Opening Day at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club kicks off the 2026 racing season on Friday, July 17 at 2 PM, with the famous Hats Contest and seaside Thoroughbred racing.
Opening Day at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar kicks off the 2026 summer racing season on Friday, July 17, 2026 — San Diego's unofficial start to summer and one of Southern California's biggest parties of the year, where the turf meets the surf, the famous Opening Day Hats Contest takes over, and the world's best Thoroughbreds return to the seaside oval.
It's the marquee day of the San Diego summer social calendar — and it's perfect for racing fans, fashion-forward partygoers ready to don their best hats and fascinators, and anyone who wants to experience the seaside glamour of a Del Mar afternoon.
Opening Day is a cultural event as much as a racing one. The headline traditions returning for 2026:
There's race day, and then there's Opening Day. As the Pacific fog burns off and the first race approaches, the grandstand and infield fill with a sea of fascinators, suits, and statement hats. The paddock brims with horses that have trained all spring for this turf, and the whole place hums with that specific San Diego summer energy.
Throughout the afternoon:
Friday, July 17, 2026 — first post at 2:00 p.m.
Location: Del Mar Racetrack, 2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar, CA 92014.
Tucked against the coast in the seaside town of Del Mar, the racetrack has been running since 1937 — co-founded by Bing Crosby — and its oceanfront setting makes it one of the most atmospheric racing venues anywhere. It's an easy drive up the coast from central San Diego, just off I-5.
Opening Day launches Del Mar's 87th summer season, which runs through Labor Day (Monday, September 7) and features 37 stakes races. The crown jewel is the $1,000,000 Pacific Classic, which in 2026 runs earlier than usual on Saturday, August 22, headlining a card of Graded stakes races.
From $10 general admission to trackside tables, Del Mar is built to meet every price point — but Opening Day is the one everyone circles on the calendar.
A few specific reasons Opening Day is worth the trip:
1. It's THE San Diego summer event. The unofficial start to summer and one of the region's biggest parties.
2. The Hats Contest is legendary. A fashion spectacle you won't see anywhere else.
3. The setting is unbeatable. Live racing where the turf meets the surf, against an ocean backdrop.
4. There's an experience for every budget. From $10 GA to luxury hospitality.
5. 2026 is more glamorous than ever. New VIP parties, lounges, and refreshed menus.
Tickets range from $10 general admission up to reserved seats, trackside tables, and premium hospitality experiences, available at dmtc.com/tickets. Opening Day is the biggest day of the season and tends to sell out, so booking ahead is strongly recommended.
For more events happening in San Diego this summer, check out our full July events calendar or browse our Del Mar neighborhood guide.