Veterans Day to mark first autumn Monday card for Del Mar

DEL MAR, Calif. – Del Mar will run a 16-day fall meeting in November and early December, including a first-ever Monday program at that time of year.

The season begins on Friday, Nov. 9, and continues through Dec. 2. Racing will be held on a Friday-through-Monday basis during the first week to include a Veterans Day program on Monday, Nov. 12, track officials said.

The season will then revert to the more familiar Thursday-through-Sunday schedule beginning on Nov. 15. Two Grade 1 turf races worth $300,000 each highlight the final weekend of the meeting – the Hollywood Derby at 1 1/8 miles on Dec. 1 and the Matriarch Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on Dec. 2.

This will be the first year of racing on a Monday at a fall meeting since the track began running at that time of year in 2014 following the closure of Hollywood Park in 2013.

The dates are subject to formal approval of the California Horse Racing Board later this month.