Del Mar Racetrack is
Worth the Trip Out

Del Mar Racetrack lies on the Southern California coast in the seaside city of Del Mar in San Diego County. The meet is only a month and a half long but, along with the Saratoga meet with which it coincides, it is one of the most special.

Opening day for the 2009 Del Mar horse racing meet witnessed a gathering of almost 45,000 fans to partake of the festivities, which set an attendance record for the largest crowd in Del Mar history, and bears testimony to the unabated enthusiasm for the track "Where the turf meets the surf".

Paddock at Del Mar

Del Mar Racetrack’s history is not as lengthy as other historic race tracks, having been founded in relatively recently in 1937 by singer Bing Crosby, Jimmy Durante, Oliver Hardy, and others. The Grade 1 Bing Crosby sprint is one of the highlights at the Del Mar meet, and one of the most prestigious sprint races in the country.

Just prior to the commencement of the 2007 meet, the one mile dirt main track was replaced with a synthetic race track surface called polytrack. A prominent race horse owner recently referred to another synthetic racing surface, Pro Ride, which is used at Santa Anita Park as “plastic”. He probably would not have a much higher view of polytrack and he may be justified. There is something a little incongruous about a track situated amid such coastal beauty showcasing horses running over an artificial surface. Dirt would seem to be the natural complement to a place of such beauty and splendor.

Nevertheless, if you haven’t been to Del Mar Racetrack, it is well worth a visit. The saying that “there are a thousand ways to lose and only one to win” may well be true, but Del Mar Racetrack is just as much about the experience as it is the wagering, so even if you lose a few harmless bets, the cool breeze, the magnificent horses, the anticipation of the stretch run , and the all around festive atmosphere ensure you won’t go home a loser.