A day at Del Mar · 12.08.09
Earlier this year my wife and I were seriously considering a trip to Churchill Downs for the Derby. This would have been our first trip to a “destination” racetrack, and we got as far as getting price quotes for flights and hotels. However, my friend Tim noted that Derby Day would likely be an absolute zoo, with 100,000-plus fans on the grounds, and impossible sight-lines from anywhere but the ridiculously-priced clubhouse and grandstand seats (most of which are either bought-up by sports-tour companies, or reserved by the same people every year, and sometimes passed to the next generation like Redskins or Packers season tickets).
Tim suggested Del Mar, "where the turf meets the surf" to quote Bing Crosby, one of the original co-owners. Another friend of mine, Bill, also raved about Del Mar, calling it his favourite track. So we ended up arranging a week-long family vacation in San Diego, including visits to the San Diego Zoo, Legoland, Balboa Park, Belmont Park (no, not that Belmont Park) — and, of course, Del Mar.
The day we were there, 26 July, was billed as “Family Fun Day”. The infield was filled with rides, face-painting, pony rides, food vendors, wandering clowns and magicians — pretty much anything that could distract the kiddies while the grown-ups get distracted by the horses. Actually, Del Mar promotes every Sunday as a family-oriented racing festival. Hastings tries to do the same thing on its big “festival days” — BC Derby, BC Cup, etc. — but Del Mar goes all out, and on that day both the infield and the grandstand were packed. The track apparently averaged 30,000 patrons per day during opening week, including over 40,000 on opening day — I would guess that there were at least that many the day we were there.
At almost every turn I found myself comparing Del Mar to Hastings, with predictable results. Actually it isn’t really a fair comparison, considering the relative sizes of the two facilities, the quality of the fields, etc. However, the folks at Hastings should study Del Mar’s operations and at least try some of the angles that have made it such a success while other tracks are struggling:
- attract the families, and the money will follow;
- handicapping seminars on race days — one for “newbies”, the other for more seasoned handicappers;
- ushers to check people’s tickets, direct them to their seats, and otherwise point them where they want to go — Del Mar employs kindly older ladies, one of whom clucked sympathetically as she told us that the tram that normally carried guests to the infield from the stands was out of commission, “and it’s a long way for a little girl like yours to walk all the way there” (The Daughter managed just fine, thanks);
- “Daybreak at Del Mar” — have breakfast while watching morning workouts as the track announcer keeps things lively with behind-the-scenes information and other insights — we missed this, as we stopped at Del Mar Beach on the way to the track that morning, but it will be one of my goals if we ever go there again;
- the interior of the grandstand decorated with photographs and paintings depicting the history of the track: Bing Crosby hob-nobbing with both Hollywood stars and regular patrons, horses exercising on the beach, famous horses and races, etc.; and
- first-rate customer service everywhere.
Here are some pictures (apologies for the relatively low quality, these are still shots taken with a video camera that I’m still learning to use):
The upper stretch as seen from our box seats in the grandstand. In the centre is the infield pond, with the chute for the turf course to the right. In the hills beyond, the folks living in those white apartment buildings would have a pretty good free view of the races.
The finish, the tote board complete with giant video screen, and a distant view of the infield facilities. Watching how far the horses travel on the Del Mar straightaways brings home how small the track at Hastings really is.
The paddock at Del Mar — a beautiful place for beautiful people and beautiful horses. This was taken prior to the 6th race — a maiden purse for 2yo fillies, 5 1/2 furlongs on the main track.
Modality (ch. f (KY) by Distant View — Upgraded (High Yield)) prior to the 6th race. She would eventually finish ninth in the 10-horse field. Almost looks too good to finish that far back, doesn’t she — I’ll say the surroundings made all the horses look good.
“Riders up!” Calcutta Rose (dark b/br f (KY) by Lionheart — Bold American (Quiet American)), Tyler Baze in the saddle. She would finish last in this race.
The Daughter modelling the lucky hat that she made for me at the kids’ arts’n‘crafts tent in the infield. I had not had time to make my usual pace calculations that day, but I placed bets anyway, thinking to myself “If I don’t bet, I can’t win, and I might only be here once, so what the hell…”. The results were predictable — due to the main track’s inconsistent artificial surface, the lack of form early in the Del Mar race-meeting, and/or my own inexperience, I was 0-for-9 heading into the 10th and last race. Then, wearing the hat and a shamrock made from a pipecleaner (also courtesy of Herself), I put $2 on Dynamic Range to win the 1 1/16-mile turf contest for 3yo+ maidens — and wouldn’t you know it, the Dynaformer gelding came through, paying $9.60.
I will always love going to Hastings, my hometown track. However, in my mind, Del Mar has set a standard for customer service and sporting entertainment by which I will judge other tracks that we might visit in the future.
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Wonderful place where I first met Shoe, saw Cougar’s FIRST North American start and Canonero before he went to Venezuela. Then there was the monster Ack Ack.
So glad you enjoyed it as it used to be called The Saratoga of the West but THAT is a very tall order.
— Dr. Timothy Yatcak · Aug 12, 02:44 PM · #