UPDATE: Del Mar has just announced the cancellation of Saturday’s racing card due to persistent rain, marking their first rainout since August 20, 2023. The first post for Friday has been adjusted from 12:30 p.m. to noon, causing significant disruptions in the schedule of major stakes races.
The highly anticipated $100,000 Desi Arnaz Stakes for 2-year-old fillies has been rescheduled to an all-main-track card on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Bob Hope Stakes for 2-year-olds has been shifted from Sunday to Friday, November 21. These changes have left fans and participants eager for updates as the weather conditions continue to evolve.
This rainout is significant as it is the first for a Southern California thoroughbred program since Santa Anita halted racing on March 30 and 31, 2024. While Del Mar adjusts its schedule, officials at Los Alamitos have yet to confirm the status of their Saturday and Sunday night races.
Traditionally, tracks like Del Mar used to run in wet conditions, but since a troubling spike in fatal injuries at Santa Anita in early 2019, cancellations have become more frequent.
In the Desi Arnaz Stakes, racing fans will be watching closely as Himika, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Juan Hernandez, faces off against Revera from trainer John Sadler and Stuffy Mist by Victor Garcia. Himika, a daughter of Curlin, boasts three wins in five starts but has struggled beyond six furlongs.
In an exciting turn of events, the recent trend of upsets at Los Alamitos continues. Last Sunday, Norco clinched victory in the $926,200 Grade I Super Derby, paying out an impressive $116.20, marking the highest win price at the Orange County track for 2025.
Tragedy struck recently as two horses were euthanized following injuries sustained during training at Los Alamitos. The 3-year-old gelding Tame the Tiger and the 2-year-old filly Cayce in Gray both succumbed to musculoskeletal injuries. According to the California Horse Racing Board, there have been 29 horse fatalities across racing and training at Los Alamitos, Del Mar, and Santa Anita since the racing season began on December 26, 2024. This statistic reflects a slight improvement compared to last year but remains a pressing concern for the racing community.
Amid these developments, Dale Romans, a notable trainer with a history of success in the Preakness and Breeders’ Cup, has announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, seeking the seat of retiring Mitch McConnell. Romans, a self-identified independent Democrat, faces the challenge of a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1992.
As racing fans await more updates, the implications of these cancellations and rescheduled events are profound, affecting not only the horses and jockeys involved but also the wider community invested in the sport.
Stay tuned for ongoing updates as officials confirm the latest developments at Del Mar and beyond.
