The Del Mar Fairgrounds is an event venue in

Del Mar, California Del Mar (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Of the Sea") is a beach city in San Diego County, California, located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Established in 1885 as a seaside resort, the city incorporated in 1959. The population was 3,954 ...

. It hosts the annual

San Diego County Fair The San Diego County Fair is an annual fair held in Del Mar, California. It is held every summer at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Established in 1880, the fair is the longest running event in San Diego County, California, San Diego County. History The ...

. The venue sits on a property along the Pacific Ocean coastline. It includes the Del Mar Racetrack, built in 1936 by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, with founding member

Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, comedian, entertainer and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwi ...

providing leadership. The Del Mar Fairgrounds and Del Mar Thoroughbred Club share one address for the complex. The site is owned by the State of California and is managed by the 22nd District Agricultural Association, a state agency that hosts more than 300 annual events. Its staff organizes major annual events and runs Surfside Race Place, the year-round satellite horse racing facility. The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club leases the facilities for their live meets each year.

History

After opening of the

Santa Anita Park Santa Anita Park is a Thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent horse racing events in the United States during early fall, winter and in spring. The track is home to numerous prestigious race ...

racetrack in

Arcadia, California Arcadia is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, located about northeast of downtown Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley and at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. It contains a series of adjacent parks consisting of t ...

, on Christmas Day 1934, William A. Quigley, a resident of

La Jolla La Jolla ( , ) is a hilly, seaside neighborhood in San Diego, California, occupying of curving coastline along the Pacific Ocean. The population reported in the 2010 census was 46,781. The climate is mild, with an average daily temperature o ...

, formed the idea of starting a racetrack on the Del Mar Fairgrounds. He pitched this to Bing Crosby, and they founded the Del Mar Turf Club on May 6, 1936. Quigley was General Manager of the racetrack until his death at the age of 49 in 1942.Obituary for William Quigley in the ''Daily News from New York'', New York, of March 25, 1942 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 race between Charles S. Howard's

Seabiscuit Seabiscuit (May 23, 1933 – May 17, 1947) was a champion thoroughbred racehorse in the United States who became the top money-winning racehorse up to the 1940s. He beat the 1937 Triple Crown winner, War Admiral, by four lengths in a two-hors ...

and the Binglin Stable's colt, Ligaroti. In an era when horse racing ranked second in popularity with Americans to

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

, the match race was the first nationwide broadcast of a thoroughbred race by NBC radio. In the race, Seabiscuit was ridden by jockey

George Woolf George Monroe Woolf (May 31, 1910 – January 4, 1946), nicknamed "The Iceman", was a Canadian thoroughbred race horse jockey. An annual jockey's award given by the United States Jockeys' Guild is named in his honor. He became known for riding t ...

and Ligaroti by Noel Richardson. In front of a record crowd that helped make Del Mar race track a success, Seabiscuit won by a nose. By 1940, Del Mar became a summer playground for many

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

stars. Between 1942 and 1944, the facility was closed due to the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. Initially, the grounds were used for training by the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...

, then as a manufacturing site for parts to B-17 bombers. The first Bing Crosby Stakes was held at Del Mar in 1946 and that same year the

Santa Fe Railroad The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often referred to as the Santa Fe or AT&SF, was one of the largest Class 1 railroads in the United States between 1859 and 1996. The Santa Fe was a pioneer in intermodal freight transport; at variou ...

began offering a racetrack special bringing spectators, bettors, and horses to Del Mar from

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of 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, many of which were won by the famous jockey Bill Shoemaker. Bill Shoemaker in a race at Del Mar

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Del Mar was one of the premier racetracks in the country. The track attempted to run a fall meet in the 1960s but later canceled it after lackluster results. This allowed for the creation of the Oak Tree Racing Association at the Santa Anita race track. In the 1980s, the infield was opened to spectators and in 1984 Trevor Denman became the voice of Del Mar and 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 In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, H ...

Pacific Classic Stakes. The first Classic was won by a top three-year-old named Best Pal. Beginning in 2000, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's marketing team realized they had to attract a more youthful audience as well as a female audience. They focused Del Mar as a fashionable destination, using social media and other avenues to market the racetrack. They adopted the slogan "Cool as Ever" and created a new brand around "Del Mar Scene". They also hired jockey and model Chantal Sutherland to be the new face of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Del Mar has changed in demographics and audience attendance. The marketing campaign of the Del Mar Racetrack has been used as a Stanford business study to see if their strategy could be done at other racetracks. One of the largest draws each year for the Del Mar Racetrack has become Opening Day with its hats contest and parties. In March 2013, there was a vote to expand the turf portion of the racetrack. Construction began later in the year, and the work was completed in time for the 2014 racing season. The work included widening the course to 80 feet and softening the curve coming out of the diagonal chute, thus allowing more horses to compete in turf races. The following year, Del Mar renovated the main track, installing El Segundo Sand. Starting in 2014, Del Mar began to run more racing cards due to the closure of the

Hollywood Park Racetrack Hollywood Park was a thoroughbred horse racing, race course located in Inglewood, California, about 3 miles (5 km) from Los Angeles International Airport and adjacent to The Forum (Inglewood, California), the Forum indoor arena. In 1994, t ...

. A fall meet was added, featuring the

Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes The Hollywood Turf Cup is a Graded stakes race, Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-years-old or older over a distance of one and one-half miles (12 furlongs) on the Grass, turf track scheduled annually in late November at Del Mar R ...

Hollywood Derby The Hollywood Derby is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late November/early December. Now held at Del Mar racetrack in San Diego, California, until 2014 it was held at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, Californi ...

, and

Matriarch Stakes :'' This article is about an American horse race. For the Australian horse race, see Matriarch Stakes (Australia).'' The Matriarch Stakes is a Graded stakes race, Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are of age thre ...

. Del Mar hosted the

Breeders' Cup The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Graded stakes race, Grade I Thoroughbred racing, Thoroughbred horse races, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was ...

for the first time in November 2017 and for a second time in November 2021. The track is scheduled to host the Breeders' Cup again in 2024 and 2025. The meet in 2020 was held behind closed doors due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. Larry Collmus temporarily replaced Denman as Voice of Del Mar after 36 years for the summer meet. Denman did return for the fall meet in November, and resumed calling the Del Mar races in July 2021. Similar to the meet in 2020, around the COVID pandemic period, it was decided that the KAABOO festival would also be relocated from the Padres to their original place in the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Mark Terry with FLAAC said “it made sense to bring AABOOback to its inaugural home where it had performed so well.” “Its official: KAABOO music festival returning to Del Mar Fairgrounds in September 2024.” from San Diego Union Tribune also states that the “Board members for the 22nd District Agricultural Association, which runs the fairgrounds, approved the deal with Festival Licensing and Acquisition Corp.” KAABOO music festivals change of location was signed Tuesday and will take action in September 2024.

Events

There are over 300 events that take place on the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Some of the most well known include: *

, previously known as Del Mar Fair * Del Mar National Horse Show * Scream Zone * Holiday of Lights

Racing

The track races from July to September as well as a second meet in November through early December as of 2014. The following graded events were held at Del Mar in 2022. Grade 1 : * Bing Crosby Stakes * Clement L. Hirsch Stakes *

Del Mar Debutante Stakes The Del Mar Debutante Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old fillies run each year in early September at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. A Grade I event since 1999, the Debutante is raced on dirt at a distance ...

* Del Mar Futurity *

Del Mar Oaks The 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 (9 furlongs) on the tur ...

* Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 2 : * Del Mar Mile Handicap * Del Mar Derby * Del Mar Handicap * Eddie Read Stakes *

* John C. Mabee Stakes * Pat O'Brien Stakes * San Clemente Stakes * San Diego Handicap * Seabiscuit Handicap * Sorrento Stakes * Yellow Ribbon Handicap Grade 3 : *

Best Pal Stakes The Best Pal Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds over a distance of six furlongs on the dirt track scheduled annually in August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event currently carries a purse ...

* Bob Hope Stakes * Cecil B. DeMille Stakes * Cougar II Stakes * Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes * Green Flash Handicap * Jimmy Durante Stakes * Native Diver Stakes * Rancho Bernardo Handicap * Red Carpet Stakes * Torrey Pines Stakes Ungraded stakes: * Adoration Stakes * Betty Grable Stakes * Cary Grant Stakes * Daisycutter Handicap * Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes * Desi Arnaz Stakes *

La Jolla Handicap The La Jolla Handicap is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the turf scheduled annually in August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event currently carri ...

* Shared Belief Stakes (formerly the El Cajon) * Oceanside Stakes * Osunitas Stakes * Pirate's Bounty Stakes * Solana Beach Handicap * Tranquility Lake Stakes * Wickerr Stakes * Windy Sands Handicap Discontinued stakes : * Cabrillo Handicap * Junior Miss Stakes

Other events

* Opening Day at Del Mar with their famous hat contest * Family Fun Day every Saturday and Sunday where the infield offers free entertainment for kids. *Camp Del Mar: A Daycare center for the kids while the parents are spending the day at the track (discontinued in 2019). * Giveaway Days: The items vary each year what is being given away

Arena

Del Mar Arena is a 3,500-seat

arena An arena is a large enclosed venue, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, Music, musical performances or Sport, sporting events. It comprises a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for specta ...

in the fairgrounds complex; and it is used for sporting events,

concerts A concert, often known informally as a gig or show, is a live performance of music in front of an audience. The performance may be carried by a single musician, in which case it is sometimes called a recital, or by a musical ensemble such as an ...

, and other special events. It was built in 1991. In 2009, it was remodeled and a roof was added. It was home of the San Diego Sockers indoor soccer team from 2009 to 2012. The Del Mar National Horse Show is hosted here.

Exhibit facilities

Del Mar Fairgrounds features six exhibit halls totalling of space. The largest is Pat O'Brien Hall with of space, a ceiling height of , and seating up to 6,800. Others include the Exhibit Hall seating up to 5,500; Bing Crosby Hall with of space and seating up to 3,500; the Wyland Center with of space and seating up to 3,000; the Activity Center seating up to 2,200; and Mission Tower with of space and seating up to 1,200.

Del Mar Golf Center

The Del Mar Fairgrounds includes the Del Mar Golf Center The Golf Center includes two 18 hole miniature golf courses, a driving range, the Golf Mart golf store, and offers private lessons, clinics, and classes. During peak demand periods, e.g. during the Live Races and the San Diego Fair, the driving range is used for additional parking.

Racetrack

The

horse racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

track is exactly long, and races are run

counter-clockwise Two-dimensional rotation can occur in two possible directions or senses of rotation. Clockwise motion (abbreviated CW) proceeds in the same direction as a clock's hands relative to the observer: from the top to the right, then down and then to ...

. With a capacity of 44,000, it is the second largest horse-racing venue in the western United States, after the nearby

. It is known for the slogans: "Where The Turf Meets The Surf" as well as "Cool as Ever." It was built by a partnership including

, actors Pat O'Brien,

Gary Cooper Gary Cooper (born Frank James Cooper; May 7, 1901May 13, 1961) was an American actor known for his strong, silent screen persona and understated acting style. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice and had a further three nominations, ...

, Joe E. Brown,

Charles S. Howard Charles Stewart Howard (February 28, 1877 – June 6, 1950) was an American businessman. He made his fortune as an automobile dealer and became a prominent thoroughbred racehorse owner. Biography Howard was dubbed one of the most successful Bui ...

and Oliver Hardy. A 100-mile AAA championship Indianapolis-type car race was held at Del Mar in November 1949, but the death of popular local driver Rex Mays in that event caused "big car" racing to disappear from Southern California circuits for 18 years. (In addition, the horse racing community was deeply resentful of oil-dripping cars being run on the horse-oriented dirt racing surface.) There was a temporary auto-racing circuit held in the race track parking lot during the mid-1960s and between 1987 and 1992. The latter hosted an IMSA Camel GT race. Both circuits were long with layouts that were different from each other. The Del Mar Racetrack runs live racing from July through early September and, since 2014, a second live meet is run in November. A satellite wagering facility operates during the other months of the year. Larry Collmus temporarily replaced Trevor Denman in 2020 after 36 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic; Denman returned to announcing at the Del Mar summer meet in July 2021 while Collmus continues to call the fall meet.

Race lap records

Physical attributes

The track has a one-mile oval with chutes for 7/8 and -mile races and a seven-eighths mile oval with a diagonal straightaway chute for 1 1/16 and 1 1/8 mile races on the

turf Sod is the upper layer of turf that is harvested for transplanting. Turf consists of a variable thickness of a soil medium that supports a community of turfgrasses. In British and Australian English, sod is more commonly known as ''turf'', ...

course. The turf is a mixture of Common Bermuda and Hybrid Bermuda (GN-1). The track hosts live racing for two seasons each year at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and can stable more than two thousand horses. Del Mar is known for its tan stucco grandstand located in close proximity to the

Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five Borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean, or, depending on the definition, to Antarctica in the south, and is ...

. In early 2007, Del Mar became the second track in Southern California to install a synthetic surface and the first to install a Polytrack brand surface for a price of approximately $9 million. However, in February 2014 Del Mar president Joe Harper announced his intention to return to a dirt surface for the 2015 racing season. Harper cited a lack of synthetic surfaces in Southern California as the reason for the switch. At the time, both

and Hollywood Park had both experimented with a synthetic surface but then reverted to dirt. DMTC panorama - 1200px

TV personalities

* Ernie Myers *Jon Lies (2007–present) *Bob Ike (?–present) *Mike Willman (?-2006 full-time, 2007–2009 part-time)

Premium clubs

The Turf Club The Turf Club is the Premium Club of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. It is necessary to be a member, or a guest of a member, to visit the Turf Club. A buttoned up shirt and jacket are required attire for men. The Saddle Club The Saddle Club is the Premium Club of Surfside Race Place. Anybody may visit for a daily fee. There is no required dress code. The two clubs have no relation to one another. Membership in one does not grant access to the other.

Satellite wagering

Surfside Race Place is located on the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The off-track betting facility is open during the off-season of the Del Mar Racetrack live meets. It has been used for handicapping contests as well as handicapping seminars. The 2014 Handicapper of the year Jose Arias qualified and won here. His check at the end was $750,000. Patrons of the Surfside Race Place sports bar can view, and bet on, horse races televised via satellite from around the country, such as Aqueduct,

Arlington Park Arlington Park (formerly known as Arlington International Racecourse) is a former horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Once called the ''Arlington Park Jockey Club'', it was located adjacent to the Illinois Rou ...

Belmont Park Belmont Park is a thoroughbred racing, thoroughbred horse racetrack in Elmont, New York, just east of New York City limits best known for hosting the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the American Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United Stat ...

, Calder, Cal Expo Harness,

Churchill Downs Churchill Downs is a horse racing complex in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States that hosts the annual Kentucky Derby. It opened in 1875 and was named for Samuel Churchill, whose family was prominent in Kentucky for many years. The first ...

, Delaware Park, Ellis Park, Fair Grounds,

Golden Gate Fields Golden Gate Fields was an American horse racing race track, track straddling both Albany, California and Berkeley, California along the shoreline of San Francisco Bay adjacent to the Eastshore Freeway in the San Francisco Bay Area. With the closi ...

Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park is a Thoroughbred racing, Thoroughbred horse race track, casino and outdoor entertainment and shopping destination in Hallandale Beach, Florida, Hallandale Beach, Florida, United States. It is among the most important venues for ...

, Hastings, Hawthorne, Kentucky Downs, Laurel Park, Los Alamitos, Meadowlands,

Monmouth Park Monmouth Park Racetrack is an American race track for thoroughbred horse racing in Oceanport, New Jersey, Oceanport, New Jersey, United States. It is owned by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and is operated under a five-year lease ...

Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, formerly Oaklawn Park Race Track, is an American thoroughbred racetrack and casino in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is the home to "The Racing Festival of the South", a four-day series of races that concludes with the ...

Pimlico Pimlico () is a district in Central London, in the City of Westminster, built as a southern extension to neighbouring Belgravia. It is known for its garden squares and distinctive Regency architecture. Pimlico is demarcated to the north by Lon ...

, Remington,

, Saratoga, Sunland Park, Turfway Park, Victoria Race Tracks, and Woodbine; high-stakes races such as the Dubai World Cup; and Grade 1 races such as the

Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby () is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes Thoroughbred racing, race run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is run by three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of . Colt (horse), Colts and geldin ...

Preakness Stakes The Preakness Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held annually on Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland (except in 2026 when it will move to Laurel Park (race track), Laurel Park dur ...

, and

Belmont Stakes The Belmont Stakes is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes Thoroughbred racing, race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is run over the worldwide classic distance of . Colt (horseracing), Colt ...

which constitute the Triple Crown. Surfside Race Place currently offers bingo on Sundays.

Del Mar Horsepark

Del Mar Horsepark is a equestrian facility located east of the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The park offers: *Two grass jumping stadiums with seating for 1,320 *Covered and lighted arena *Four show rings *400 permanent show stalls *Dressage ring *Four training rings During the San Diego Fair the Del Mar Horsepark offers free parking for the fairgrounds patrons with free shuttle service to the fairgrounds.

Del Mar Municipal Airport

In the 1920s, the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

built the ''San Dieguito Air Field '' on the wetlands between the

San Dieguito River The San Dieguito River is a major river in Southern California, United States. Its headwaters rise on the southern slope of the Volcan Mountains in San Diego County, and the river flows generally southwest for ,U.S. Geological Survey. National ...

, the Del Mar Racetrack, and the area where

Interstate 5 Interstate 5 (I-5) is the main north–south Interstate Highway System, Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific coast of the contiguous U.S. from Mexico to Canada. It travels thro ...

now runs. In 1938, the airfield was turned over to civilian control and became the Del Mar Municipal Airport. It served the patrons at the new Del Mar Fairgrounds. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, the navy took control of the airfield, establishing U.S. Naval Air Facility Del Mar, a base for

blimp A non-rigid airship, commonly called a blimp (Help:IPA/English, /blɪmp/), is an airship (dirigible) without an internal structural framework or a keel. Unlike semi-rigid airship, semi-rigid and rigid airships (e.g. Zeppelins), blimps rely on th ...

s to patrol the West Coast. After the war, the field was decommissioned and returned to the state of

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. In 1959, the state closed the airport and the land was used for the construction of Interstate 5.