San Luis Rey Downs, located in Bonsall, California, stands as a unique and vital auxiliary training track for thoroughbred horses. Continuously approved by the California Horse Racing Board since 1984, it offers unparalleled training opportunities with its year-round operation and advanced facilities. This strategic location and comprehensive approach make it a favored destination for trainers and horses alike, facilitating both development and race preparation.
The SLRD Track and Security
The San Luis Rey Downs facility boasts a well-maintained one-mile track alongside a smaller training track, ensuring diverse training options. A robust security system operates 24 hours a day, restricting access to authorized personnel only. During training hours, experienced outriders, official clockers, and a dedicated gate crew ensure a safe and professional environment. All training sessions are meticulously timed and published in the Daily Racing Form, providing valuable data for trainers and enthusiasts. For the latest official workout information, interested parties can click here.
Comprehensive Training Facilities
With 500 stalls available for lease, San Luis Rey Downs serves as a permanent base for numerous training and racing operations. The facility is equipped with an array of amenities designed to support equine health and performance. These include a large, regulation-sized equine pool, an arena, round pens, a stationary training gate, and “All Weather Trails.” Additional services and facilities encompass a tack shop/feed store, Equicise (free run) machines, a saddling paddock, a track kitchen, mechanical hotwalkers, an equine scale, a Farrier Shop, and both pens and outside paddocks. To request a complimentary CD showcasing San Luis Rey Downs, click here. A visual tour of the grounds can be accessed by clicking here, and an aerial view from 1982 is available here.
A Hub for Elite Equine Clients
San Luis Rey Downs is a preferred location for many breeders in Central and Southern California, serving as the crucial transition point between initial training on farms and the demanding racing circuit of Southern California. The impressive roster of champions and stakes horses that have called San Luis Rey Downs home attests to the quality of equine athletes trained here. Given the limited stall availability at major racing meets like Santa Anita and Hollywood Park for horses not in active competition, trainers increasingly choose San Luis Rey Downs for its clean air and tranquil atmosphere, allowing them to house all their horses together. It is common to see yearlings training alongside older horses, particularly during the fall season.
Strategic Location and Community Integration
Nestled in the affluent community of Bonsall in northern San Diego County, San Luis Rey Downs is easily accessible. A map detailing its precise location is available. The surrounding area features high-quality schools, and the Bonsall community embraces the agricultural aspects of the training facility. Ongoing improvements to Highway 76 are set to significantly reduce travel times to and from racing tracks. The year-round presence of the workforce at San Luis Rey Downs fosters a sense of community; many staff members own homes locally and are active participants in schools, churches, and community events.
Notable Horses and “All Weather Trails”
San Luis Rey Downs has been a training ground for many legendary horses, including Azeri, Cigar, Sunday Silence, and Fusaichi Pegasus. Notably, four Kentucky Derby winners—Fusaichi Pegasus, Sunday Silence, Gato Del Sol, and Ferdinand—began their early training at the facility. Numerous graded stakes winners, including Horse of the Year Azeri, have also trained here before racing and returning to their familiar stalls.
The facility also features an extensive trail system on the southeast end, offering an alternative to track work. These approximately 20-foot wide trails are surfaced with six to eight inches of tightly packed wood chip shavings, providing a cushioned and resilient surface for horses. The rolling terrain with varying grades offers a comprehensive cardiovascular workout. Trainers find that these trails can re-engage horses that have become “track sour,” and the reduced impact on joints is believed to help prolong their athletic careers by mitigating the effects of arthritis often associated with daily training on hard surfaces. The trail base is designed for optimal drainage, ensuring they remain usable and non-slippery during the rainy season when the main track can become hard and sealed. Consequently, these trails are aptly named “All Weather Trails.”
San Luis Rey Downs is committed to providing an exceptional environment for thoroughbred training, combining top-tier facilities with a supportive community and strategic location.
