And They're Off

That's what you'll hear nine times a day, from July 22-September 9, excluding Mondays and Tuesdays, at Del Mar Racetrack (http://www.dmtc.com/). San Diegans look forward to the Del Mar racing season, as it brings lots of visitors to its hotels and restaurants, and creates a great buzz in the area. Not to mention the fun we're all going to have at Del Mar.

Having been involved in horseracing for over 30 years, I know the ins and outs of Del Mar intimately. I spent many early mornings watching horses work, talking to jockeys, trainers and owners. It's a fascinating community of people from every walk of life. Morning visits to the backstretch taught me how hard everyone works to prepare their horses for racing. Everything changes in the afternoon, when winning is the focus. As a spectator of this wonderful sport, we often don't realize the hours of preparation that go into each and every horse in a race. It's wonderful to watch these magnificent athletes perform.

This year the racing week is only five days, Tuesday-Sunday. There are many reasons for this, but there's still plenty of time to go out and have fun. General admission is $6, and $10 gets you a clubhouse seat. Many people like to buy a general seat and go into the Veranda Room, a casual restaurant that overlooks the paddock, and have lunch and bet there. Ask for Ricardo, the maitre d'. He's a friend of mine and he'll give you a great seat where you can see all the paddock action, then watch the race on TV. The food is great. Concession stands have been upgraded both in quality and price, as you can now find Oggis pizza, Mrs. Fields coffee, Fish and chips, burgers and fries, and gourmet coffee drinks.

Purchasing a Diamond Club Pass is your best bet if you plan to go multiple times. You can get the form online, then turn it in at the booth at the track. With this pass seniors get in free on Thursdays, and general and clubhouse admission is always half off. Pretty good deal.

For the youngest attendees, there is Camp Del Mar. For $24, children ages 5-12 can attend a wonderful day camp at the track. Price includes lunch and a t-shirt. I know many kids who go regularly and love it. Friday night is concert night, and the performers can be found on the web site. Lots of young people attending these outdoor concerts.

Finally, the history of Del Mar is so interesting to read. Check out the web site for more details. Bing Crosby and a few friends opened the track in 1937, and it was an instant success. It was closed during WW11 from 1942-1944, but after that it became the playground for Hollywood stars. In 1993 the new Del Mar, the beautiful facility you see today, was opened. One of the the highlights of Del Mar history was in 1996, when 44,000 people (me included) watched a match race between Dare and Go and the great Cigar. It was a huge upset, and a race I will never forget.

So go out and have some fun. Betting and winning is great, but just being there and people watching is good too. See you at the races.