Del Mar @ 75 / Opening Day 2012

Del Mar @ 75. Opening Day 2012. Click 4 pix.On July 3, 1937 Del Mar Racetrack officially opened for racing.  Del Mar was the brainchild of Hollywood stars Pat O'Brien and Bing Crosby and it served as an escape from the Hollywood scene. Movie Stars like Jimmy Durante, W.C. Fields, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Bob Hope Mickey Rooney and many more would frequent Del Mar... where the turf meets the surf. 

See the Photos:  Del Mar @ 75

Opening Day at Del Mar is still considered by many to be the most important social event in San Diego County.  Maybe it is...but its's certainly a humongous party.  These days fewer entertainment icons brave the traffic jam on I-5 to get to opening day...but 47,339 (a new record) other people did.

Horse racing is known as  "the sport of kings" but on opening day in Del Mar...the hats are the thing.  Almost everyone wears a hat, and the ultimate hat contest is a highly competitive affair.  The hats along with a massive party and countless pre-parties and post-race events make opening day at Del Mar an incredible scene.  If Pat and Bing could see the 100's of party buses lining up to enter Del Mar Racetrack they would be proud. 

Aspen Spin snapped a few sick pix.  Click: DEL MAR @ 75

Winner, Winner ...chcken dinner. Click 4 photos.The hat Ladies. See more pix. click here.The horses are incredibly beautiful animals. Click 4 pix.Everybody had fun at Del Mar opening day. Click 4 pix.

Surf & Turf / Off-Season Steezin'

During the Winter, AspenSpin rarely ventures outside the traffic circle in Aspen.  However, experience tells us that there are lots of great places out there.   Aspen is an incredible place to spend the Summer, but for the past five years, A.Party has packed up the dog in the family truckster and headed out to California.  The past 3 years we've been in San Diego. It's a change-of-pace.  It's different.  It's a big city and it a'int bad.

So we're kickin' back, and chillin' on the beach, in Del Mar, Ca. (18 miles North of SD) for the off season. Yaaa,dude.

A few pix for your review.

Watching the sun set over the Pacific never gets old.A-Spin was this close to getting with a Kardashian. Bruce Jenner in San Diego for the Drew Brees Charity Golf Tourney.Feeling the stoke at an early age on Del Mar Beach.In n Out Burger is the #1 thing in So. Cal. Here's a double-double Izzy-style.Cruising off-leash on the empty beach at 6 a.m. is the absolute best.Summer Solstice Sunset in So. Cal.Eric Burdon and The Animals rocked the Del Mar Fair. Live music every night is part of the program.

Swimming in La Jolla Cove is my favorite work-out.Getting it done under water in La Jolla Cove.San Diego Lifeguards. Keeping it safe for everyone.Sunset in Del Mar.Carmelo and I both love long walks on the beach. 

Into the Flow

San Diego is America's Finest City, it always stays classy. Coastal California is sooooo laid back.  Aspen Spin is fighting traffic and hanging out at the mall.  This Summer we're up in Del Mar, near dog beach.  It's a little more homogenized and suburban than Windansea.  The surf crew up here is the blond frat boy / J. Crew type rather than the ink covered gangsta locals we met during 2 Summers in La Jolla, near the pump house.

School is still in session so it's pretty quiet on the beach.  The SD County Fair and Del Mar Race season are not far away.  We're prepping for a siiiiiiiiiiiick Summer session.  We snapped a few cool pix.  Click 'em

INTO the FLOW  (click 4 pix)

Vinny G. from the Jersey Shore made an appearance in La Jolla. AspenSpin was there.Surf Legend Rob Machado giving back through the Rob Machado Foundation. Click 4 pix.A. Party and Carmelo made it to the beach for another siiiiiiiick Summer in San Diego. Click 4 pix.Made in California. Click 4 pix.

Del Mar: Where the Surf meets the Turf.

Historic Del Mar RacewayDel Mar  Racetrack is as "cool as ever".  It's where the surf meets the turf.  Opening Day 2011 was nothing short of spectacular as almost 47,000 souls ditched work to spend the day at the races.  Thoroughbred racing has a long and distinguished history in Del Mar, ever since Bing Crosby and his pals opened the track in 1937 and Seabiscuit ran there in 1938.  Known as a playground to the Hollywood luminaries like Ava Gardner, Red Skelton, W.C. Fields, Don Ameche, Dorothy Lamour and others.

Opening Day at Del Mar has become an incredible celebration over the years.  More about the party and the fashion and THE HATS than the actual racing, Del Mar is like the Kentucky Derby for So.Cal.  Check our SURF meets the TURF pix.   Getting to the track on opening day is always a challenge as the crowds of limo's, party buses and regular autos basically funnel into a single lane.  Aspen Spin hoofed it to the track through the back door from about 2 miles away.  Auto traffic was moving at approximately 1 mile per hour as the 2 pm post time approached.

Pre and Post parties in downtown Del Mar were numerous.  Drinking was voluminous and people dressed for success and to impress.  The Hollywood glamour seemed to be limited to the b-list, one of the "real housewives" was there and a couple of NFL QB's; Mark Sanchez and Aaron Rodgers.  We didn't make it to the Turf Club or the Winners Circle, but it was BIG fun in the grandstand.

Check the pix.  SURF meets the TURF.

Unbelievable Hats at Del Mar Opening Day. Click 4 Pix.Magnificent animals at Del Mar. Click for pix.Ladies of Del Mar.