Del Mar

Address:Via De La Valle & Jimmy Durante Blvd.
Del Mar, California

Who says great horse racing in the United States is only in Kentucky and New York? Nestled next to the Pacific Ocean, in the city of Del Mar, is Del Mar Racetrack, one of the oldest and most famous racetracks in the country, not just on the west coast. Located 20 miles north of San Diego, the track "Where the Surf Meets the Turf" has been around for more than 70 years, and has played host to many famous races and the celebrities who come here to watch them. Actor and entertainer Bing Crosby was part of the group that built the track, which opened in 1937. In 1938, famed horse Seabiscuit won a $25,000 match race here against Ligaroti.

Del Mar is only open during the summer time, from mid July to early September, but it hosts seven Grade I (highest level) thoroughbred stakes races. The most prestigious of these is August's Pacific Classic Stakes, featuring a $1 million purse. But with both a one mile long dirt track and seven furlongs (or 7/8 of a mile), turf track, Del Mar is constantly packed, from the exciting opening day until the track closes.

Despite the fact that the track is old, it still has many modern features. The entire grandstand was redone in the early 1990s, and in 2007 the dirt was changed to a synthetic surface called Polytrack. There are also a series of summer concerts during the season at the track.

With its proximity to Los Angeles, which is only about 2 hours away, Del Mar is one of the favorite racetracks for Hollywood celebrities. Nor surprising really when you take into account the track's historical connection with Crosby and other Hollywood stars.