Bing Crosby, Desi Arnaz And The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
In the late 1930's, famous movie star and singer Bing Crosby set out to follow his dream of building a horse track at Del Mar in the cool Pacific Ocean breezes. Bing wanted a club where he and his friends could bet the horses all day and party all night. Thus was the Del Mar Horse Track born and built.
When the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and race track opened, Bing himself took tickets at the gate and welcomed race fans to what was to become one of the most famous race tracks in the United States, visited by race fans, horse owners and sports enthusiasts from all over the world.
A milestone in the track's history came during the summer of 1938 when the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club hosted a $25,000 match-up between Charles Howard's Seabiscuit and the Binglin Stable's Ligaroti. Only Major League Baseball superseded horse racing in American sports during this era. The upcoming match was the talk of the country. The race was the first time a thoroughbred horse race was ever broadcast nationally by NBC radio. The rest is history: Seabiscuit won and the Del Mar Race Track was famous - once and for all joining other storied race tracks in the annals of sports history as one of the most famous race tracks in the country.
In the years between 1938 and 1941, Del Mar entertained recording stars and Hollywood luminaries the likes of Douglas Fairbanks, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Dorothy Lamour, Ava Gardner and Don Ameche. Joe Frisco, a comedian of the day would crack his Del Mar racetrack one-liners, most of which played on his reputation as an inveterate loser: "I went to the racetrack today but it was closed, so I just shoved the money under the door."
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Del Mar was closed for the duration of the war. The fairgrounds were initially used as a U.S. Marine training facility, then altered again and used to produce parts for the B-17 bombers that helped win the war. When the war ended, President Truman declared August 15, 1945 a national day of celebration. More than 20,300 horse racing fans showed up at the Del Mar track and bet an enormous (in those days) one million dollars.
After the war, the Santa Fe Railroad offered a "racetrack special" to bring race fans from Los Angeles directly to Del Mar. The special program was a success, bringing streams of spectators, vacationers, race fans and horses to Del Mar. Waiting for and meeting the train at the train station became a tradition for local residents and vacationers alike. The 2009 season, 72 years after Bing took tickets on the first opening day, the race season begins on July 22, extending through September 9.
When the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and race track opened, Bing himself took tickets at the gate and welcomed race fans to what was to become one of the most famous race tracks in the United States, visited by race fans, horse owners and sports enthusiasts from all over the world.
A milestone in the track's history came during the summer of 1938 when the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club hosted a $25,000 match-up between Charles Howard's Seabiscuit and the Binglin Stable's Ligaroti. Only Major League Baseball superseded horse racing in American sports during this era. The upcoming match was the talk of the country. The race was the first time a thoroughbred horse race was ever broadcast nationally by NBC radio. The rest is history: Seabiscuit won and the Del Mar Race Track was famous - once and for all joining other storied race tracks in the annals of sports history as one of the most famous race tracks in the country.
In the years between 1938 and 1941, Del Mar entertained recording stars and Hollywood luminaries the likes of Douglas Fairbanks, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Dorothy Lamour, Ava Gardner and Don Ameche. Joe Frisco, a comedian of the day would crack his Del Mar racetrack one-liners, most of which played on his reputation as an inveterate loser: "I went to the racetrack today but it was closed, so I just shoved the money under the door."
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Del Mar was closed for the duration of the war. The fairgrounds were initially used as a U.S. Marine training facility, then altered again and used to produce parts for the B-17 bombers that helped win the war. When the war ended, President Truman declared August 15, 1945 a national day of celebration. More than 20,300 horse racing fans showed up at the Del Mar track and bet an enormous (in those days) one million dollars.
After the war, the Santa Fe Railroad offered a "racetrack special" to bring race fans from Los Angeles directly to Del Mar. The special program was a success, bringing streams of spectators, vacationers, race fans and horses to Del Mar. Waiting for and meeting the train at the train station became a tradition for local residents and vacationers alike. The 2009 season, 72 years after Bing took tickets on the first opening day, the race season begins on July 22, extending through September 9.
About the Author:
Terry Hunefeld retired in 2007 from his job as a CEO follow his bliss of exploring the Pacific Ocean counting seabirds. Terry and his wife Ann Dunham own the Inn At Moonlight Beach Bed and Breakfast in the San Diego area. More about the Del Mar Horse Races and Del Mar Horse Racing.
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