Overview
- The New York Racing Association and Del Mar reached a multi-year deal announced Wednesday, July 29, that names Fox Sports the exclusive television home for Del Mar’s summer and fall meets starting in 2027.
- As an interim step under the deal, FS1 will televise live coverage of the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic on August 22, 2026 ahead of full-season Del Mar broadcasts next year.
- Fox already carries major NYRA properties such as the Belmont Stakes and Saratoga coverage, and its minority ownership in the NYRA Bets wagering platform links the broadcast deal to potential betting integration.
- Industry reporting says Del Mar rights became available after FanDuel TV scaled back live programming this summer, and some analysts have speculated that Fox and NYRA might explore a continuous free live-racing service similar to NFL RedZone if they pursue broader distribution.
- Del Mar is an iconic seaside track founded in 1937 that anchors the West Coast summer meet; pairing it with Saratoga gives Fox marquee, coast-to-coast summer content and could change where fans watch and how bettors place wagers on major U.S. races.