Ultimate Guide to Del Mar Racetrack Season 2008

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These days, it seems the Fair season comes and goes quicker than the approach of our carnival's modern identity crisis from the Del Mar Fair to the San Diego County Fair.

While locals starve all spring only to indulge in deep-fried Krispy Kreme chicken sandwiches come summer, our true love for the Racetrack annually proves to be stronger than our ferris wheel nostalgia and fair fare cravings.

From Opening Day fashion and beauty to beginner's betting luck, 4 O'Clock Fridays, and the thriving Del Mar nightlife and dining scenes, entertainment routines and established dress codes are put on hold in the name of tradition and in honor of Thoroughbreds for the Del Mar Racetrack season.

Del Mar Racetrack Ticket Contest
Become a DiscoverSD Insider today for your chance to win free tickets to the Del Mar Racetrack. You don't want to miss out on the glamorous racetrack season - so sign up today for your chance to check out 4 O'Clock Fridays and all the highly anticipated races ... for free. Get all the contest and sign-up information you need here.

Go back in time with the Best of Del Mar Racetrack photo gallery here.

The 2008 Del Mar Racetrack season keeps it cool with the classics: Opening Day Hat Contest, Four O'Clock Friday concert series, the Pacific Classic million-dollar race, and a celeb-studded guest list of A-list attendants. This summer, the Racetrack season also welcomes the Official Opening Day After Party: DERBY at Prospect Bar and Lounge, posh new Del Mar nightlife hotspots, and a shiny new Del Mar Scene website with all the betting tips to ensure beginner's luck.

Opening Day Style
It's not only socially unacceptable to wear anything less than an outrageously wide-brimmed feather and flower-clad hat to Opening Day, your lid neglect may actually cost you. Most ladies, and gents, will strut through the Paddock showcasing style in between races, but the serious Racetrack pros will compete in the Opening Day Hat Contest for the chance to win thousands of dollars in prizes.

Read up on the recommended Hillcrest spot for the best Del Mar Racetrack hats here. Get all the goods on the 2008 Opening Day Hat Contest here. And, don't forget to check out your competition in the Opening Day Hat Contest photo gallery here.

Don't even begin to think your fashionable hat is your ticket out of hair care. The best Opening Day hats are only boosted in appeal by the flowing locks shining beneath. Always ahead of trend, the Ryan Thomas Hair Studio in Encinitas is putting hat hair back in style with the Sparkling Friday Hair Packages, offered all season long. Get all the details on must-have hat hair here.

Make your new hair, and hair style, proud with an Opening Day outfit from one of our favorite Del Mar boutiques. For summer chic dresses perfect for an afternoon at the Turf Club, followed by a night of bar hopping from Epazote to En Fuego, check out the following boutiques in Del Mar: Ryan's Collections, Bayley, Tatiana, Tucci, Matti D, and Gila G. For more shopping in Del Mar, read the details here.

Opening Day Skills
So, you're dressed in supreme Del Mar style from hat to toe, but underneath your wide-brim, you're basically clueless what those shiny Thoroughbreds are actually doing on the track. It's OK, me too. And this is, by no means, my first oblivious summer spent at the track. Luckily, the brand new Del Mar Scene website lays out everything you need to know about the Del Mar Racetrack - from Racetrack Tips to Track Basics. Do your homework and become a pro for the 2008 Del Mar Racetrack season with Del Mar Scene.

Check out the chic Del Mar crowd style and sass for yourself in the 2008 Opening Day photo gallery here.

Opening Day After Party

Check out what went down at DERBY – the official 2008 Opening Day after party in the event photo gallery here. DERBY was sponsored by DiscoverSD.com, VAVi Sport and Social Club, and Let’s Play Downtown, hosted at Prospect Bar and Lounge in La Jolla. From VeeV fusion cocktails to jewelry displays from Platinum Collections – it was a perfect summer evening bringing Opening Day to a close.

Del Mar Dining
All this shopping and partying is bound to work up an appetite. While deep-fried everything on a stick isn't really Thoroughbred style, the Del Mar Fairground does offer plentiful options for dining at the track. From the invite-only Director's Room to the Clubhouse Terrace and the Grandstand, you'll never go hungry (or thirsty) during track season. Stay tuned for the Insider Guide to Dining at the Racetracks.

Before or after a day at the tracks, check out the following best Del Mar restaurants: The Brigantine, Market, Red Tracton's, Sbicca, and Jake's Del Mar. For more restaurants in Del Mar, get details here.

Del Mar Nightlife
On Opening Day, your best bet is to ditch the Del Mar crowds (unless you like waiting in line behind tourists) and party like an Insider at DERBY - the Official Opening Day After Party. But, throughout the season, you'll never go wrong at the following bars in Del Mar: L'Auberge Bleu Bar, Pacifica, Poseidon, En Fuego, and Jimmy O's. For more of the best nightlife in Del Mar, read the details here.

The After-After Party

If your "only one" margarita at the Turf Club turns into "only one more" martini at Bleu Bar, and "only a few more" cocktails at Jimmy O's - we won't judge you, we just encourage you to make a weekend out of your Racetrack adventure. For the ultimate in Del Mar hospitality, book a suite (asap) at the freshly revamped, and incredibly stunning, L'Auberge Del Mar. And, to escape the Del Mar scene - bring the party back downtown and score the Ultimate Trifecta at the Ivy Hotel. For more San Diego hotels, read the details here.

Del Mar Entertainment
The famous San Diego Four O'Clock Fridays at the Del Mar Racetrack are back in business this year. If you're new to the Del Mar scene, it's time to catch up quick: each Friday, the first race starts at 4pm, and a special concert follows the last race. Check out the following highlights from the 2008 season:

Gnarls Barkley: Saturday, July 26
Pinback: Friday, August 1
The Bravery: Friday, August 8
Reggae Festival: Saturday, August 9
Black Francis: Friday, August 22

From Opening Day preparation to season-long dining, drinking, and concert-going planning - you have a big summer ahead of you. Forget the deep-fried twinkies and accept that the 2008 San Diego County Fair is over. Keep that head up and look on the bright side - the 2008 Del Mar Racetrack season is slated to be better than ever. Ladies and gents, we'll see you on Opening Day where the turf meets the surf.

Don't forget to RSVP for the Official Opening Day After Party: DERBY - at Prospect Bar and Lounge. Leave the lines and crowds for the tourists, and hop on the party bus to party Insider style. For more info, get the DERBY details here.

Del Mar Basics
Del Mar Racetrack season: July 16 - September 3, closed Tuesdays
Opening Day: Wednesday, July 16
Pacific Classic: Sunday, August 24 (celebrity alert)
Post Times: First post daily at 2pm with the following exceptions: 4 O'Clock Fridays (July 18 & 25, August 1 & 8 at 4pm; August 15, 22 & 29 at 3:30pm)
Gates Open: Noon weekdays, 11:30 a.m. weekends, Opening and Closing Days. Exceptions: Fridays, 2pm (July 18 & 25, August 1, & 8), 1:30pm (August 15, 22 & 29)