Opening Day has come and gone, but the Del Mar Summer Racing Season is just getting started. The energy at the seaside oval is still building, with major stakes races, trackside events, elevated hospitality, and some of the most exciting race days of the summer still ahead.
Del Mar has always been more than a racetrack. It is one of Southern California’s signature summer experiences, where Thoroughbred racing, coastal style, food, fashion, and social energy come together “where the turf meets the surf.” For guests traveling from Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside County, and surrounding Southern California communities, Del Mar remains one of the region’s most iconic race day destinations.
Now that the gates have opened for the 2026 season, the smartest move is planning ahead for the biggest days still on the calendar.
The 2026 Del Mar Summer Racing Season runs through Monday, September 7, Labor Day. While Opening Day started the celebration, the remaining weeks bring a full lineup of high-profile races, weekend events, and opportunities to make a day at Del Mar feel like a complete Southern California outing.
For many guests, Del Mar is not just about watching the races. It is about the full experience: brunch before the track, a stylish arrival, cocktails with friends, client entertaining, Turf Club hospitality, post-race dinner reservations, or a weekend stay along the coast.
That is where planning matters. Race days at Del Mar can bring large crowds, busy parking areas, rideshare delays, and group coordination challenges. Classique Worldwide Transportation helps guests arrive comfortably, on time, and ready to enjoy the day, whether they need a luxury sedan, SUV, Sprinter, limousine, or group transportation.
There are still several standout days on the 2026 Del Mar calendar, including Grade I races, festival weekends, and major stakes cards.
One of the first major weekends after Opening Day is highlighted by the Bing Crosby Stakes, Grade I, on Saturday, July 25. The day also includes the Daisycutter Handicap and Osunitas Stakes, with 11 races scheduled, gates opening at noon, and first post at 2 p.m. The following day, Sunday, July 26, features the Eddie Read Stakes, Grade II.
For racing fans and social guests alike, this is the kind of weekend that deserves more than a last-minute transportation plan. A chauffeured ride keeps the day polished from pickup to drop-off.
Saturday, August 1 brings the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, Grade I, along with the California Dreamin’ Stakes. Del Mar lists 11 races for the day, with gates opening at noon and first post at 2 p.m.
This is a strong date for private groups, corporate hosting, and guests looking to turn race day into a full luxury experience. With Classique, the ride becomes part of the occasion rather than an afterthought.
The weekend of August 8 and 9 gives fans another strong racing lineup. Saturday, August 8 features the Yellow Ribbon Stakes, Grade II, and the Best Pal Stakes, Grade III. Sunday, August 9 features the Sorrento Stakes, Grade III.
This is a perfect weekend for guests who want Del Mar’s summer atmosphere without waiting for the biggest holiday crowds. Book a chauffeured vehicle, gather your group, and make the day feel easy from the first pickup.
Saturday, August 15 features the Solana Beach Stakes and the CTT & TOC Stakes, while Sunday, August 16 brings the Rancho Bernardo Stakes, Grade III.
This weekend works well for guests planning a more relaxed race day with friends, clients, or family. Add lunch, dinner, or a coastal stop before or after the races, and Classique can keep the itinerary moving smoothly.
The biggest race day still ahead is Pacific Classic Day on Saturday, August 22. The $1,000,000 Grade I Pacific Classic is Del Mar’s richest and most prestigious race and serves as a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The August 22 card also includes the Del Mar Oaks, Grade I, Del Mar Mile, Grade II, and Green Flash Handicap. Del Mar lists 11 races for the day, with gates opening at noon and first post at 2 p.m.
Pacific Classic Day is not the day to wing it. Parking, traffic, rideshare availability, and group logistics can all become part of the race day stress if transportation is not handled in advance.
Classique Worldwide Transportation helps make Pacific Classic Day feel elevated from the beginning. Whether you are hosting clients, traveling with friends, planning a VIP day, or coordinating a larger group, luxury transportation gives everyone one clear plan and one smooth arrival.
The weekend after Pacific Classic Day keeps the momentum going. Saturday, August 29 features the Del Mar Handicap, Grade II, and the Pat O’Brien Stakes, Grade II, along with College Day. Sunday, August 30 features the Torrey Pines Stakes, Grade III.
These late-summer weekends are ideal for groups looking to enjoy Del Mar before the Labor Day finale. A luxury vehicle also makes it easier to extend the day into dinner, drinks, or a coastal evening after the races.
The Del Mar Summer Racing Season closes with a major Labor Day weekend lineup.
Saturday, September 5 features the Del Mar Debutante, Grade I, the Del Mar Juvenile Turf, Grade III, and the Tranquility Lake Stakes, along with the BBQ & Beer Festival. Sunday, September 6 features the Del Mar Futurity, Grade I, Shared Belief Stakes, Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf, and Family Fun Day. Monday, September 7 is Closing Day, featuring the John C. Mabee Stakes, Grade II, and I’m Smokin Stakes.
Closing weekend is one of the best opportunities to end summer in style. It is also one of the weekends where advance planning matters most. With earlier first post times listed for September 5 through September 7, guests should plan their pickup times accordingly.
A day at Del Mar can be as casual or as elevated as you want it to be. Some guests come for a few races and a walk through the paddock. Others turn it into a full-day itinerary with brunch, Turf Club hospitality, cocktails, photos, dinner reservations, and a luxury ride home.
Classique Worldwide Transportation is especially helpful for corporate entertaining, client appreciation outings, Turf Club and VIP guests, groups attending major stakes races, birthday celebrations, hotel and resort transfers, airport and FBO pickups, private dinner add-ons before or after the races, and Sprinter, SUV, sedan, and limousine transportation.
With Classique, race day begins the moment your chauffeur arrives. Guests can relax, stay together, avoid parking stress, and focus on the racing, the views, and the experience.
Del Mar draws guests from across Southern California, including Orange County, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Irvine, Anaheim, Long Beach, Riverside, Temecula, and San Diego County.
For travelers coming from outside Del Mar, professional transportation can make the day far more comfortable. Instead of coordinating multiple cars, waiting for rideshare pickups, or navigating traffic after a full day at the track, guests can enjoy a first-class ride with a professional chauffeur.
For larger groups, a Sprinter, limousine, or executive vehicle can keep everyone together and make the entire outing feel more polished.
Opening Day may be behind us, but the strongest stretch of the Del Mar season is still ahead. Bing Crosby weekend, Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, Yellow Ribbon weekend, Pacific Classic Day, Del Mar Handicap weekend, and Labor Day closing weekend all offer great reasons to gather your group and head to the track.
The best race days are the ones that feel effortless. Reserve your transportation early, plan your arrival time, and let Classique handle the drive.
To book luxury transportation for Del Mar racing season, call (714) 288-8853.
(714) 288-8853
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