Dilemma: Del Mar or Wrigley Field

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by Inner Dirt

As someone who went to DelMar probably hundreds of times from 1980-2000. I would suggest going there. It is a small venue so best to avoid big events.
I was there when Cigar lost his bid to win 17 straight in the Pacific Classic
over 40,000 there made the place like Churchill Downs on Derby day.


If you like seafood this is a great place to eat after the races, it is right at the entrance to the track:


https://www.thefishmarket.com/locati...-solana-beach/


For a double header 40 miles south the old Agua Caliente thoroughbred track still has a sportsbook and night time dog races. You didn't when I went but you need a passport to go into Mexico. It is best to just park and walk across and take a cab. It used to cost $5 to get to the track, probably $10 now. Driving in Tijuana is not for the faint of heart and having USA plates makes you a mark for the corrupt cops, also USA car insurance is not valid in Mexico.

The three DENSEST crowds I have ever seen at a California racetrack were:

1. Seattle Slew at Hollywood Park in 1977. You couldn't even move. Had there been a fire we'd all have died.

2. Lord At War's Santa Anita Handicap in 1985. Santa Anita's a huge facility, but when you get 85,000 there, you are pushing the limits.

3. Cigar at Del Mar. They had people parking in the bed of the San Dieguito River 3 1/2 miles away from the track.

[Inner Dirt]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

The three DENSEST crowds I have ever seen at a California racetrack were:

1. Seattle Slew at Hollywood Park in 1977. You couldn't even move. Had there been a fire we'd all have died.

2. Lord At War's Santa Anita Handicap in 1985. Santa Anita's a huge facility, but when you get 85,000 there, you are pushing the limits.

3. Cigar at Del Mar. They had people parking in the bed of the San Dieguito River 3 1/2 miles away from the track.

Is that in order? If so I could not imagine a place being more crowded than Cigar day at Del Mar.

[iwearpurple]

I was at the Santa Anita that day in 1985 and also at Del Mar when Cigar got beat. Both were wall to wall people as I remember.

I went early in the day to Santa Anita. My wife was going to come later with her aunt. When they got there, there was no place to park so they went home. This was before the day of cell phones and I had no idea at the time why she didn't meet up with me. When we didn't meet by the end of the day, I made the assumption that she turned around and went home.

[Inner Dirt]

Originally Posted by iwearpurple

I was at the Santa Anita that day in 1985 and also at Del Mar when Cigar got beat. Both were wall to wall people as I remember.

I went early in the day to Santa Anita. My wife was going to come later with her aunt. When they got there, there was no place to park so they went home. This was before the day of cell phones and I had no idea at the time why she didn't meet up with me. When we didn't meet by the end of the day, I made the assumption that she turned around and went home.

At Santa Anita I used to always park at the mall, easier to escape on a crowded day. Not sure if most of the East coast folks are aware that California was way behind getting OTBs, not till the mid 80's. I think the most crowded Hollywood Park day I was at was the Silver Screen that had Melair vs Snow Chief. Probably during the same era a Santa Anita Derby day was probably the biggest crowd I was in.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by Inner Dirt

Is that in order? If so I could not imagine a place being more crowded than Cigar day at Del Mar.

It's definitely in order. You can't imagine what July 3, 1977 at Hollywood Park was like. This was before they expanded the track.

And iwearpurple's recollections of Lord At War's Santa Anita Handicap are accurate.

[airford1]

Originally Posted by Inner Dirt

As someone who went to DelMar probably hundreds of times from 1980-2000. I would suggest going there. It is a small venue so best to avoid big events.
I was there when Cigar lost his bid to win 17 straight in the Pacific Classic
over 40,000 there made the place like Churchill Downs on Derby day.


If you like seafood this is a great place to eat after the races, it is right at the entrance to the track:


https://www.thefishmarket.com/locati...-solana-beach/


For a double header 40 miles south the old Agua Caliente thoroughbred track still has a sportsbook and night time dog races. You didn't when I went but you need a passport to go into Mexico. It is best to just park and walk across and take a cab. It used to cost $5 to get to the track, probably $10 now. Driving in Tijuana is not for the faint of heart and having USA plates makes you a mark for the corrupt cops, also USA car insurance is not valid in Mexico.

Covid is still bad in Tj. Wash your hands and wear a mask.

[Zman179]

Originally Posted by cj

Don't forget about the Del Mar/Los Al double header!

Was gonna do that, but Los Al only runs weekends so that’s out. Eh, those are the breaks when one has weekdays off. Lol

[Zman179]

Originally Posted by elhelmete

I'd normally say Del Mar, not being as into baseball as I was as a young'un.

But I'd now vote for Wrigley **AND** a side trip to Arlington before it disappears. It's a gem, even if the racing is not what it was.

That is a valid point. Del Mar isn’t going anywhere but it certainly looks like Arlington is.

[Inner Dirt]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

It's definitely in order. You can't imagine what July 3, 1977 at Hollywood Park was like. This was before they expanded the track.

And iwearpurple's recollections of Lord At War's Santa Anita Handicap are accurate.

I did not set foot on Hollywood Park till 1979 when I turned 18. My only pre-18 track ventures were to Los Alamitos. At first I mostly went to the harness races there, I forgot when they stopped the harness racing at Hollywood, must have been early 80's.

[Inner Dirt]

Originally Posted by Zman179

Was gonna do that, but Los Al only runs weekends so that’s out. Eh, those are the breaks when one has weekdays off. Lol

Got any vacation days? When ever I flew cross country and that is rare as I refuse to pay for 1st class and airplanes make me feel like a sardine in a can, any thing less than 4 days seems too short.

[Marshall Bennett]

I'd rather have a good seat at Fenway than any of the above. Saratoga is near the top of my bucket list also. I wouldn't go to California if they were giving away horses.

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by Marshall Bennett

I'd rather have a good seat at Fenway than any of the above. Saratoga is near the top of my bucket list also. I wouldn't go to California if they were giving away horses.

You can experience the good without having to experience the bad. Both Chicago and Boston are not exactly baggage free.

[wisconsin]

Originally Posted by Marshall Bennett

I'd rather have a good seat at Fenway than any of the above. Saratoga is near the top of my bucket list also. I wouldn't go to California if they were giving away horses.

I cannot stand the whole California political climate and such, but there are many places there worthy of a visit. I have always enjoyed my times there.

[Inner Dirt]

Originally Posted by wisconsin

I cannot stand the whole California political climate and such, but there are many places there worthy of a visit. I have always enjoyed my times there.

As someone who took 50 years to escape from California the two things it has going for it for a tourist is weather and a extremely varied topography.
Where else could driving 60 miles depending on direction get you into a snow covered forest, into a desert, to a Pacific Ocean beach, or the asphalt jungle of Los Angeles where rivers are concrete channels?

[Zman179]

Originally Posted by Inner Dirt

Got any vacation days? When ever I flew cross country and that is rare as I refuse to pay for 1st class and airplanes make me feel like a sardine in a can, any thing less than 4 days seems too short.

I’ve got plenty of vacation days, but it’s very difficult for me to use them on Saturdays and Sundays as those are the days when we work the hardest and the company needs the manpower. So almost all of my side trips are midweek.