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Tickets Now On Sale For Breeders’ Cup World Championships At Del Mar

Tickets are now on sale for the 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar racetrack, the iconic Southern California racing venue. This year's prestigious international event, which returns to Del Mar on Nov. 5 and 6 for just the second time in its history, will utilize 100 percent of seated capacity in accordance with state and local public health guidelines.

Fans can purchase tickets online at BreedersCup.com/Tickets or by calling the ticketing office at (859) 514-9428. Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets as soon as possible, as demand is expected to be high with patrons returning to the World Championships after being unable to attend in person in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 World Championships promises to further cement the annual event as an unparalleled, luxury lifestyle experience showcasing the world's best horse racing and hospitality.

“We are elated to welcome fans back in full force as we return to southern California's beautiful oceanside racing venue, Del Mar racetrack,” said Breeders' Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming. “Breeders' Cup and Del Mar Thoroughbred Club have worked in close collaboration over the course of the past year to ensure our fans and participants receive a safe, best-in-class experience that showcases exceptional Thoroughbred racing.”

Historic Del Mar racetrack is located just 20 miles north of San Diego, where “the turf meets the surf.” In addition to elite international racing, attendees will enjoy Del Mar's scenic seaside city backdrop coupled with the vibrant nightlife of nearby San Diego.

Attendees can choose from premium dining packages, box seating options and reserved seating. Two-day dining packages are available for purchase ranging from $775 to $1,875 per seat, while box seating options include both single and two-day packages ranging from $375 to $975 per seat. Reserved seating is available in both single and two-day packages that range from $100 to $475 per seat. All tickets will be sold in advance of the World Championships and are subject to the availability at the time of purchase. No tickets will be sold on-site. More information on seating options and ticket pricing can be viewed at BreedersCup.com/Tickets.

General admission tickets will not be sold at this time; however, Breeders' Cup is in close communication with local public health officials and is hopeful that as conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic continue to improve, general admission tickets will be made available closer to the World Championships. Fans are encouraged to sign up for the latest ticketing news and updates here.

Parking on-site at Del Mar is limited and only available to attendees with official pre-paid parking credentials. A complimentary public shuttle service will be operating to and from the track from a designated off-site park-and-ride location at Del Mar Horsepark on both Nov. 5 and Nov. 6. Additional transportation information can be found here.

The 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar will be televised live by the NBC Sports Group.

The post Tickets Now On Sale For Breeders’ Cup World Championships At Del Mar appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Fans, Horsemen Alike Ready To Celebrate ‘Real’ Del Mar Summer

Peter Miller won a fourth Del Mar summer season training title in 2020, equaling the number of fall crowns for him at the place Miller refers to as his “home” track.

But the 55-year-old Encinitas and Manhattan Beach resident readily admits that it didn't feel the same as the other seven. Not in a time in which COVID-19 protocols for most of the meeting required stands empty of all but “essential” personnel and masks on the faces of everyone there in person.

“Last year felt abnormal, weird, very strange, surreal,” Miller said Monday during a break from morning workouts. “You'd win a race and it felt like you'd won a workout.”

Miller won 28 races, eight more than runner-up Phil D'Amato. Six came in stakes, to raise Miller's career total to 38 over the last 14 years. And none of those horses returned to a winner's circle ceremony of picture-taking, reward-presenting, hand-shaking, back-slapping and all-around smiling with success in accordance with decades of racing tradition.

So count Miller, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club CEO Joe Harper, and racetrackers of all sorts, who are looking forward to the return of fans and fanfare when the 82nd summer season commences a 31-day meeting on Friday.

“Real live people, that's terrific,” said Harper, in his 44th year at the track helm. “I spent a lot of time walking around talking to myself last year.

“It's just great. Having people around is what Del Mar is all about. It's not your average racetrack. It's a party, concerts and all the things that make people happy. It was kind of sad out here last year when your handle is $200,000 on track and $25 million off track. That was kind of a fun day, but it was just weird.”

“It's a credit to the whole industry that we got through COVID as well as we did,” said trainer John Sadler, No. 2 for stakes wins (78) in track history. “Now we're all happy and excited about having a return to normal.”

“We had gone through (COVID 2020 protocols) at Santa Anita before we came down here last summer, so we were kind of prepared,” said Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella. “But the stands without fans, the quiet during the races … the weird feeling never went away.”

Billy Koch heads the Little Red Feather racing partnership group, whose all-out-for-fun approach, to racing and life, is especially suited to Del Mar. Little Red Feather's Red King won the Del Mar Handicap and was voted the top grass horse of the meeting but only a handful of partners were able to celebrate on the tarmac down by the rail.

“We love it down here and Del Mar is the premier meeting we point to,” Koch said. “So it was difficult that a lot of our partners and fans couldn't get in to see the horses run. But Del Mar did a good job of getting some in to see the races and we appreciated that.

“We did nothing last year (in the way of pre-meet partying), but we're back this year and champing at the bit. Little Red Feather Nation will be out in force and we're looking forward to a really good meeting.”

Del Mar opens its summer season on a Friday for the third time since 1970 and the sixth time in its history. Before last year's COVID-forced no-count, the official totals were 42,562 on the grounds in 2016 and 11,998 in 1970. The other Friday openings came in 1959 and 1941.

Opening Friday 2021 won't approach 2016 – which ranks as the 10th-highest turnout in track history – but it figures to be a happy contrast to 2020. Del Mar will open with 100% capacity in its seating areas throughout the facility and an approximately 16,000 sellout has been announced. This decision was made in accordance with state and county public health guidelines.

All fans wishing to attend must obtain a seating package in advance of their arrival. Admission tickets and parking passes are included in the package.

The post Fans, Horsemen Alike Ready To Celebrate ‘Real’ Del Mar Summer appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Keeneland Fall Meet To Open At Full Capacity

Keeneland announced plans Thursday to open at full capacity for its 2021 Fall Meet, to be held Oct. 8-30. Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning at 9 a.m. ET Monday, Aug. 16. Demand is anticipated to be high, and fans are strongly encouraged to visit tickets.keeneland.com in advance for information on available ticket options, pricing and the process to purchase.

Keeneland's e-ticketing platform enables patrons to complete their ticketing purchase online and to add tickets to their mobile wallets for easy scanning at the admission gates.

“Keeneland is thrilled to welcome greater numbers of fans back to the track for what promises to be a terrific Fall Meet,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “We look forward to being together again as a community and watching great Thoroughbred racing in this beautiful surrounding. As we look ahead to Keeneland's 85th anniversary this fall, we know reconnecting with those people and places that are special to us will be even more meaningful.”

The 17-day Fall Meet offers a record $6 million in stakes purses and an expanded stakes schedule of 22 races. The season kicks off Oct. 8-10 with Keeneland's signature Fall Stars Weekend, and the meet features 10 Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” races. Two new 6-furlong stakes for 2-year-olds, the Bowman Mill and the Myrtlewood for fillies, and six multiple stakes race days, highlight the Fall Meet.

“The racing excitement will be elevated by record purse money, additional stakes, blockbuster days featuring multiple stakes events throughout the meet and Breeders' Cup-bound horses competing for automatic berths in the World Championships,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell said. “The quality of racing and the high level of competition among the nation's top stables will appeal to horsemen and fans alike.”

Fans will enjoy enhanced hospitality at Keeneland this fall, including new concession items, elevated dining options featuring a la carte service and three-course dining experiences and locally sourced ingredients. Keeneland's popular tailgating tradition will continue with the return of The Hill, where fans can enjoy live music, local food trucks, wagering and more. New this year, patrons on The Hill will have the option to book a customized tailgate package in partnership with REVELxp, the nation's leader in premium tailgate and event services.

After evaluating the success of pre-sold ticket packages during the 2021 Spring Meet, Keeneland has restructured ticket pricing and packages for General Admission, Reserved Seating and dining for the Fall Meet:

· Advance-purchase General Admission tickets are $7;

· Day-of General Admission tickets still will be sold online and through walk-up purchase at the gate on race days for $10;

· Free General Admission is available for members of Keeneland Select, Keeneland's free online wagering platform;

· Grandstand Reserved Seats and dining tickets will be sold online in advance; and

· Keeneland will pre-sell Fall Meet General Admission Season Passes for $40.

Keeneland remains committed to the safety of its guests and continues to monitor local and national health guidelines. As a result, General Admission caps may be enforced, so fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.

“We appreciate the loyalty of our horsemen, horseplayers and fans, and we are committed to delivering the most memorable race-day experience possible,” Arvin said. “While challenging, this past year provided us the opportunity to review every facet of our operations and experiences for our guests. From expanding our advance-purchase ticketing options to providing new concession and dining offerings and better leveraging technology, we are excited to roll out these enhancements while remaining one of the region's best values for world-class entertainment.”

All public race-day parking is free.

The post Keeneland Fall Meet To Open At Full Capacity appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Breeders’ Cup To Be Held At Full Seating Capacity at Del Mar

Breeders' Cup will utilize 100% of seated capacity at Del Mar for the 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships. Tickets will go on sale to the public at Noon ET and 9 a.m. PT Friday, July 16. Available seating options and pricing can be viewed now at BreedersCup.com/tickets.

Del Mar is set to host the World Championships, one of Thoroughbred racing's most prestigious international events, for just the second time Nov. 5-6.

“After conducting the 2020 World Championships without fans in attendance, we are delighted to be able to safely welcome fans back to the Breeders' Cup World Championships this November,” said Breeders' Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming. “Fans will once again be invited to experience the unparalleled competition, fanfare and hospitality that have become synonymous with the Breeders' Cup as the world's most talented horses, jockeys, and trainers go head-to-head at beautiful Del Mar.”

Del Mar recently announced plans to conduct its 2021 summer race meet at 100% of seated capacity for fans throughout its facility in accordance with local state and county public health guidelines in Southern California.

Seating options for the 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships include:

Premium dining: Fans can enjoy a fine-dining experience from the Clubhouse, Stretch Run or Paddock dining areas. Two-day dining packages are available for purchase ranging from $775 to $1,875 per seat.
Box seating: Patrons in box seats are offered cocktail service and menu options delivered directly to their seats in the Clubhouse and Stretch Run Box seat locations. Box seating options include both single and two-day packages ranging from $375 to $975 per seat.
Reserved seating: Fans can opt for open-air, covered, stadium-style seats. Reserved Seating is available in both single and two-day packages that range from $100 to $475 per seat.

General admission tickets will not be sold at this time. However, Breeders' Cup is closely coordinating with local health officials and is hopeful to be in a position to offer general admission closer to the World Championships. All tickets will be sold in advance of the event and are subject to the availability at the time of purchase. No tickets will be sold onsite.

In addition, all parking on-site at Del Mar will be limited and only available to those with official pre-paid parking credentials. To help enhance the transportation experience at Del Mar, Breeders' Cup will offer a park-and-ride program with complimentary public shuttle service to the track from two designated off-site park-and-ride locations on both racing days.

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