Del Mar sets opening day for July 10, with three-day race week

Del Mar will open a week earlier than originally scheduled and race three days a week – without spectators – through the summer because of the coronavirus pandemic, the track announced in a statement early Thursday.

Opening day has been moved forward to July 10 from July 18, and racing will be held on a Friday-through-Sunday basis instead of the original plan of racing largely on a Wednesday-through-Sunday basis. The season will conclude on Labor Day, Sept. 7.

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In its statement, the track said the changes were made after consulting with health officials from the state of California and San Diego County. The changes are subject to approval by the California Horse Racing Board at its next meeting, on June 11.

“It’s going to look different, it’s going to feel different, but it’s going to be first-class horse racing at Del Mar and in these unusual times that’s something to look forward to,” said Joe Harper, Del Mar’s chief executive officer.

The track stated it would confer with state and local officials “to adopt any changes as they happen” pertaining to allowing ontrack spectators. Three other tracks in the state – Golden Gate Fields, Los Alamitos, and Santa Anita – have been operating without spectators.

The absence of spectators at Del Mar will be a major setback to the economy of northern San Diego County, which receives a major boost from attendance at the race meeting. The track’s ban on spectators is devastating for thousands of racing fans who schedule vacations around the Del Mar summer meeting.

The track is able to open early following the cancellation of the San Diego County Fair, which was scheduled to run from June 5 to July 5. The fair was canceled in April because of the pandemic.

Without the fair ending two weeks before the meet, track maintenance crews will have more time than usual to prepare the main track for the racing season.

This summer, Del Mar plans to run 10 races a day on Fridays and Sundays, and 11 races on Saturdays, opening day, and Labor Day. Under that schedule, the track projects to run 291 races this summer, six fewer than last year. First post will be 2 p.m. Pacific.

The only four-day week will be Labor Day weekend, with racing from Sept. 4-7.