Southern California summers at the racetrack mean one thing: Del Mar. The beautiful seaside horse racing venue begins its 89^th season Friday, July 17, and make no mistake, Del Mar is a bucket-list track for fans of the sport.

The track itself has a rich history and an unmatched ambiance, plus the surrounding area in and around San Diego is ideal for those who want to make an extended trip of it. It’s less than a mile from the Pacific Ocean — hence the nickname “where the turf meet the surf” — and Del Mar is a true jewel of horse racing for a multitude of reasons.

Amazing Atmosphere: From the opening day hats contest and After Pony Party right through Closing Day Sept. 7, the summer meet at Del Mar does it right. Day in and day out, Del Mar just has an amazing vibe and energy about it, and track officials go above and beyond to make raceday a community experience.

POP-Up Sundays highlight local restaurants every Sunday during the meet. There is a Tacos & Tequila festival on July 18; an Uncorked Wine Festival on Aug. 1; a Turf & Surf Festival, featuring Maine lobster and Brandt Beef steak Aug. 8; and a pair of Family Fun Days on July 26 and Sept. 6. That’s just a sampling of what Del Mar has cooking this summer.

Check out this summer’s featured events and grab tickets in advance. Join the Diamond Club for free and take advantage of Free & Easy Thursdays with free admission, plus a free program and seat as well as great food and drink specials.

This seaside venue is simply a great place to explore and watch the races. Visit the paddock and see the horses being saddled or, better yet, visit the Veranda Café and look down on the paddock while you grab a bite. Pick a winner while you sip a Del Margarita and do some people watching between races. Breath in the ocean air on a perfect summer afternoon at the racetrack.

Where the Stars Come Out: Del Mar was founded by singer-actor Bing Crosby and businessman-stockbroker William Quigley with a grandiose vision of creating a racetrack that would become home to elite summer racing in California. They succeeded. Del Mar officially opened for business in 1937 and Hollywood has always been intertwined in the racetrack’s roots.

Crosby welcomes fans to Del Mar at the gate. (Courtesy of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club)

Bing Crosby welcomed guests at the Del Mar main gate July 3, 1937, for opening day. Early Hollywood visitors included Barbara Stanwyck, Bette Davis, Dorothy Lamour, W. C. Fields, Paulette Goddard, Edgar Bergen, Don Ameche, Red Skelton, Pat O’Brien, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Betty Grable, Mickey Rooney, and Jimmy Durante. Subsequent decades have seen Del Mar host a long list of actors, musicians, and influencers. Of course, the starpower also extends to the racetrack.

From Seabiscuit to Flightline, there have been so many racing standouts to grace the track at Del Mar such as the great California-bred Native Diver as well as Ancient Title, Landaluce, Althea, Princess Rooney, Best Pal, Lava Man, Zenyatta, Game On Dude, American Pharoah, Beholder, and California Chrome … and that’s just scratching the surface.

Chris McCarron’s 134 stakes wins is a Del Mar record and he leads a “who’s who” of elite riders that called Del Mar home like John Longden, Bill Shoemaker, Bill Hartack, Laffit Pincay Jr., Eddie Delahoussaye, Gary Stevens, Kent Desormeaux, Mike Smith, and Alex Solis. Bob Baffert is the all-time leader by stakes winners at Del Mar, which has stabled its share of legendary trainers like Charlie Whittingham, Ron McAnally, D. Wayne Lukas, Bobby Frankel, Richard Mandella, Jerry Hollendorfer, John Shirreffs, and many others.

For the 2026 summer meet, expect to see the best West Coast-based racehorse, trainers, and jockeys, the sport’s most influential owners, and plenty of recognizable faces.

A Betting Bonanza: The presence of the biggest West Coast horsemen plus a bevy of shippers targeting the rich purses and prestige of the Del Mar meet leads to big fields and great betting. The turf racing at Del Mar is truly top notch with deep fields and a turf course that typically plays fair to all running styles and post positions.

Del Mar handicappers have a full menu of betting options for the summer meet — win-place-show wagering, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, etc. — but several low-takeout, player-friendly options should be especially popular this season.

Del Mar will offer a daily Early Pick 5 with a 14% takeout and a 50-cent minimum. A pair of low takeout (15%) Pick 3 options on the summer meet menu also figure to be favorites among bettors, including one especially for those of us who love to bet the grass races at the seaside track: the $3 Turf Pick 3 is made up of three grass races (designated daily) with a $3 minimum. Likewise, Del Mar offers a $3 Late Pick 3 on the final three races of the day with the same 15% takeout and $3 minimum.

Finally, the $5 late Daily Double on the final two races also is a great betting option with a 15% takeout and a shot to close out every card on a high note.

Fligtline dominating the 2022 Pacific Classic (Eclipse Sportswire)

Indelible Del Mar Moments:  Speaking of high notes, for as much as a day at Del Mar is an experience — and it is — the magic extends to the racetrack. As you might expect when the best of the best come together at one of the country’s finest venues, the competition is elite and has been from the outset at Del Mar.

Del Mar hosted the Seabiscuit vs. Ligaroti match race in 1938, a winner-take-all match race that was the very first nationally broadcasted Thoroughbred race via NBC Radio. Other unforgettable moments include John Longden passing Sir Gordon Richards to become the world’s winningest jockey in 1956, Dare and Go’s shocking upset of Cigar in the 1996 Pacific Classic, Candy Ride’s record-setting romp in the 2003 Pacific Classic, and Victor Espinoza’s incredible seven-win day in 2006.

Of course, who could forget Flightline’s 2022 tour de force in the Pacific Classic? His 19 ¼-length romp showed he was capable of carrying his incredible speed a route of ground and proved to be a marquee victory in his Horse of the Year campaign.

Fun in the Sun: The racetrack is, of course, the focal point of any visit to Del Mar for a racing fan, but there is so much to do in the area when you visit the San Diego area. It’s just a couple of miles from the racetrack to the Del Mar’s family- and dog-friendly beaches. There are many great restaurants in the area and, if live music is your jam, the Belly Up Tavern in nearby Solano Beach is a 5-10 minute drive that has been a hotspot for more than 50 years.

Pay homage to Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn (Mike Curry photo)

Balboa Park in San Diego is ideal for a day trip with up to 18 different museums (depending on the time of year), including the San Diego Museum of Art and the San Diego Natural History Museum as well as a variety of other fun options like the Comic-Con Museum, the San Diego Air and Space Museum, and the San Diego Automotive Museum. Grab a bite to eat at The Prado at Balboa Park and explore the vast grounds in between stops.

Petco Park in San Diego is less than 30 miles from Del Mar, so check out the San Diego Padres schedule if you want to take in a Major League Baseball game. Take a photo with the Tony Gwynn statue if you visit and pay homage to a true maestro with the bat.

Encinitas is less than 15 minutes north from Del Mar and has some world-class beaches like Moonlight State Beach and a cozy local surfer’s spot called Swami’s. The adjacent Self-Realization Fellowship Meditation Gardens offers a serene escape to relax and a beautiful view from above of Swami’s to watch the surfers in action. Encinitas also is home to the amazing San Diego Botanical Garden, a must-visit if you make the short drive up from Del Mar.

La Jolla Cove is known for its sunning Sea Lions along the coastal walkway, while Torrey Pines is renowned for its impeccable and challenging golf course as well as the Torrey Pines State Beach, a magical beach in the shadow of sandstone cliffs.

There is so much to do within 30 miles of Del Mar, so take a couple of extra days and map out a gameplan in advance. You’ll be glad you did!