Breeders' Cup at Del Mar delivers $125 million economic impact in 2025

The 2025 Breeders’ Cup did more than fill a two-day racing calendar at Del Mar. It pumped an estimated $125 million into the San Diego region, supported 1,023 jobs, and turned a championship weekend into a measurable economic engine for hotels, restaurants, transportation, retail, and the track itself.

That is the part that matters most for Southern California racing. The study said visitor spending reached $38.7 million, while labor income totaled $51.8 million and value added came to $80.2 million, a GDP-style figure that captures how far the money spread through the local economy. Nearly $5 million also went into facility enhancements and event infrastructure at Del Mar, the kind of spending that helps a host venue justify keeping marquee dates in a crowded sports market.

The numbers also show why Breeders’ Cup Limited keeps leaning into Del Mar. Global wagering on the 2025 Championships hit a record $210 million, reinforcing that the event is no longer just a horseplayer’s weekend. It is a high-end tourism draw and a broadcast property with reach far beyond the grandstand, built around 14 Grade 1 races and more than $31 million in purses and awards.

Del Mar hosted the World Championships for the fourth time in 2025, after previous editions in 2017, 2021, and 2024. The new study said the 2025 return produced a 38.9% increase in employment impact and a 12.3% increase in total economic output versus the 2017 Del Mar event, adjusted for inflation. That matters because it gives racing a harder business argument at a fragile moment for the sport: repeat access to a proven host market can still create real regional value, not just one flashy weekend.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria pointed to the boost in local jobs, visitor spending, and global attention. Breeders’ Cup president and chief executive Drew Fleming said the results underscored the strength of the global festival through wagering, job creation, and visitor spending. Del Mar Thoroughbred Club president Josh Rubinstein said the seaside setting and the prestige of the event made for a special weekend that also delivered meaningful community impact.

Del Mar’s first Breeders’ Cup in 2017 produced an estimated $96.8 million in benefits for San Diego County, and the 2021 running arrived during the pandemic with limited fans but record wagering. By the time the 2025 Championships were run Oct. 31-Nov. 1, Del Mar had become more than a scenic backdrop. It had become the evidence case for why top-tier racing can still move money, support work, and keep major events in Southern California.