Last year was the first year that the Breeders’ Cup World Championships was held at the Del Mar Racetrack. The race made a $96.8 million impact on the San Diego regional economy— according to a report by Sports Management Research Institute— including the equivalent of creating 736 full-time jobs.
The amount was a record for the championships.
The impacts included $57.8 million in tourism spending for hotels, dining and transportation. Another $27.2 million was spent on improvements to the racetrack itself and included labor and materials. Another $5.3 million were paid to state and local taxes and $8.9 million in federal taxes. Finally, $1.3 million was spent on staff and sponsors.
The Breeders’ Cup is one of the top Thoroughbred horse racing events, and attracts a large well-heeled and international group. The great majority expressed a favorable impression of San Diego and said they wanted to return.
