Where to start….The Breeders Cup at Del Mar is right up there with any racing event I’ve ever witnessed in terms of spectacle, excitement, entertainment and to top it all off you have glorious Californian sunshine throughout!
The Breeders Cup may not have the history like a Grand National or Kentucky Derby but boy have they made up for it in other ways. Held at the iconic Del Mar Racetrack, "where the turf meets the surf," the event attracts the world’s finest horses, jockeys, and trainers, competing for over $30 million in prizes over two epic days of racing.
With limited flights direct to San Diego you immediately find yourself rubbing shoulders with racing’s elite, standing in the airport next to Ryan Moore and his family or if you're lucky enough to be flying Business Class, you might even be sat next to William Buick or Oisin Murphy. You feel part of the whole experience from the start and that continues when you arrive.
The marquee breakfast with the stars, which is exclusive to Racing Breaks customers who book early, is a lavish affair on Thursday morning where you can get up close to all the main protagonists for the next two days. Watch Aidan’s Army work out whilst sipping on a delicious mimosa and enjoying an extensive breakfast amongst the horseman. We were even lucky enough to be joined by the one and only Frankie Dettori who came and chatted to our guests.
That evening Racing Breaks hosted its exclusive drinks evening at the Estancia Hotel hosted by Rishi Persad with guests Matt Chapman and Frankie Dettori. Frankie was in superb form regaling stories from his famous past, about racing, partying, the Queen and everything in between, before taking questions from our guests. We were then given tips from Matt Chapman and Rishi Persad, with Matt strongly picking the winner of the Breeders Classic with Sierra Leone, much to the delight of attendees.
Whether you’re staying in one of our centrally located hotels in San Diego or at the stunning Estancia Hotel in La Jolla, there’s plenty to see and do when you’re not at Del Mar.
I’d highly recommend having lunch at Duke’s or George’s at the Cove, in La Jolla Village only a short drive away. Both offer spectacular views of the coastline from rooftop vantages and offer an array of dining options to sit back and enjoy the Californian sunshine and seals bathing below.
It’s a short 15 minute drive from the Estancia Hotel to Del Mar, and there are none of the usual traffic problems you become accustomed to at UK events. A slick drop off and pick up right outside the gates means there’s no trek through the mud and you’re into the action within minutes.
Once inside, Del Mar is a sight to behold, with a glorious Grandstand stretching the length of the racecourse and a stunning parade ring providing the perfect place to see the horses up close. Whether you’re in a grandstand seat or hospitality the views of the course are up there with the best you’ll see, and with such a tight track you can actually watch the horses the whole way round rather than them disappearing into the distance at some UK courses
The atmosphere is loud and buzzy with the Americans making sure it’s never quiet for any of the 22! races across the two days. The quality and the pace of the dirt races is like nothing you witness in Europe and takes your breath away every time they set off.
It’s an absolute bucket list trip that I now put in the same bracket as the Melbourne Cup, Dubai World Cup and Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe in terms of quality of experience and the fact that it’s back next year again at Del Mar, before moving to colder climes, means it's that 2025 is the perfect year to see the Breeders Cup live.
Find out more about our 2025 experiences at www.racingbreaks.com/breeders-cup
Comments