Del Mar Racetrack
Encyclopedia
Del Mar Racetrack is an American
Thoroughbred
horse racing
track at the Del Mar Fairgrounds
in the seaside city of Del Mar, California
, 20 miles north of San Diego. Operated by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, it is known for the slogan: "Where The Turf Meets The Surf." It was built by a partnership including Bing Crosby
, the actor Pat O'Brien
, Jimmy Durante
, Charles S. Howard and Oliver Hardy
.
between Charles S. Howard's Seabiscuit
and the Binglin Stable's
colt, Ligaroti. In an era when horse racing ranked second in popularity with Americans to Major League Baseball
, the match race was much written and talked about and was the first nationwide broadcast of a Thoroughbred race by NBC radio
. In the race, Seabiscuit was ridden by jockey George Woolf
and Ligaroti by Noel Richardson. In front of a record crowd that helped make the fledgling Del Mar race track a success, Seabiscuit won an exciting battle by a nose.
By 1940, Del Mar became a summer playground for many Hollywood stars. Between 1942 and 1944 the facility was closed due to the Second World War. Initially, the grounds were used for training by the United States Marine Corp, then as a manufacturing site for parts to B-17 bombers.
The first Bing Crosby Handicap was held at Del Mar in 1946 and that same year the Sante Fe Railroad
began offering a racetrack special bringing spectators, bettors and horses to Del Mar from Los Angeles
. Throughout the late 1940s and 1950s the track became the Saratoga
of the West for summer racing. The track had large purses for many stakes, over half of which were won by the legendary jockey, Bill Shoemaker.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s Del Mar continued to offer high quality racing and continued to be one of the premier racetracks in the country. The track attempted to run a fall meet in the 1960s but later canceled it after getting lackluster results. This allowed for the creation of the Oak Tree Racing Association
at Santa Anita race track.
Change marked the 1980s when the infield was opened to spectators and in 1984 Trevor Denman
became the voice of Del Mar. The track still offered the best summer racing in the West and continued to grow in purses, handle and attendance.
In the 1990s the track underwent a major renovation. The grandstand of the Del Mar Fairgrounds was demolished and replaced. In 1991 the track ran its richest race to date, the $1,000,000 Grade I
Pacific Classic Stakes
. The first Classic was won by an impressive three-year-old named Best Pal
.
turf
course. The track runs during the summer at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and can stable more than a thousand horses. Del Mar is known for its tan stucco grandstand located directly on the Pacific Ocean
.
In early 2007, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club installed a new Polytrack
surface for a price of approximately $9 million.
Grade 1 :
Grade 2 :
Grade 3 :
Ungraded stakes :
Discontinued stakes :
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
track at the Del Mar Fairgrounds
Del Mar Fairgrounds
The Del Mar Fairgrounds is a property that is the site of the annual San Diego County Fair . Its Del Mar Racetrack was built by the Thoroughbred Club in 1937 by founding members Bing Crosby and Pat O'Brien with Paramount Studios as corporate sponsor.The fairgrounds is owned by the State of...
in the seaside city of Del Mar, California
Del Mar, California
Del Mar is an upscale beach town in San Diego County, California. The population was 4,161 at the 2010 census, down from 4,389 at the 2000 census. The San Diego County Fair is hosted on the Del Mar Fairgrounds every summer. Del Mar is Spanish for "of the sea" or "by the sea", because it is located...
, 20 miles north of San Diego. Operated by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, it is known for the slogan: "Where The Turf Meets The Surf." It was built by a partnership including Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
, the actor Pat O'Brien
Pat O'Brien (actor)
Pat O’Brien was an American film actor with more than one hundred screen credits.-Early life:O’Brien was born William Joseph Patrick O’Brien to an Irish-American Catholic family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served as an altar boy at Gesu Church while growing up near 13th and Clybourn streets...
, Jimmy Durante
Jimmy Durante
James Francis "Jimmy" Durante was an American singer, pianist, comedian and actor. His distinctive clipped gravelly speech, comic language butchery, jazz-influenced songs, and large nose helped make him one of America's most familiar and popular personalities of the 1920s through the 1970s...
, Charles S. Howard and Oliver Hardy
Oliver Hardy
Oliver Hardy was an American comic actor famous as one half of Laurel and Hardy, the classic double act that began in the era of silent films and lasted nearly 30 years, from 1927 to 1955.-Early life:...
.
History and information
When Del Mar opened in 1937, Bing Crosby was at the gate to personally greet the fans. On August 12, 1938, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club hosted a $25,000 winner-take-all match raceMatch race
A match race is a race between two competitors, going head-to-head.The term may be best known as a race between two sailing boats racing around a course...
between Charles S. Howard's Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse in the United States. From an inauspicious start, Seabiscuit became an unlikely champion and a symbol of hope to many Americans during the Great Depression...
and the Binglin Stable's
Binglin Stable
Binglin Stable in Moorpark, Ventura County, California was a stock farm established during the latter part of the 1930s to race and breed Thoroughbred horses. The stable was owned by entertainer Bing Crosby and close friend, Lindsay Howard...
colt, Ligaroti. In an era when horse racing ranked second in popularity with Americans to Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, the match race was much written and talked about and was the first nationwide broadcast of a Thoroughbred race by NBC radio
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. In the race, Seabiscuit was ridden by jockey George Woolf
George Woolf
George Monroe Woolf , nicknamed "The Ice Man", was a Canadian-born thoroughbred race horse jockey and the namesake of the annual jockey's award given by the United States Jockeys' Guild....
and Ligaroti by Noel Richardson. In front of a record crowd that helped make the fledgling Del Mar race track a success, Seabiscuit won an exciting battle by a nose.
By 1940, Del Mar became a summer playground for many Hollywood stars. Between 1942 and 1944 the facility was closed due to the Second World War. Initially, the grounds were used for training by the United States Marine Corp, then as a manufacturing site for parts to B-17 bombers.
The first Bing Crosby Handicap was held at Del Mar in 1946 and that same year the Sante Fe Railroad
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
began offering a racetrack special bringing spectators, bettors and horses to Del Mar from Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Throughout the late 1940s and 1950s the track became the Saratoga
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
of the West for summer racing. The track had large purses for many stakes, over half of which were won by the legendary jockey, Bill Shoemaker.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s Del Mar continued to offer high quality racing and continued to be one of the premier racetracks in the country. The track attempted to run a fall meet in the 1960s but later canceled it after getting lackluster results. This allowed for the creation of the Oak Tree Racing Association
Oak Tree Racing Association
The Oak Tree Racing Association is an American not-for-profit corporation that exists to conduct live thoroughbred horse racing in Southern California.-History:...
at Santa Anita race track.
Change marked the 1980s when the infield was opened to spectators and in 1984 Trevor Denman
Trevor Denman
Trevor Denman is an American sportscaster and public-address announcer specializing in Thoroughbred horse racing.Denman was born in Germiston, Gauteng, South Africa...
became the voice of Del Mar. The track still offered the best summer racing in the West and continued to grow in purses, handle and attendance.
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
Pacific Classic Stakes
Pacific Classic Stakes
The Pacific Classic Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for runners aged 3-year-old or up run at the classic American distance of a mile and a quarter...
. The first Classic was won by an impressive three-year-old named Best Pal
Best Pal
Best Pal was an American Hall of Fame champion racehorse, who to this day holds the record for purses of any California-bred racehorse, earning his owners, the Golden Eagle Farm, US$5.6 million over his lifetime.A descendant of Princequillo on both his sire's and dam's line, Best Pal won the first...
.
Physical attributes
The track has a one-mile main dirt track and a seven furlongFurlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
turf
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
course. The track runs during the summer at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and can stable more than a thousand horses. Del Mar is known for its tan stucco grandstand located directly on the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
.
In early 2007, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club installed a new Polytrack
Polytrack
A synthetic racetrack surface is any kind of surface substance that replaces grass, dirt or sand as the racing surface on a horse racing track. Synthetic surfaces may be desirable over traditional surfaces for several reasons, most prominently the reduction of injuries and possible deaths to horses...
surface for a price of approximately $9 million.
TV personalities
- Jon Lies (2007–present)
- Bob Ike (?–present)
- Mike Willman (?-2006 full-time, 2007–2009 part-time)
Racing
The track races from July to September. It presents the following graded stakes races:Grade 1 :
- Bing Crosby Handicap
- Clement L. Hirsch HandicapClement L. Hirsch HandicapThe Clement L. Hirsch Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run each year at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The race is open to filles and mares, age three and up, willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on Polytrack synthetic dirt...
- Del Mar Debutante StakesDel Mar Debutante StakesThe Del Mar Debutante Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race restricted to two-year-old fillies run each year in early September at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California...
- Del Mar FuturityDel Mar FuturityThe Del Mar Futurity is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. A Grade I event since 2007, the race is open to horses, age two, willing to race seven furlongs on Polytrack synthetic dirt and offers a purse of $250,000.The race is currently...
- Del Mar OaksDel Mar OaksThe Del Mar Oaks is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid August at the Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. Open to three-year-old fillies, it is contested at a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf...
- Eddie Read HandicapEddie Read HandicapThe Eddie Read Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the second half of July at the Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. Open to horses age three and older, it is raced at a distance of one and one-eighth miles on turf...
- John C. Mabee HandicapJohn C. Mabee HandicapThe John C. Mabee Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race contested in early August at the Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. It is run on the turf for fillies and mares, age three or older, at a distance of one and one-eighth miles. Downgraded to a Grade II stakes in 2010, the...
- Pacific Classic StakesPacific Classic StakesThe Pacific Classic Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for runners aged 3-year-old or up run at the classic American distance of a mile and a quarter...
- Pat O'Brien HandicapPat O'Brien HandicapThe Pat O'Brien Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. In 2009, this race will become a Grade I event..The race was named in honor of actor and Del Mar Racetrack co-founder, Pat O'Brien...
Grade 2 :
- Best Pal StakesBest Pal StakesThe Best Pal Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The race is open to horses, age two, that are willing to race six and one-half furlongs on Polytrack. A Grade II event, it carries a purse of $150,000.Inaugurated in 1967 as the...
- Del Mar Mile Handicap
- Del Mar DerbyDel Mar DerbyThe Del Mar Derby is an American thoroughbred horse race run annually during the first week of September at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California...
- Del Mar HandicapDel Mar HandicapThe Del Mar Handicap is an American thoroughbred horse race run each year during the third week of August at the Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California...
- La Jolla HandicapLa Jolla HandicapThe La Jolla Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The La Jolla is open to horses, age three, willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the turf....
- Palomar Breeders' Cup HandicapPalomar Breeders' Cup HandicapThe Palomar Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the second week of September at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California...
- San Clemente HandicapSan Clemente HandicapThe San Clemente Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. A Grade IIT event, the race is open to three-year-old fillies willing to race one mile on the turf.It offers a purse of $150,000....
- San Diego HandicapSan Diego HandicapThe San Diego Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late july/early August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. This Grade II race is open to horses, age three and up, willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on Polytrack synthetic dirt...
Grade 3 :
- Cougar II HandicapCougar II HandicapThe Cougar II Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in late July/early August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. A Grade III event open to horses age three and older, it is contested on Polytrack synthetic dirt over a distance of a mile and a half...
- Rancho Bernardo HandicapRancho Bernardo HandicapThe Rancho Bernardo Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. It is open to fillies and mares age three and up and raced at a distance of six and one-half furlongs on Polytrack. A Grade III event, it offers a purse of $150,000...
- Sorrento StakesSorrento StakesThe Sorrento Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. It is open only to two-year-old fillies and is run at a distance of six and one-half furlongs on Polytrack...
Ungraded stakes :
- Adoration Stakes
- Daisycutter Handicap
- Green Flash Handicap
- El Cajon StakesEl Cajon StakesThe El Cajon Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the first week of September at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California...
- Oceanside StakesOceanside StakesThe Oceanside Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in July at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. Raced on turf since 1975, it is restricted to three-year-old non-winners of a $50,000 sweepstakes. The race is contested at a distance of one mile...
- Osunitas StakesOsunitas StakesThe Osunitas Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during trhe third week of July at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. Open to fillies and mares age three and older, it is raced on turf over a distance of a mile and one sixteenth...
- Pirate's Bounty Stakes
- Solana Beach Handicap
- Torrey Pines StakesTorrey Pines StakesThe Torrey Pines Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early September at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. Offering a purse of $100,000, the ungraded stakes is for three-year-old fillies and is run over a mile on Polytrack synthetic dirt. The Torrey Pines Stakes was...
- Wickerr StakesWickerr StakesThe Wickerr Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually near the end of July at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. A non-graded stakes open to horses age three and older, it is contested on turf over a distance of one mile ....
- Windy Sands HandicapWindy Sands HandicapThe Windy Sands Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. An ungraded stakes, it is open to three-year-olds and up willing to race the 1 mile on the dirt...
Discontinued stakes :
- Cabrillo HandicapCabrillo HandicapThe Cabrillo Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California from 1966 through 1990. Open to horses age three and older, the ungraded event was raced on dirt...
- Junior Miss StakesJunior Miss StakesThe Junior Miss Stakes was an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old fillies held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California from 1952 through 1992...
Further reading
- Holtzclaw, Kenneth M. Del Mar Racetrack (2006) Arcadia PublishingArcadia PublishingArcadia Publishing is an American publisher of local history.-History:It was founded in Dover, New Hampshire in 1993 by United Kingdom-based Tempus Publishing, but became independent in 2004....
ISBN 978-0738531465 - Del Mar Media Guide