The 2025 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar delivered a significant economic boost to the San Diego region, generating an estimated $125 million in total industry output economic impact, according to a newly released independent study conducted by Sport Management Research Institute.
The two-day festival of racing held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 produced record global wagering of $210 million. It was the fourth time Del Mar hosted the World Championships, after welcoming contenders from around the globe in 2017, 2021, and 2024.
The report found the World Championships supported 1,023 jobs across the region, generating $51.8 million in labor income and $80.2 million in value added (equivalent to GDP), underscoring the importance of the Breeders' Cup as a powerful economic engine for local businesses and workers. In addition, $11 million in federal taxes and $7.6 million in state and local taxes were generated. Applicable visitor spending totaled $38.7 million across hotels, dining, retail, transportation, and entertainment. Nearly $5 million was invested in facility enhancements and event infrastructure at Del Mar.
"The Breeders' Cup delivered a significant boost to San Diego's economy—supporting local jobs, generating millions in visitor spending, and bringing global attention to our region," said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. "This is exactly the kind of major event that drives opportunity for our small businesses and workers while reinforcing San Diego's reputation as a world-class destination."
"Breeders' Cup is proud to deliver not only world-class racing, but also meaningful economic impact for our host communities," said Drew Fleming, president and CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited. "The results from Del Mar in 2025 demonstrate the strength of our global festival, from record wagering to significant job creation and visitor spending. We're especially encouraged by the strong tourism indicators, which show how the World Championships continue to elevate host destinations and drive long-term economic benefits well beyond Breeders' Cup week."
"We're incredibly proud to have hosted the 2025 Breeders' Cup at Del Mar," said Josh Rubinstein, president of Del Mar. "The prestige of the event, combined with our iconic seaside setting, made for a truly special weekend of racing. Just as important, it delivered meaningful impact for our community—generating nearly $125 million for the San Diego region and supporting more than 1,000 jobs. The success of the 2025 Breeders' Cup speaks to how strongly San Diegans have embraced horse racing, especially the World Championships. We're proud to partner with Breeders' Cup to bring this level of competition, visibility and economic benefit to our city, and we're excited to continue building on its success."
Out-of-town visitors played a major role in driving economic activity, accounting for 61% of 43,705 unique attendees, with 82.5% citing the Breeders' Cup as the primary purpose of their trip to the area.
Visitor spending included $11.5 million spent on entertainment, recreation, and attractions apart from the World Championships. The average visiting party stayed 2.5 nights and spent approximately $5,455 for their trip, reflecting the high-value audience the World Championships attract. Beyond immediate economic impact, the report emphasizes the event's lasting value as 66.5% of attendees indicated they plan to return to the San Diego area within the next year and 69.7% reported a more favorable impression of the region after attending.
Compared to the 2017 Breeders' Cup at Del Mar and adjusted for inflation, the 2025 edition demonstrated strong growth including a 38.9% increase in employment impact and a 12.3% increase in total economic output. These findings reinforce the role of the Breeders' Cup in driving repeat tourism and enhancing the global profile of host communities.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
