Overview

The village of Del Mar, population 4700, twenty miles north of San Diego, has a colorful past. Originally designed as a resort town in the late 1800s, it became that and more in the 1930s. Popular with movie stars, such as Bing Crosby, Gary Cooper, and Pat O’Brien, the town became a well known vacation spot. In 1935, the San Diego County Fair found a home at the north end of the township. In 1937, the Del Mar Racetrack opened and Bing Crosby was present at the gates to greet the fans. Since then horse racing has been a passion in this tight knit community. Great horses, such as Citation and Seabiscuit, raced there and great jockeys, like Willie Shoemaker and Johnny Longdon, rode them. The racetrack still is a big draw with major races like the Breeder’s Cup.