SUMMER HORSE RACING UNDERWAY AT DEL MAR

With the obvious exception of venerable Churchill Downs—the home of the Kentucky Derby—few horse racing venues can boast the tradition of Southern California’s Del Mar Racetrack.  On Wednesday, the troubled Southern California horse racing industry received a much needed boost with the opening of the 71st summer meet at Del Mar.  A huge crowd of 45,309 broke the opening day attendance mark for the track and created a party atmosphere and a welcome positive vibe in the Southern California racing scene.
 
Del Mar has one of the most fascinating histories of any horse racing track in the world.  Known for its iconic slogan ‘Where the Surf Meets the Turf’, Del Mar was opened in the 1930’s by a group of wealthy racing enthusiasts.  Among the original financial backers of Del Mar were some of the biggest names in entertainment including Bing Crosby, Oliver Hardy (of Laurel and Hardy) and Jimmy Durante.  At the time the facility opened thoroughbred horse racing was the second most popular sport in America behind major league baseball, and Del Mar quickly became a ‘player’ in the industry.

The ‘star power’ involved with the track provided a trendy cachet that the tonier race courses back East lacked.  Bing Crosby himself greeted patrons at the gate on opening day, and during the late 1930’s and early 1940’s it became a place to be seen for Hollywood ‘A-listers’.  In addition to known gambling enthusiasts like W.C. Fields, Edgar Bergen and Red Skelton, the Del Mar patrons during that time also included some of the top female stars of the era including Ava Gardner, Paulette Goddard and Dorothy Lamour.
 
While it’s not quite the ‘must see’ event for megastars that it once was, opening day at Del Mar still attracts its share of celebrities  and is a huge event in the region.  Trainer Eric Kruljac, whose horse, North Fork, won Wednesday's first race, described its popularity:

"It was explained to me a long time ago it's the second most attended social event in California next to the Academy Awards. I've been coming here for 35, 40 years, and it's the greatest racetrack in the summer by a lot."

Even if the focus of the day is more on socializing than on horses, Del Mar chief executive Joe Harper isn’t complaining:

"You've got to make believe you're in the entertainment business. What a better spot than Del Mar. There's the Pacific Ocean, palm trees are blowing in the breeze. You have a lot of crazy things going on — hat contests, concerts. It's become a fun place to be."

The festival-like atmosphere at Del Mar is a marked contrast to the recently concluded Hollywood Park meet that was plagued by poor attendance, unseasonably hot weather, and a number of cancelations due to a lack of horses.