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A Day at Del
Mar!
The Legendary Track is
Where the Turf Meets the Surf, but it's Also Where The Party Meets the
Ponies – Especially on Opening Day
Hats and crowds at Del Mar on Opening Day in 2009.
On the edge of the ocean, behind a seaside
cliff a few exits north of San Diego, is a place where ponies run, people
play and all manner of horseplay happens.
It's the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, though most patrons prefer to refer
to it as "where the turf meets the surf." Since its inception
in 1937, Del Mar has always been more about the atmosphere than the
action. Co-founder Bing Crosby saw to that and invited down cronies
Jimmy Durante, W.C. Fields and even Marlyn Monroe.
These days, anyone
with an admission ticket can be celebrity, if only for a minute, a moment
or a day.
Del Mar Party Tips Sheet
• Opening Day in 2009 was July 22 and was fantastic! The best PubClub has ever attended. Sure, it was crowded and waiting in lines was commonplace, but the people were not frustrated but friendly and they were smiling and in the mood to party.
• Racing continues
thru Sept. 9,
• Purchase the Clubhouse pass over the
GA. For $10 extra, it doubles the access area, is less crowded
and increases socializing opportunities. It's $20. For groups or
a date, a reservation at one of the restaurants is recommended
($60 for table of 4 on weekends, plus admission).
• Arrive by 1; races are 2-7 p.m. Any later, especially
for big events like Opening Day, will cause much frustration with
lines at the bars and betting areas (even getting in poses a challenge
as Del Mar is overwhelmed when large crowds arrive).
• Get drinks from concession stands instead of the "pubs."
The lines are shorter.
• Bet a horse to win & place or win, place and show (called
"across the board"). Stay clear from trifectas and exactas;
while payoffs are large, they are hard to hit.
• The handicappers, their reviews available in the free
program and race forum newspaper ($4), are knowledgeable but it's
difficult for even them to consistently pick race winners.
• Beers are $7for Mixed drinks
are $7-15, depending on the drink and size. Unfortunately, there are no longer the signature Del Mar shakers of bloody marys, margaritas, rum runners
and martinis.
• GA Parking is $5.
• Small 6-pack coolers (no alcohol) and fold-up chairs allowed
inside.
• The train stop is Solana Beach; the track provides buses
to the track.
• Directions, events, on-line ticket sales at the Del
Mar Web Site.
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From late July thru early September – in prime Southern California
summertime – the Del Mar Fairgrounds becomes a playground for social-seeking
adults. The backdrop of horse racing and wagering is just that –
a backdrop to a day spent checking out the opposite sex, striking up
conversations, seeing old friends and trying to meet new ones, all with
beer, cocktail or wine in hand.
The setup is sensational – bars, balconies and people abound on
gorgeous grounds in old Mexico style, all glowing under the California
sunshine. There's several places to go – the courtyard, the stands,
the infield – but there's no hurry to be in anywhere because they
are all happening. Think kicked-back Kentucky
Derby.
Peak times are the weekends but by far Del Mar tops out on Opening
Day. It's always a Wednesday but for those there
it's like a Saturday. For many, it's an annual ritual, one of the area's
premier see-and-be-seen events.
The mood is playful, the balconies are bustling and the surest betof
the day is that most of the 40,000 will have made more frequent trips
to the bars than the betting windows.
In 2009, the Opening Day atmosphere was one of celebration – people celebrating the fact they could be in such a great setting to mingle, have cocktails and perhaps win some money on the horses.
Many vowed to return; the singles in particular like the Friday night concerts.
This fun group came to '09 Opening Day on a party bus from Manhattan Beach.
Ladies hanging out, watching the races (and the crowd) having a cocktail.
After bets are placed,
people gather outside to cheer on their pony of choice.
The
social scene at Del Mar – especially on Opening Day – is superb.
The clubhouse crowd is mostly upscale, 30+, while the GA-goers are
a bit younger with more of a "party down" mentality. PubClub
highly recommends spending the extra $3 for the clubhouse pass
for access to both areas.
Shorts and sundresses are the main wardrobe choices, though a few feel
the desire to dress up for the occasion. Many women (and some men) wear
hats – there's even a hat contest on Opening Day – giving
the event a touch of a Jimmy
Buffett tailgate party. Certainly the same carefree "let's
have a drink and smile" attitude is readily apparent.
 
The dames of Del
Mar: Our hats are off to them (while there's stay on).
Racing action runs from 2-5 p.m. (except for some special events) and
most people are in by 1. The closest bar or concession area is usually
the first stop; from there, the day is spent cruising about the grounds
at a leisurely California pace. The large Plaza de Mexico courtyard
just beyond the entrance is one of the most popular hangouts. Jockeys
and horses parade around before they race and a small stage hosts concerts.
These "Four O'clock Fridays" are popular among San Diego's
singles set.
The infield has a lake, picnic tables, even a tiki bar (though a steel
drum band would be a nice addition).
The hat parade is
an annual Opening Day activity.
Clubhouse ticket holders can wander into the grandstands, watch the
horses come out for the post and and even lean against the fence along
the front straightaway to see their horse of choice win or lose up close.
Some groups opt to "rent" tables at the one of the outdoor
trackside restaurants; for $60, the table is reserved all day and makes
for a home base of operations (food purchases required).
In short, people can go just about anywhere except on the actual racing
surface. Horse tracks are incredible low-key and fan friendly (though
Del Mar is overwhelmed on busy days so expect long, long lines for drinks,
the bathroom and at the betting windows).
Playing the ponies
or just playing, there's plenty of horsing around at Del Mar.
The courtyard and
balcony on the beautiful Del Mar grounds.
The stars of the show race down the stretch, to the thriill of the crowd.
Wagering is at any of many windows, staffed by friendly and, to the
rookie gambler, helpful employees. Veterans prefer the automated machines
(purchasing a voucher for a set dollar amount is required for transactions);
the lines are much shorter here. Entry bets are $2. Regardless of the
amount wagered, the thrill of cheering madly for a horse to win, place
or show is electric, especially during a big and lively event like Opening
Day.
Once the day's racing ends, that's hardly the end of the party. The
Brigantine restaurant and bar is within walking distance out the
back gate. Its upscale restaurant deck overlooks the track and the Pacific,
the side bar patio shares the same view for mingling railbirds and there's
a front patio and inside bar for the see-and-be-seen scene.
Post the posting
of the last race: At the bars to continue celebrating.
At the bar later,
it's Del Mar's version of the run for the roses.
Jimmy O's is the traditional place to be at night and on Fridays
is quite popular among the North County nightlife crowd. A couple of
other places to check out are En Fuego with its downstairs bar
patio and Tuesday night crowd, Epaztoa and, for old times (and
old timer's) sake, Bully's. All are within a couple of blocks
of one another at the intersection of 15th Street and Camino Del Mar,
about a mile from the track.
The Del Mar restaurant/bar signature drink is a margarita served in
a shaker ($9-12). For more, including the surrounding area, se our North
County, including Del Mar, La Jolla guide.
– FULL SAN DIEGO CITY & NIGHTLIFE GUIDE
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• Get an introduction
to one of America's Best Cities
• In PreParty,
learn the vital information about San Diego – what to wear,
how to get around town, where to stay, the people and more.
• The nightlife and Gaslamp Guide is in PubClubbing.
• We call it Post
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the many other things to see and do in and around San Diego.
• Whet your appetite with our
Restaurant and Dining Guide – including where to find
one of the World's Best Hamburgers.
We also have guides to these great places around San Diego:
• North
County, including Del Mar, La Jolla Beautiful coastlines
and awesome activities.
• Pacific
Beach. Where the surf is up and there's always a party.
• Baja,
Mexico. The Baja border towns of Tijuana, Ensenada and Rosarito
– just a short drive or Trolley car ride from downtown!
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