A pair of racing program enhancements will spotlight Del Mar’s eagerly anticipated 2026 summer meet – the tremendously successful “Ship & Win” offering and 2-year-old straight maiden initiatives that starts with $100,000 purses – are on the agenda as the shore oval prepares to present its 87th summer season starting on Friday, July 17.
The popular “S & W” program – now in its 16th consecutive year – has attracted more than 3,000 horses to Del Mar, helping the track continue its reputation as one of the nation’s foremost “full field size” locations.
The juvenile Maiden Special Weight races for dirt runners offered this year will reach new heights when those tests include “S & W” runners who’ll compete for record purses of $150,000 thanks to the 50% bonus “S & W” horses automatically earn.
Further, the “S & W” presentation provides $5,000 for any qualified dirt runner in their first local outing. The 50% purse bonus is applied to the first through fifth finishers in their initial start and all subsequent outings at the meet. For turf runners, there is a $4,000 payment for that first start, as well as a 40% bonus attached to the purses of the 1 through 5 runners. Here again, the 40% bonus applies to all additional outings at the session.
Notably, local owners and trainers have been the strongest supporters of the “S & W” program. More than half the horses brought on board from out-of-state have been done so by California-based stables, who clearly see the value of the bonus money and the opportunities to bring runners onto the circuit. It has been noted that the majority of the imported horses stay on to race in California, an obvious plus for the entire circuit.
“ ‘Ship and Win’ has been an extremely successful program for Del Mar and California racing overall,” said Del Mar senior vice president and racing secretary David Jerkens. “Our owners and trainers continue to take advantage of this powerful economic boost. And this year we’re proud to offer $100,000 straight maiden purses for dirt 2-year-olds that can rise to $150,000 with the ‘Ship and Win’ bonus.”
There are some basic rules associated with the “S & W” scenario, which can be viewed by visiting the following link: dmtc.com/horsemen/ship-and-win
Del Mar’s summer season will offer 32 days of world-class racing, concluding Labor Day Monday, September 7. After the opening three-day weekend, racing will be conducted on a Thursday-through-Sunday basis up until closing weekend. First post daily for all days will be 2 p.m. with the exception of closing Saturday, Sunday and Monday when it will shift to a 1:30 p.m. start.