I Went To Del Mar Opening Day And Did Not See A Single Horse Race

Girls, The Hat Parade & Singles Scene Takes Priority Over The Ponies For Nightlife Blogger

By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Nightlife Blogger

There’s a lot of horsing around that goes on at Del Mar Race Track in San Diego for Opening Day.

And sometimes it doesn’t even involve horses.

I know because I’ve done it. Yes, I went to Opening Day and did not see a horse race during the day.

Not a single one. Didn’t make a single bet. Only saw jockeys and horses before they went onto the track.

If you’re wondering what on earth I could have been doing instead of making bets and cheering on the horses on which I placed my money, then you’ve never been to Del Mar Opening Day. There are lot more interesting things to look at than horses, I can assure you.

For starters, it’s tough to pull one’s self out of the main courtyard area. It’s flooded with people, gorgeous girls in their nicest cocktail dresses and big derby-style hats (and, for you ladies, well-dressed gentlemen with classy shirts and big watches), you can get drinks from pop-up stands, the horses and jockeys come out and do a few loops around a small circle and there’s betting windows and even a large video screen where you can watch the races that are taking place right behind yhou.

There are bars and balconies.

There is the hat parade.

STOP!

This is where I spent the majority of my day.

First of all this is where a lot of the women hang out; they are either wearing hats and are in the parade – there’s a $300 top prize – or are watching the other women to see their hats.  Secondly, the parade goes on for hours, so there’s a constant flow of people and changing scenery. Third, there’s a couple stations for drinks, so there’s no need to be rushing off anywhere else around the track.

Finally, it’s a good place to meet or run into friends, as I did when Kim and Courtney, the big-chested, big-haired blondes from Newport Beach showed up and entertained me for a few hours.

Next thing I knew, it was 5 o’clock and the day’s races were done. It was time to find my friend and head to the Brigantine and start the post-race party.

And that is how I went to Del Mar Opening Day and didn’t see a horse on the track or a single race. Did I miss anything!?