Every summer in San Diego, locals and visitors make their way over to the place “where the surf meets the turf,” down at the Del Mar Horse Races for one of San Diego’s most exciting events. Daily thoroughbred races encourage wagering on your favorite horse, wearing your most stylish hat, and attending free concerts, though they are just a few of the highlights at Del Mar from July 21 – September 8. Some people come down to simply experience the excitement while others are already marking their favorites to bet on in the races. Betting can be risky, but the payouts for winning and picking the winning horse are what draw thousands of visitors to the event every day.

Horse races are just one of the many fun events taking place so here is an overview of several other exciting reasons to visit Del Mar this summer.

• Opening Day: Many San Diegans and travelers talk about this one day all year long and wouldn’t miss it for the world. Large purse races, fancy outfits reliving the 1940’s, great music, and all of your friends soaking up the sun in Del Mar. If you have never been to opening day, make sure to add July 21 your San Diego travel plans.
• Hat Contest: Although fancy hats are the theme through the entire summer’s races, The Opening Day One and Only Truly Fabulous Hat Contest is well known and gives everyone an excuse to throw on the fanciest hat they can find. The competition has four categories: Most Glamorous, Best Fresh Flowers, Best Racing Theme and Funniest/Most Outrageous. Check out past fashion for some ideas on what you should wear this year.
• 4 O’ Clock Fridays: If you are a fan of free live music, don’t miss the races on Fridays. After the last race on Friday people rush from the grandstands to grab a good spot for the free concert that day. Bands like Pinback (July 23) and The English Beat (September 3) will be rocking the Seaside Stage at Del Mar. Saturday concerts at the Infield Stage will be hosting great shows as well including Weezer (August 21), The B52s (August 6), and the Reggae Festival (August 14) to name a few.
• Donut Days: July 24 and August 21 from 8-10am will host the “Donut Days” where you can get a behind-the-scenes look into the life of thoroughbred racing. Guests jockeys and trainers will be speaking while you are watching the horses warm up for their big race that day.
• Free and Easy Wednesday: Are you on a tight budget this year? The Del Mar Horse Races understands and is helping out by offering free admission on Wednesdays along with a free program and half price beer, soda, and hot dogs at the concession stands. The only trick is that you need to sign up for the free Diamond Club membership which will give you even more great savings.

Wagering: Are you interested in placing a bet on your favorite horse this year? It is a great feeling when you finally pick that winning horse and put a little cash back in your pockets. But how do you know what horse to pick? Here are several tips to get you started in betting on your first Del Mar race.

• Look at the horse before the race. Lively, alert horses with a bounce in their step and a shiny coat are likely to run better in the race.
• Check the horses, jockeys, and trainer’s past performance to see how well they have fared at this event in the past or similar races.
• Betting: Stick with the simple bets to start off with. Pick a horse to win (1st), place (2nd), and/or show (3rd). If the horse you chose comes in the exact position that you picked you will win. If you want to pick two or three horses but not their exact position you can choose to “Box” your bet which means your two horses can come in 1st and 2nd in either order.

Transportation: To cut back on traffic and reduce the amount of drinking and driving, the Del Mar Race Track has set up a free bus shuttle service from the Solana Beach train station and drops you off next to the entrance. From Los Angeles and Orange County, take the Amtrak directly to Solana Beach Station. If you are from San Diego, you can easily grab the Coaster anywhere between downtown and Oceanside heading towards the Solana Beach station. Once you arrive you will see the big double-decker buses hauling everyone off to the races. If you are a high-roller this year or in town to celebrate an event, it is a popular choice to roll up to the races in a limousine. Even the Hollywood scene shows up for the fun, continuing the tradition Bing Crosby started back in 1937.

For more information about the event please visit www.DelMarScene.com or www.DMTC.com.

(Image Source – Lin Mei)