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 Saturday.
As usual, the wagering starts with the traditional win, place and show bets. It extends to five different multi-race exotic offerings, the early Pick 4, the late Pick 4, the early Pick 5, the late Pick 5 and the Pick 6.
The Pick 6, a fan favorite that on occasion has provided life-changing payoffs, has returned to its traditional arrangement instead of the jackpot format used last summer. The majority of the pool goes to those who tab six winners, with 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, Sept. 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 minimum to 50 cents in 2021, and they will continue to be offered that way this year. Those include the Super High Five on the day’s last race, the early Pick 4 beginning in race no. 2, the late Pick 4 on the last four races of the day and the late Pick 5 covering 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 Pick 6, the wagers that draw the most buzz from the racing crowd are the late Pick 4 and the late Pick 5. Both bets regularly generate pools of $1 million or more on weekends, often resulting in four-figure and five-figure payouts.
The full array of Del Mar bets is as follows:
| Wager | Minimum bet | Races |
|---|---|---|
| Win | $2 | All |
| Place | $2 | All |
| Show | $2 | All |
| Parlay (win, place, or show) | $2 | All but the last race |
| Exacta | $1 | All |
| Quinella | $2 | All |
| Trifecta | 50 cents | All races with four or more betting interests |
| Superfecta | 10 cents | All races with six or more betting interests |
| Super High Five | 50 cents | Last race, if it has seven or more betting interests |
| Double | $2 | All but last |
| Pick 3 | $1 | All but last two |
| Early Pick 4 | 50 cents | Begins in the second race |
| Late Pick 4 | 50 cents | Covers the last four races |
| Early Pick 5 | 50 cents | Begins in the first race |
| Late Pick 5 | 50 cents | Covers the last five races |
| Pick 6 | $1 | Covers the last six races |
Del Mar opens its season with a two-day weekend on Saturday and Sunday. The track will then host five four-day racing weeks, running Thursdays through Sundays. Labor Day week will add Monday racing on Sept. 2. The final racing week will run Friday through Sunday, Sept. 7 through Sept. 9. First post most days will be 5 p.m. EDT.
