Your Ultimate Guide to the Del Mar Races

Ladies get out your big hats and gentlemen get your money clips ready, the Del Mar Races are dashing through the Fairgrounds.

While you are thinking about how to top last year’s fabulous hat, we’ve compiled a list of everything you need to know for the races this season.

From parking to concerts, we got you covered.

Here is your ultimate guide to the races.

Opening Day Info

• Time: Gates open at 11:30 a.m. First post at 2 p.m.
• Price: Stretch Run admission $10 and Clubhouse admission $20.
• Events: Hats Contest and Parade at 3 p.m. And the Coors Light Opening Day party is $30 per person and includes live DJ music, private trackside area for food and drinks, beer garden and food trucks.

Admission

• Clubhouse admission entry only, reserved seating is sold separately: Single ticket $10; Book of 10 $for 75; Season pass (one admission per race day) $50.
• Stretch Run admission entry only, reserved seating sold separately: Single ticket $6; Book of 10 for $40; Season Pass (one admission per race day) $25.
• Stretch Run and Clubhouse Reserved Seats: $5 Wed & Thu; $8 Fri; $10 Sat, Sun & Labor Day; $15 on Pacific Classic Race day on Aug. 25
• Dining Tables: $60-$200.
• Tickets are available online or in person at the box office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wed. through Sun. Mon. and Tues. hours 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Days

• Wednesday-Sunday, Closed on Monday (except Labor Day) and Tuesday.

Post Times

• 2 p.m. daily and 4 p.m. on Fridays.
• 1 p.m. on Pacific Classic Day on Sunday, Aug. 25.

Gates Open

• Two hours before first post time. Pacific Classic Day on Sunday, Aug. 25, gates will open at 10:30 a.m.

• Del Mar's official programs are generally available by noon the day before the races. Scratches, changes, programs and results (posted shortly after each run) will be available online.

Turf Club Dress Code Only

• Ladies wearing suits or daytime dresses are preferred; slacks may be worn with a tailored jacket. No jeans, denim, shorts, t-shirts, athletic shoes or abbreviated clothing.
• Men must wear a suit or sports jacket at all times. A sports shirt with a jacket may be worn; shirt must be buttoned to the top button and below the collar. Ties are optional. No turtleneck, polo-style shirts, t-shirts, sweaters, short-sleeved jackets, windbreakers, denim pants or shorts or athletic shorts.

Parking

• General $10; Book of 10 for $50; Preferred $15; Early Bird $10 or book of 10 for $50; Valet $20.

Transportation

• Pony Express Train $11 includes Stretch Run Admission and round-trip COASTER Fair. Pony Express Train tickets are available during race season except on opening day.
• Tickets are available online, mobile app or ticket vending machine. gonctd.com/Races2013.
• Shuttle Service is available from the Solana Beach COASTER station on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and Labor Day Monday at 9:30 a.m. Service is available at 11:30 a.m. on Fridays. 

Can’t Miss Events

• Opening Day- Wednesday, July 17; Coors Light Opening Party and Hat Contest.
• Family Fun Day – Sunday, July 21: Activities include horseback rides, rock climbing, bungee trampoline, inflatable rides and more. Racetrack admission is $6 for adults and free for kids under 17.

Concerts

• Free with paid admission or $20 after the last race. Purchase a Stretch Run ticket for $6 (no seat needed), enjoy the races and free concert!

Concert Schedule

• Fri., July 19: The B-52s
• Fri., July 26: Fitz and the Tantrums
• Sat., July 27: Sammy Hagar & The Wabos
• Fri., Aug. 2: Iration
• Fri., Aug. 9: Pinback
• Fri., Aug. 16: Steel Pulse
• Sat., Aug. 17: Weezer
• Fri., Aug. 23: Special Guest
• Fri., Aug. 30: Special Guest
• Sat., Aug. 31: Reggae Fest featuring Ziggy Marley