Del Mar, the host track for this year’s Breeders Cup World Championships, was built in 1937 and has a colorful and star-studded history. It was an extremely popular hangout for celebrities in its heyday and continues to be one of the country’s most exciting and glamourous racetracks to this day.

But late at night, after all of the fans have gone home, the revelry doesn’t stop. Some say that’s just when the party gets started at Del Mar … because that’s when the the ghosts come out to play.

In 1985, the Del Mar grandstand was declared unsafe and underwent a series of renovations. That grandstand was built by Bing Crosby and Pat O’Brien in 1937 when safety codes were much more lax. When it was finally demolished and rebuilt in 1991, many believe the job may have awoken some sort of spirit, or more than one, who have haunted the upper grandstand Turf Club ever since.

Racetrack employees have reported that after hours they’ve heard voices, seen strange apparitions moving through the hallways, and even found “cold spots” that you can literally feel the edges of as they hover in the halls.

In 2015, Del Mar allowed a paranormal investigation group called South Coast Paranormal to conduct an investigation of the Turf Club and the grandstand after hours. What they found was, to them, conclusive proof of the racetrack’s visitors from beyond the grave.

They heard voices in the bar, laughing and even ordering drinks. At one point, they overheard something say the word “martini.” They even caught on video a shadowy figure moving across the barroom.

Could it be that there among the ghosts of Del Mar is the late Charlie Whittingham? The legendary trainer was a staple at Del Mar over the years. So much so that the sports pub is named in his honor, and his photos and memorabilia from his storied career decorate the walls. Charlie was known to spend time in the Turf Club, and his favorite drink was said to be a martini. Not only that, Whittingham was very tall, just like the shadow captured moving through the bar on the investigator’s video.

Whatever it is that is haunting Del Mar, it clearly means no one any harm. While most of the time ghosts haunt the living to get even with those that caused their death, the ghosts of Del Mar are probably just horseplayers who died before they had a chance to get even at the windows. They’ll have plenty of chances next week, when the Breeders’ Cup rolls into town. Perhaps, if you’re in tune with your spiritual side, you might call on them for a tip or two.

If you’d like to see more from South Coast Paranormal’s investigation, check out their video: