Breeders' Cup will have 100 percent seating capacity at Del Mar

This year’s Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club north of San Diego on Nov. 5-6 will “utilize 100 percent of seated capacity,” Breeders’ Cup announced Wednesday, one day after the state of California announced the lifting of most coronavirus-related restrictions on outdoor gatherings.

In a press release, Breeders’ Cup said it would begin to sell all reserved seating options at Del Mar on July 16, but it cautioned that “general admission tickets will not be sold at this time.” Reserved-seating options include premium dining, box seats, and grandstand tickets, Breeders’ Cup said.

“Breeders’ Cup is closely coordinating with local health officials and is hopeful to be in a position to offer general admission closer” to the event, the organization said in the release.

Due to coronavirus restrictions, last year’s Breeders’ Cup, held at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky., allowed a limited number of spectators, mixed in with those persons connected to horses entered in the races. Because of the restrictions, Breeders’ Cup awarded the 2022 event to Keeneland as well.

“We are delighted to be able to safely welcome fans back to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships this November,” said Drew Fleming, the Breeders’ Cup president and chief executive officer.

The Breeders’ Cup was last held at Del Mar in 2017. Attendance at the event was 32,728.

Del Mar recently announced that it also would permit attendance for 100 percent of its seated capacity for its upcoming summer meet, one of the most popular held in the United States. On the East Coast, Belmont Park is allowing 100 percent capacity, while Saratoga Race Course also is planning on allowing 100 percent capacity for its summer meet.

Breeders’ Cup said that all tickets to the 2021 event will be sold prior to Nov. 5 and that no walk-up sales are planned at this time.