SAN DIEGO (NEWS 8) - With the prestigious Breeders' Cup coming up this weekend, the fourth fall thoroughbred horse racing season is scheduled to open at the Del Mar Racetrack Wednesday.
What the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club calls its "Bing Crosby Season" in honor of the legendary crooner will offer 16 dates of racing through Nov. 26, mostly Thursdays through Sundays. First post today is 12:30 p.m.
The 34th Breeders' Cup world championships, being held at Del Mar for the first time, will be Friday and Saturday. Nearly 38,000 people are expected on those days - that's the same as Opening Day.
"it's the World Series. It's the U.S. Open all wrapped in one. The [impact] estimate for the region is $65 million. Our hope is that the Breeders' Cup will come back again and we will have some real fans," said Terry Sinnott, Del Mar Mayor.
The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club predicts a $110 to $120 impact for the region.
The premier race on the first day will be the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff, featuring top horses in Stellar Wind, Elate, Abel Tasman and Paradise Woods.
On Saturday, the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic will pit Gun Runner, who has dominated three recent Grade 1 races, against Arrogate, North America's richest horse with more than $17.3 million in earnings. Arrogate defeated Gun Runner in two previous meetings, the Travers and Dubai World Cup.
Collected, which upset Arrogate in the Pacific Classic in August in Del Mar, is also in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Other than the Breeders' Cup days, general admission is $6. Reserved and box seating runs an extra $4-8 depending on the day.
Breeders' Cup tickets are SOLD OUT, but it never hurts to check online at: breederscup.com/tickets.
On Friday, former Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora will perform the famous Bing Crosby "Where the Turf meets the Surf" and Grammy nominated artist Jewel will perform it on Saturday.