A full array of betting options will be accessible to Del Mar fans as the seaside oval is off and running on its 85th summer season starting this Saturday, July 20.
As usual, the wagering starts with the traditional Win/Place/Show bets and extends out to five different multi-race exotic offerings – the Early Pick Four, the Late Pick Four, the Early Pick Five, the late Pick Five and the Pick Six.
The Pick Six, a fan favorite that on occasion has provided life-changing payoffs, has returned to its traditional arrangement – replacing last summer’s “single-ticket bonus jackpot” -- with the majority of its pool going to those who tab six winners and the remainder going to those with five. In the past that split was divided 70-30, but now it will be 80-20, providing an even larger return to those selecting the most winners.
In all there are 15 different ways to wager on each of the daily programs, which will range from eight to 11 races on various afternoons throughout the eight-week season that runs through Sunday, September 8.
“We’re presenting another strong wagering menu which has proven extremely popular with our betting public,” said Bill Navarro, the track’s director of mutuels. “From Show bets to big swings, we’ve got one of every kind for our players.”
Several of Del Mar’s multi-race bets were lowered from a $1 price to 50-cents in 2021 and they will continue to be offered that way this year. They are the Super High 5 – available on the day’s last race; the Early Pick Four (starting with Race 2); the Late Pick Four on the last four races of the day, and the Late Pick Five, available on the last five races of the afternoon.
Additionally, there again will be a Win/Place/Show Parlay available for a minimum of two races and a maximum of six. It is a $2 bet.
Besides the popular Pick Six, the wagers that draw the most buzz from the racing crowd are the Late Pick Four and the Late Pick Five. Both bets regularly generate $1-million-plus pools on weekends, often resulting in four-figure and five-figure payouts.
The full array of Del Mar bets is as follows: $2 Win, Place and Show (all races); $1 Exacta (all); $2 Quinella (all); $2 Rolling Doubles (all except last); $1 Rolling Pick 3 (all except last two); $1 Superfecta (10-cent minimum – all); $1 Place Pick All (starts w/Race 1 or 2); 50-cent Super High Five (last); 20-cent Pick Six (last six); 50-cent Players’ Pick 5 (first five and last five); 50-cent Pick 4 (Races 2 thru 5 and last four), and $2 Win-Place-Show Parlay (all races but last).
Del Mar will open its season with a two-day weekend (July 20, 21), then have five four-day weeks (Thursday through Sunday), followed by a five-day week (including Labor Day Monday, September 2), then finally finish with a Friday-through-Sunday weekend (September 7, 8, 9). First post most days will be 2 p.m.