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Del Mar Race Track Information Party Guide Photos Tips Opening Day

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Del Mar track visitor's information and party guide,photos and prose on tips and opening day where the turf meets the surf, horse track.


 

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.

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 – 

• 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 Party and it's a rundown of all activities, sightseeing and 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!

Hop on the PubClub Party Bus!