The Del Mar Racetrack is a summer staple for all who visit Del Mar. It's like stepping into a time machine where Bing Crosby may be smoking a cigar and getting his shoes shined around any corner. In fact, the building that T's Cafe exists in now has been around even longer! (And it's very possible Bing himself came to visit, as it was the only restaurant on the undeveloped and dusty 101). T's is often a staple for people looking for a drink and a good meal before or after the track, as we are right across the street from the shuttle. We have a connected history and so, naturally, thought it would be fun to share some tidbits about the beginnings of the Del Mar Racetrack! Off to the races.
1937: The Del Mar Racetrack Opens
Bing Crosby himself was there to greet the first fan to walk through the racetrack gates on July 3rd, 1937. As a co-owner and co-creator with Pat O'Brien, he was a class act with a pipe in one hand, and his yacht cap tilted on his head as he said hello.
1938: The Seabiscuit-Ligaroti Match Is Held
For most Americans, the match between Seabiscuit and Ligaroti is well-established within their cultural fabric. Seabiscuit’s four-length victory over the Triple Crown-winning horse, Ligaroti, was ranked as the greatest single race by BloodHorse and was brought to national recognition in the best-selling book “Seabiscuit: An American Legend." The book was ultimately made into a movie starring Tobey McGuire. The race was put on by Bing as a promotion for the racetrack. The race took no bets and garnered a crowd of 22,000 people. Adding even more to the intrigue was the fact that Seabiscuit was owned by Charles Howard, dubbed the most successful Buick dealer of all time, while Ligaroti was owned by both Howard's son Lindsay and Bing Crosby. The father-against-son element, along with the celebrity and partial owner of the track Bing Crosby's horse in a race, added a distinct and fun tension. Seabiscuit won! Though I'm positive you knew that.
1940: Where the Turf Meets the Surf (and the Stars)
The track is quickly established as a meeting place and playground to the stars of the day. Famous people like Rita Hayworth, Ava Gardner, Edgar Bergen, June Haver, Don Ameche, Red Skelton, Dorothy Lamour, W.C Fields, Ann Miller, and the two co-owners, Bing Crosby and Pat O'Brien often made appearances.
1942-1945: The Dark Years
World War Two was in full swing during the years 1942-1944, and American involvement had ramped up. The racetrack goes "dark" and is used as a training ground for the Marines. Camp Pendleton, the nearby San Diego army base, had yet to be built. However, Franklin D. Roosevelt bought the 125,000-acre site in 1941 to construct one. The racetrack was also used as a manufacturing site for B-17 bomber parts.
In 1945, when the war ended, the Del Mar Racetrack was opened again. Then President Truman declared August 15th a national holiday and the turnout for the track was monstrous, at 20,324 (compared to the average of 7,500 people a day in 1941). The combined bets were placed at $958,476, a Del Mar Racetrack record.
1948: More Stars By the Sea
Summer ushers in a new crew of Hollywood stars to socialize at the track. Big-name stars such as Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Mickey Rooney, Betty Grable, George Jessel, and Jimmy Durante come to play. Jimmy Durante became such a familiar face at the track that eventually the turf was named in his honor, along with a nearby Del Mar Boulevard.
1949: William Lee Shoemaker Makes a Mark
A young unknown rider named William Lee Shoemaker set a record in Del Mar of 52 and became the first apprentice to claim the track's riding title. William Lee Shoemaker would go on to become one of the greatest jockeys of all time, securing eleven triple crown races. His relationship with the Del Mar Racetrack was only beginning that day in 1949.
And there you have it, the first 12 years of the grand Del Mar Racetrack. Its history is rich and we are so lucky to exist in a building that existed alongside the conception of such a marvelous tribute to Del Mar and Solana Beach.
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