BREAKING: Del Mar has officially canceled its Saturday racing card due to heavy rain, marking the first rainout since August 20, 2023. This urgent decision comes as weather conditions force a significant reshuffling of scheduled races, with Friday’s first post time moving up from 12:30 p.m. to noon.
With the forecast indicating continued precipitation, the $100,000 Desi Arnaz Stakes for 2-year-old fillies has been shifted to Sunday, now exclusively on the main track. Meanwhile, the Bob Hope Stakes for 2-year-olds is rescheduled for Friday, November 21. This cancellation highlights a troubling trend in Southern California racing, as track officials prioritize safety following past incidents of fatal injuries linked to racing in adverse weather.
Los Alamitos has yet to confirm whether its Saturday and Sunday night races will proceed as planned. This uncertainty follows a disturbing pattern; cancellations have become more common since a spike in horse injuries marked the 2019 racing season.
In the Desi Arnaz Stakes, the spotlight will be on Himika, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Juan Hernandez. This promising filly faces a rematch against Revera from John Sadler’s stable and Stuffy Mist trained by Victor Garcia, both of whom placed second and third in the recent Anoakia Stakes at Santa Anita.
In other news, Norco made headlines last Sunday by winning the Grade I Super Derby, shocking fans with a payout of $116.20—the highest at Los Alamitos in 2025. This victory continues the trend of upsets in major quarter-horse races, with Norco being the sixth non-favorite to win in seven Grade I events since March.
Amid these races, the industry mourns the loss of two horses due to training injuries at Los Alamitos over the weekend. The 3-year-old gelding Tame the Tiger and the 2-year-old filly Cayce in Gray were both euthanized, raising concerns as the California Horse Racing Board reports a total of 29 equine deaths since the racing season began on December 26. This figure is slightly down from last year, but safety remains a pressing issue.
In a surprising turn, trainer Dale Romans, known for his expertise in the sport, announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by retiring Mitch McConnell. Romans, a self-described independent Democrat from Louisville, aims to break a long-standing trend, as Kentucky has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1992.
Fans and industry insiders are also buzzing about the upcoming relocation of the stallion Collected to Rancho San Miguel in California for the 2026 breeding season. This 12-year-old stallion will stand at a fee of $7,500 per live foal, bringing excitement to California breeders as he has consistently ranked high among North American sires.
As developments unfold, stakeholders and fans alike will be watching closely, with Del Mar’s next race day set for Sunday, November 9. The urgency of these changes in the racing calendar underscores the challenges faced by the sport amid adverse weather conditions and safety concerns. Stay tuned for more updates as this situation develops.
