Del Mar’s biggest draw was founded in 1937 by a prestigious group including Bing Crosby and Jimmy Durante. It’s worth trying to brave the crowds on opening day, if nothing else to see the amazing spectacle of ladies wearing over-the-top hats. Driving here on opening day…just don’t. The racetrack runs free double-decker shuttle buses to and from the train station in Solana Beach. The rest of the season, you’ll have to be satisfied with the mere visual perfection of the track’s lush gardens and pink, Mediterranean-style architecture.
