In order to accommodate the setting sun, Del Mar will permanently move Friday's first post from 4 p.m. PT to 3 p.m. PT and remain on that schedule for the rest of the meet, the club said in a release on Wednesday.
The time shift is keyed on the setting of the sun in the San Diego area, which corrects by almost an hour over the course of the summer. Sunset on opening day (July 20) was at 7:55 p.m. PT, while on closing day (Sept. 8) it will be 7:04 p.m. PT.
Additionally, first post on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays will adjust to 1:30 p.m. PT from the normal 2 p.m. PT beginning on Saturday, Aug. 31 and continue for the remainder of the season.
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