The 2021 Breeders' Cup Races At Del Mar Racetrack

The 2021 Breeders' Cup racing series will take place Friday and Saturday, 5 and 6 November, at Del Mar Racetrack in California.  This year, the juvenile races - for 2-year-olds - will take place on Friday:  5 races with guaranteed purses totaling 7 million dollars.  On Saturday the older horses - 3-year-olds and up - will compete in 9 races with totaled guaranteed purses of 21 million dollars.

   The thoroughbreds vying in these 14 races have had to meet certain qualifications for entry.  First, their sires have to have been nominated and paid fees for their offspring to be allowed to enter the races; a yearly fee is paid by the owners to keep the horse eligible; the horses have to meet racing criteria, based upon points for the races they have run in - or they must have won a "Win And You're In" specified race; and they must pass veterinary testing for physical status and being clear of illegal medications.

Pat O'Brien and Bing Crosby at Del Mar - Bing Crosby and a group

of racing fans built and opened Del Mar in 1937

   At the moment, a few of the horses are entered in two races; when the day for official entries and the drawing of starting positions arrives, the trainers of those horses will have to decide which race will be the "best fit" for that particular horse - the distance, the weather forecast, the footing, and how well the horse is training at Del Mar.  For instance, 2-year-old Slipstream is entered in both the 5 furlong Juvenile Turf Sprint and the 1 mile Juvenile Turf races.  He is qualified for both, and his trainer and owners will have to decide which race to actually run him in. Whichever race he is withdrawn from, another 2-year-old is standing by on the "wait list" to replace him in the field.  Several horses have already been scratched due to injury , illness, and not liking the Del Mar racing surface.

   With the races taking place in California, the Friday Breeders' Cup races will have a start time of 2:50 PDT (or 11:50 EDT) - Daylight Savings Time reverts to "normal" time on Sunday, 8 November.  The Juvenile Turf Sprint is the first Breeders' Cup race on Friday, covering 5 furlongs (5/8 mile) and with a guaranteed purse of $1 million.  There are 12 entries allowed to start; currently there are 12 listed for the start (including Slipstream, who is double-entered), plus 7 more youngsters on the "wait list."

   The second Breeders' Cup race on Friday is to start at 3:30 PDT, and is the Juvenile Fillies race, run at 1 1/16 miles (8.5 furlongs) on the main track, for a guaranteed purse of $2 million.  Fourteen entries are allowed to start this race, but there are currently only nine (9) 2-year-old fillies entered.

   The Juvenile Fillies Turf race is scheduled to be third in Friday's Breeders' Cup series, with a guaranteed purse of $1 million.  The race distance is 1 mile and the start time is listed at 4:10 MDT.  Fourteen entries are allowed to start in this race; 14 are entered, with 2 more fillies on the "wait list."

   Friday's fourth Breeders' Cup race is the Juvenile (for colts and geldings only), with a guaranteed purse of $2 million.  The race distance is 1 1/6 miles (8.5 furlongs) on the main track, with a start time of 4:50 PDT.  The race allows 14 entries; due to an early scratch, there are 13 entries, with no "wait list."

   The last Breeders' Cup race on Friday is the Juvenile Turf, scheduled to start at 5:30 PDT.  This race has a guaranteed purse of $1 million, and covers a distance of 1 mile.  Fourteen entries are allowed to start; there are 14 boys on the list (including Slipstream, the double-entered colt), plus 3 more on the "wait list."

Del Mar Racetrack today

   The nine Saturday Breeders' Cup races begin at 12:05 PDT (or 9:05 EDT) with the Fillies And Mares Sprint.  The guaranteed purse is $1 million, with the race covering 7 furlongs (7/8 mile) on the main track.    There are seven entries for this race, which could take 12 entries.

   The second Breeders' Cup race is the Turf Sprint, with a guaranteed $1 million purse.  The race is at a distance of  5 furlongs (5/8 mile) and the start time is 12:40 PDT.  Twelve horses are allowed to run in this race; there are 12 entries, along with 7 on the "wait list."

  The Big Ass Fans Mile is the third Breeders' Cup race, scheduled to start at 1:19 PDT on the main track.  The guaranteed purse is $1 million.  Fourteen entries are allowed in this race; currently there are 11, with two double-entries.

   Saturday's fourth Breeders' Cup race is the Fillies And Mares Turf, with a guaranteed purse of $2 million.  The start time is 1:59 PDT, and the girls will race 1 3/8 miles (11 furlongs).  There are 14 entries allowed to start this race; currently there are 14, plus one waiting in the wings.

   The Sprint is the fifth BC race, with both sexes allowed to compete for the $2 million guaranteed purse.  The race is 6 furlongs (3/4 mile) on the main track, and is scheduled to begin at 2:38 PDT.  Starters are to be 12 in number; currently, there are 10, with no entries waiting.

   The sixth BC race of the day starts at 3:20 PDT, and is the Mile Turf, with a guaranteed purse of $2 million.  Fourteen starters are allowed in this race; there are 14 entries, plus 9 on the "wait list."

   The Breeders' Cup Distaff is the seventh race in the series on Saturday, and is to start at 4 PDT.  Fillies and mares will race 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on the main track, for a guaranteed purse of $2 million.  Fourteen starters are allowed; there are currently 11 entries.

   The penultimate BC race is the Turf, which has a guaranteed purse of $4 million.  The race covers 1 1/2 miles (12 furlongs), both sexes are allowed to run, and the start time is 4:40 PDT.  Fourteen starters are allowed in this race; there are 14 entries (some are double-entered), plus 7 on the "wait list."

   The final Breeders' Cup race on Saturday is the Classic - the ultimate American thoroughbred race - covering 1 1/4 miles (10 furlongs) on the main track, like the Kentucky Derby.  The purse for this race, though, is guaranteed at $6 million.  The start time is 5:40 PDT at Del Mar.  There can be up to 14 entries; there are 10 starters this year, unless there is a scratch.

   Once post positions are drawn, I'll list the entries and gate numbers for each race, plus my usual off-the-wall observations...   Hope you'll enjoy them.