Del Mar Horse Racing
Where the turf meets the surf…Bing Crosby’s song gets sung here during every racing day.
Why? Bing and a few of his friends in 1937 opened this new seaside racetrack at Del Mar. This was to be a horse palace by the ocean where you could play all day, party all night, and leave the cares of the world behind.
Names like Dorothy Lamour, W. C. Fields, Edgar Bergen, Ann Miller, Red Skelton, Pat O’Brien, Gary Cooper…lots of Hollywood stars frequented here.
Then there are the horses and jockey who raced and won here. Seabiscuit comes to mind, winning in 1938. So does jockey William Lee Shoemaker. His 52 wins sets him apart from others. That was 1949.
Did you know Del Mar racing stopped during 1942 to 1944 due to the war? The grounds were used for training by the Marines. Manufacturing site parts for the B-17 bombers also took place here.
Fast forward to today. Opening day was July 17 this year and runs through September 2. So much goes on here, with concerts after races, food truck events, wine events, and more.
And…hats. Yep, hats. Opening day Hat Contest is all part of the tradition that dates back to 1937 when Bing greeted guests as they entered. The official contest was established in 1995, however. These are no ordinary hats. Many people spend months designing that perfect hat to wear on Opening Day. You want to be seen? Wear a spectacular hat.
What do I like about this track? Everything.
First of all, it’s a gorgeous facility. When you walk around the buildings and grounds, you can almost feel the essence of those who made their dream a reality. It’s easy to imagine yourself in their dream.
If you like horses, this is the place to be. When they are getting ready for the next race, they parade in front of you, not off in the distance. Gaze into their eyes as they look over the row of spectators. Am I picking a horse or are they picking me?
Want to get up close when they thunder around the track? Two ways you can do that. Stand at the rail when they’re running on the dirt track. You hear them coming before you see them. And…then they’re past you.
Or, walk through the tunnel under the track to the inside of the track. When they run on the turf, you have the perfect place to watch them as they seem to lengthen their stride as they fly past you. Maybe, not as thundering on the turf. Still, you can hear them coming.
These powerful horses are magical. It’s easy to get caught up in all the excitement as you watch some of the most talented horses in the world.
They are all striving for one thing…reaching the finish line first.
Just like the first people to watch here in 1937, when I’m at the Del Mar Track, this is one of the best places to be on a sunny summer afternoon. The cares of the world disappear.
If You Go: The Del Mar Fairgrounds are located at 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, CA 92014. More info about horse racing can be found at https://www.dmtc.com/