A Day at the Races in Del Mar

Why go: Sun, surf, and ocean breezes meet big hats, mint juleps, and fast horses.

Pick a pony: Del Mar Racetrack’s 71st season starts July 21 and ends September 8 (admission from $6; 858/755-1141). 

Dress code: Wear your widest-brimmed hat. And BYOB (binoculars).

Racing cred: Seabiscuit raced here in 1938.

Theme song: Bing Crosby’s Del Mar–inspired “Where the Turf Meets the Surf” plays before the sixth post (track lingo for the scheduled race start).

First post: Usually 2 p.m., but the doors open about  2½ hours earlier.

Number of races per day: 8 to 10

Ditch your wheels: Take Amtrak (808/872-7245). Free shuttles run from the nearby Solana Beach station to the track.

A whiff of the good old days: The ornate hallways are lined with vintage black-and-white photos and old-school vending machines with bags of warm nuts.

For early birds: At Day­-break at Del Mar (7:30–9:30; free), a former jockey gives the behind-the-scenes scoop while horses start their workouts. Stay for a buffet breakfast ($9.95) in the Clubhouse Terrace Restaurant.

Pick a favorite

Before the first post, check out the manicured Paddock, where horses are saddled and paraded by their jockeys before each race. Want to spot a winner? Superstitious sorts say a horse is raring to go if its ears are pinned back.

Place a bet

Grab a Daily Racing Form ($5) at the gate for info on the day’s races and horses (we’re partial to names like Watch Me Go Byebye and Jazz Hands). Improve your odds by nabbing an unofficial handicap form with expert picks (we got Bob’s Card outside the gate for $5). Or drop in on the “Newcomers’ Seminar” (free with admission) an hour before the first race. You have until the bugler plays “Call to the Post” to choose a winner.

Stake out a spot

$6 will get you standing room, and another $8 to $15 will get you a seat. But we recommend booking a track-side table at the Stretch Run Grill (from $100 for a four-top, plus admission). The food ($) is nothing to write home about, but it’s worth the all-day perch with great views. No matter where you are, you’ll see

the Winners’ Circle, where the champs are lavished with garlands.

But wait—there’s more

Stick around for concerts (free with admission) on Fridays and some Saturdays a half-hour after the last winner is declared. Friday’s shows take place on the new Seaside Terrace stage; Saturday’s are on the infield. We’re coming back for the B52s (Aug 6). 

Make it a weekend

About a mile from the track, Les Artistes Inn is a 1940s roadside motel turned whimsical Spanish-style retreat with graceful archways, flower-filled walkways, fireside courtyards, and colorful mosaics. Each of the 12 artist-inspired rooms is different, but we like the Rivera and the O’Keeffe. From $155; two-night weekend minimum; 858/755-4646.