The Pacific Classic is Del Mar’s signature dirt race for older horses and one of the most important late-summer tests on the road to the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Pacific Classic at a glance
- Track: Del Mar
- Surface: Dirt
- Distance: 1 1/4 miles
- Grade: Grade 1
- 2026 purse: $1 million
- Breeders’ Cup: designated Win and You’re In qualifier for the Classic
The race was created in 1991 as Del Mar’s first million-dollar event. Best Pal, the lone 3-year-old in the inaugural field, won the first running for owners John and Betty Mabee.
Why the Pacific Classic matters
A mile and a quarter on dirt is the classic American championship distance, so the Pacific Classic gives established older horses and emerging 3-year-olds a direct late-summer test over the same distance used in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Its place on Del Mar’s stakes calendar also makes it a major West Coast checkpoint before the fall championship season.
For the wider calendar, use the OTB Bet Race Center and our permanent Breeders’ Cup hub.
2026 Pacific Classic: Knightsbridge takes command
Godolphin’s Knightsbridge won the 36th Pacific Classic on August 22, 2026, pulling away to score by 6 1/4 lengths. Junior Alvarado rode the 5-year-old son of Nyquist, who completed the 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.79.
Knightsbridge arrived from an emphatic Monmouth Cup victory and carried that form across the country. Original Sin finished second, while Full Serrano was third. The victory secured Knightsbridge’s place in the championship conversation heading toward Keeneland.
Historic performances
The Pacific Classic has produced several performances that became part of Del Mar history. None was more visually dominant than Flightline’s 2022 victory, when he won by 19 1/4 lengths. Del Mar records that he also started at 3-10, the shortest winning price in race history.
The inaugural 1991 edition is another defining chapter. Del Mar built the race around a $1 million purse and the classic 1 1/4-mile distance, even creating an additional finish line to make the distance work with the track layout. Best Pal rewarded the ambition by winning the first running.
How OTB Bet covers the Pacific Classic
This page is the permanent Pacific Classic reference point. Each season, OTB Bet will keep the core history here while linking out to timely entries, previews, odds context and confirmed-result recaps rather than creating competing evergreen pages.
Related coverage: 2026 Travers Stakes recap · Breeders’ Cup hub · Major Races.
Featured photo: 2H Media via Unsplash.