attracted to each day’s race card. The size of the parimutuel pools is nothing short of incredible, and horseplayers don’t need to be right very often to make a LOT of money.
Del Mar is a beach town near San Diego, California and the race course there is fondly known as “where the turf meets the surf.” The track enjoys a long history as a summertime Hollywood playground, and not only did Bing Crosby sing about the famed venue, but he was also President of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Crosby was the first person to greet guests on opening day of Del Mar race track in 1937. In 1938, the famous Seabiscuit won perhaps the biggest race of his career at the track and this California has hosted superstars of the racing world ever since. Steeped in racing tradition and surrounded by the beauty of Southern California, it’s no wonder why so many folks flock to Del Mar each summer.
The 2021 Del Mar race meet runs July 16th through September 6th and features more than 20 Graded stakes races in total, along with their signature race, the G1 TVG Pacific Classic, held on Saturday August 22nd.
Saratoga Race Course is located in Saratoga Springs, New York and is commonly known by horse players as “The Spa”, named after the numerous mineral springs located nearby. A popular summer leisure destination for tourists, Saratoga Race Course was opened in 1863 and is heralded as one the oldest sporting venues in the United States. Named one of the world’s greatest venues by Sports Illustrated, Saratoga operates as a hub for the entire thoroughbred industry. The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is located here, and a visit to the museum is a must for every racing fan. Saratoga prides itself on a fun, family atmosphere with a host of activities all around the race track and a farmers market every Sunday of the meet.
The 2021 Saratoga race meet runs July 15th through September 6th and features more than 35 Graded Stakes races in total with the featured “Summer Derby,” the G1 Travers Stakes, on August 28th.
After an odd summer season in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions, we are excited for a return to high stakes racing this summer with full crowds and lots of betting action. Please join us as we celebrate racing traditions, talk our friends and family into chasing Pick 6 dreams, and bet our lungs out during the Del Mar and Saratoga meets.
Let’s get lucky!
