Del Mar is a household name in horse racing and it has one of the best betting sites and on-track betting structures. But not everyone lives in San Diego. Fortunately, Del Mar off-track betting sites are more than up to the task to serve horse racing fanatics from anywhere. Del Mar off track betting sites let you bet the biggest races from home or anywhere with an internet connection..
Letâs cover the main Del Mar off track betting sites topics including:
Del Mar began as an idea pitched to the iconic Bing Crosby, a major horse racing fan, back in 1936 following the smash hit that was the San Anita Park in Arcadia. When Del Mar first opened, the American legend was at the gate himself to greet all the fans.
In the 1940s, Del Mar was popular nationally thanks to Crosbyâs connections with his Hollywood friends. In 1946, the first Bing Crosby Stakes were held. Up until the 1980s, the track continued to grow in size and revenue.
In the 1990s, Del Mar underwent a renovation and ran the richest horse race with the Pacific Classic Stakesâ $1 million purse.Â
Del Mar has also become a regular part of the rotation of racetracks that host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Del Mar hosted it for the first time in 2017, and it was a resounding success. Del Mar was again the site of the 2021 Breeders Cup, and the 2024 and 2025 editions happen there as well.
Today, Del Mar is a staple in online sportsbooks and off-track betting and plays a pivotal role in the Breedersâ Classic.
Although horse racing is not at its peak popularity in most parts of the country, Del Mar continues to thrive as not just a horse racing attraction but an overall tourist destination with its slew of events.Â
Del Mar has managed to remain relevant through its forward marketing by catering to the millennials by marketing the fair grounds as more than a race track. Del Mar off track betting sites will always be a second home to horse racing junkies and bettors, but Del Mar is a major attraction all around.
Del Mar hosts over 300 events from grade 1 stakes to the illustrious San Diego County Fair. The Fairgrounds isnât just a horse racing track but a Californian treasure and a national attraction. Here is a schedule of the major events:
Del Mar hosts an extensive lineup of horse races from Grade 1 to ungraded stakes divided into two meets: summer (July to early September) and fall (November to early December):
Del Mar also hosts grade 3 and ungraded stakes races plus a slew of other events on top of these. Some years Del Mar even hosts the Breeders’ Cup, which adds 14 Grade 1 events to its early November calendar.
The Pacific Classic Stakes comprises a big chunk of the history around Del Mar. This race has held plenty of prestige in its history beginning in 1990 when Kentucky Derby runner-up and California Horse of the Year winner Best Pal won.
Another historic event took place in 2003 when Hall of Famer Julie Krone set the time record with Candy Ride and became the first female jockey to win a million-dollar race.
The Clement L. Hirsch Stakes has featured plenty of high-profile horses such as Zenyatta who would win this race three times and win the 2009 Breedersâ Cup Classic and the 2010 US Horse of the Year Award.
Living legend Bob Baffert has also left his mark on the major races at Del Mar with at least 34 victories from the grade 1 races including holding or sharing the record for most wins by a trainer at the Pacific Classic (seven), Bing Crosby Stakes (four), Debutante Stakes (10), and Del Mar Futurity (18).
In terms of Del Mar off track betting history, 2014 Handicapper of the year Jose Arias made a statement by qualifying and winning at the Surfside Race Place, one of the most prestigious sports bars located near the fair grounds, by totalling a check of $750,000.Â
Big races and events happen at Del Mar during two meets
As one of the biggest tracks in California, Del Mar hosts a slew of important grade 1 stakes like the Pacific Classic and Bing Crosby. During the summer and fall meets, Del Marâs tracks are brimming with horse racing action and other spectacular events such as the San Diego County Fair.
Del Mar off-track betting sites have great variety
There are plenty of off-track betting sites offering Del Mar odds from BetOnline to Bet365. These sites have their own perks and features lending to players having a great deal of choices. Players can take advantage of the bonuses by signing up for more than one book.
Great depth of Del Mar odds and a handicapping contest
For those looking for an extra challenge, or to try their hand in the lottery, Del Mar offers a handicapping contest available at their site. Not only will players get to win with individual wagers but the top wagerer at the end of the contest takes home an amazing prize.
Del Mar features a variety of horse racing markets to bet on from the usual markets to their own set available in their website (and other formats):
The bread and butter of betting on horses at Del Mar lies with win, place, and show wagers: three bets you can make for your horse of choice. Betting on Win means youâre betting on the horse to finish first. Betting on Place means youâre betting on them to finish first or second. And betting on Show means youâre betting on them to finish in the top-three.
Betting to win has the highest payout of the three although betting on show may have have the best chances of the bet cashing in. Identify the risk level based on your confidence and choose the right bet.
Live wagering at Del Mar off track betting sites indicates the betting lines just before the horse race begins. You can normally place wagers on horse races the moment they open – even as early as months or years in the case of futures bets. But live wagering is for the day only.
As with many sports, horse racing changes a lot. Sometimes there are news breaks that could affect the race such as a horseâs previously undisclosed condition or a sudden change in weather.Â
Thanks to mobile apps and data, youâll be able to bet on Del Mar quickly and get the best lines before other players do.
Popular bets for Del Mar horse races include:
Prop bets are special types of bets that go beyond the basic bets of win, place, show, and intra-race and multi-race exotics. Think of these bets as side bets.
Futures bets are a special type of prop bet where you make bets on an event that is still far from happening or has not even been officially declared. These types of bets are usually reserved for the highest profile events like the Kentucky Derby or Breedersâ Cup or superstar horses like Triple Crown favorites.
Another common kind of prop bet available in major races are head-to-head prop bets. Instead of betting on an overall result in a race, some online betting sites allow you to bet whether one horse in a race will beat another, head to head. You are not betting on placement relative to the whole field, just to another horse. So, if your horse finishes second-last but the other horse in the head-to-head finishes last, you still win!
Del Mar and its off track betting sites also offer handicapping contests. Itâs a season-long contest where you compete against other players by correctly betting on winners. Place a wager on the designated Del Mar race: select a horse to win, place, or show. Your payout, depending on the betting odds you selected, will be the points you earn.
For example, you placed a wager of $100 for a horse to win and it paid at the odds of +750. Your payout will be $750 and this will be added to your score. Consequently, if your $100 bet lost, $100 will be deducted from your score.
The winner is whoever has the highest accumulated winnings after the event contest ends
About the Author
Trent’s your man when it comes to all things sports. He covers a wide range of sports for Sports Betting Sites, and has been published in some pretty reputable outlets, such as USA Today Sports, Vice, Bloody Elbow, Fight! Magazine, UFC 360, and Narratively. Trent’s got the inside track on all the happenings in the world of sports.
Read Trent’s ProfileAsk Trent about this guide:
