Del Mar’s 11th fall run began Thursday with a nine-race card ahead of the prestigious 41st Breeders’ Cup World Championships scheduled at the track on Friday and Saturday.

More than $34 million in purses and awards are being offered over the two days of Breeders’ Cup races, including the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday.

The events help begin five weeks of racing for the “Bing Crosby season,” so named for the Hollywood star who was a founding partner of the Del Mar Racetrack.

“Starting our Bing Crosby meet off with two days of Breeders’ Cup excitement just makes a good thing even better,” Del Mar vice president and racing secretary David Jerkens said. “Our regular fall cards — enhanced by our special Turf Festival — will present some of the best racing in the country during that time period and, with the Breeders’ Cup coming back again in 2025, we’ll hope to keep our racing roll moving right ahead.”