The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club runs a racing season from late July through early September that turns this quiet beach town into one of the most glamorous sporting venues on the West Coast. The setting is genuinely spectacular — a seaside racetrack with the Pacific Ocean behind the finish line — and the racing is some of the best in California.
Race days have a festive atmosphere that goes beyond the horses. The crowd dresses up, the infield fills with umbrellas and picnics, and the whole thing feels more like a party than a sporting event. Reserved seats in the turf club are worth the premium for a full day. General admission is perfectly good for casual attendance. The track also runs a winter fair season with simulcast racing when the thoroughbreds are elsewhere.