With another summer meet about in the books, now’s as a good a time as any to look back on the 87th summer season and some of the highlights of the meet. They conjure up memories of a dominant winner of Del Mar’s marquee race; a courageous ending to the career of a fan favorite; a failed attempt at an unprecedented feat; a trainer who couldn’t lose and a jockey’s race to get home. Here are those highlights of Del Mar 2026.

Knightsbridge came to Del Mar amid a lot of hype. He had just posted the highest Beyer Speed Figure of the year at Monmouth Park when he went two turns for the first time and won by 10 ¼ lengths. Based on that performance he was the morning line favorite for the G1, $1 million Pacific Classic.

But in the days leading up to the race, doubts of Knightsbridge’s chances began to surface. Sure, he posted a 122-speed figure, but who was he facing on the Jersey Shore? We knew he could get the two turns but what happens if he gets in a speed duel.

It was all a waste of breath because Knightbridge crushed the naysayers with a stunning performance. Taking on Full Serrano in a front-end pace duel, the son of Nyquist put away his rival at the top of the lane and busted out to a 6 ¼ length victory.

Journalism became a fan favorite during his 3-year-old season. When he wasn’t playing second fiddle to Sovereignty, he was winning the Preakness and the G1 Haskell Invitational. He was back on the road for the first half of 2026 but trainer Michael McCarthy brought him home to Southern California for the summer with designs of preparing for the Breeders’ Cup. First up was the G2 San Diego opening weekend. 

The son of Curlin got antsy in the gate, slammed into the door and then came out awkwardly, a start that left him last as the field pulled away. Jockey Umberto Rispoli stayed calm and let Journalism get into the race, gradually moving from the back of the pack. They hooked up with the bunched field at the eighth pole and hit the front by mid-stretch on the way to a courageous and impressive victory. 

But two days later, with the glow of victory still filling the McCarthy barn, came devastating news. Journalism had suffered an injury in the starting gate mishap, would miss time recovering and in the best interests of the horse was retired from racing. 

Gold Phoenix came into 2026 with two distinct achievements at Del Mar. He had won five stakes races at the seaside oval, tied with five other horses for the most ever. He had also won the G2 Del Mar Handicap four consecutive years, a feat never before done at Del Mar.

So when he went out and won the G2 Eddie Read, a race that was supposed to be a prep for the 8-year-old gelding, he placed himself alone as the winningest stakes horse in Del Mar history. His victory also fanned the flames of anticipation for a fifth try at the Del Mar ‘Cap.

That came one month later on August 29. The anxiety over seeing something special was palpable in the stands that day as fans watched the big chestnut load in the gate. But as the race unfolded he found himself toward the back of a strung-out field and if it were anyone other than Gold Phoenix the race would have looked hopelessly lost. But on the final turn of the mile and three eighths grass marathon, Gold Phoenix rallied on the rail, made a nifty move to get out of trouble at the top of the lane and looked poised to make a winning move, much like the one he pulled off in the Eddie Read.

But on this day, it wasn’t going to happen. Test Score was much too good to catch and Gold Phoenix had to settle for fourth place. 

Graham Motion is no stranger to Del Mar. The highly respected trainer from back east has been sending horses out to Del Mar over the years and has enjoyed quite a bit of success. But 2026 was exceptional. Motion sent three horses to Del Mar and all three won.

It started with Warming in the G2 Yellow Ribbon and continued a week later when Motion sent out Vronti in the $100,000 CTT & TOC Stakes, a mile and three-eighths grass marathon for fillies and mares. She split horses midstretch and won going away. Motion would complete the trifecta with an unpopular victory in the G2 Del Mar Handicap when his brilliant colt Test Score finished strong to deprive Gold Phoenix of his record setting fifth consecutive Del Mar Handicap victory. 

A sidebar to all the horse racing was jockey Juan Hernandez’s own race against time. Del Mar’s defending champion rider was offered a mount by trainer Wesley Ward on a horse in England. He accepted the offer but the race, the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York on August 21, was the day before Del Mar’s marquee race, the G1, $1 million Pacific Classic and its stakes filled undercard. 

No worries. Hernandez made the trip to London, won the race and then started his wild journey back home, starting with a helicopter ride. 

Video on social media showed Hernandez running to a waiting helicopter immediately after the race, still dressed in his silks and boots. He took the helicopter to Heathrow Airport where he caught his plane and flew the red eye home to California, landing at LAX the morning of the Pacific Classic. He would easily make his first mount of the day at Del Mar.