Del Mar’s horse racing season starts on Friday, July 17, 2026. The opening day card is part of the summer meet, which runs through Monday, September 7, 2026.
What that means
The track’s 2026 schedule lists the summer season as beginning on July 17, with opening day that same Friday. Del Mar’s official calendar also shows racing on Thursdays through Sundays during the meet, with Labor Day included at the end of the summer season.
Opening day details
Opening day is marked for Friday, July 17 , and Del Mar’s calendar shows a first post at 2:00 PM on that day. The schedule later shifts slightly for the final weekend, when some race days begin earlier.
Full season timing
For 2026, Del Mar has two racing windows on the official calendar: the summer meet from July 17 to September 7 , and a fall meet from November 6 to November 29. If you mean the main summer season, the start date is July 17.