Set in the laid-back, “Cool as Ever” seaside city of Del Mar, California, it is the second-largest racing venue in the western United States, after Santa Anita Park. It was built in 1937 by an all-star partnership that included Bing Crosby, Pat O'Brien, Gary Cooper, among other famous celebrities. Opening day had Bing Crosby personally greeting fans.

In 1938, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club hosted a $25,000 winner-take-all match between Seabiscuit and Ligaroti. Despite horseracing’s popularity not being so mainstream, the match drew a record 20,000 spectator crowd which not only got to see Seabiscuit win by a nose but also helped make the venue a success. Years later, in 1991, Del Mar ran the one million Grade I Pacific Classic Stakes, its richest race to date.

Closed down for part of WWII to manufacture B-17 bomber parts, it later held the first Bing Crosby Stakes. Joining forces with the Santa Fe Railroad, this “When Turf meets Surf” track went on to become the “Saratoga of the west for summer racing.”

In 2000, the Club underwent a major makeover in marketing strategy, trying to cater to a more fashionable scene and draw not only women but a more youthful audience as well. Their strategy worked so well, Stanford turned it into a business study to see if it could be replicated in other venues. As a result, one of the events that constitute one of their largest draws is Opening Day, sporting a hats contest and parties galore. The racetrack now has a multitude of events for entertainment, not just horse racing.

BETMANIA players can find Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Betting Odds on competing horses, as well as the typical horse bet types such as Win/Place/Show, Exactas, Trifectas, Superfectas and many more. Visit our Racebook to learn more about the available bet options and other popular race tracks.

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Del Mar Racetrack Facts:

  • Racecourse type: turf, dirt
  • Location: Del Mar, California
  • Purse: over 500,000.
  • Venue capacity: 44,000 spectators.
  • Track length: (single lap) 1 mile oval, for both main track and turf.
  • Important track records: (1938) Famous Seabiscuit-Ligaroti match won by a nose by Seabiscuit.