Counting down to Del Mar Races, music, July 16-Sept. 3

The countdown is on for the July 16, 2008 opening day at the Del Mar Races, about 20 miles north of San Diego. The seven-week event is full of activities, including a hat contest, chili cook-off and salsa contest, pony rides for the kids, giveaways and, yes, your usual daily betting, cheering, booing, guzzling and eating as round and round the track they go.

If you’re not the gambling type, you can still put your money down, but perhaps for a more sure thing: the Del Mar Summer Concert Series at the racetrack. Gavin Rossdale launches the first week, on July 18, and old-school ska masters the English Beat close things out on Sept. 3. Other artists lined up for the series include Super Diamond, Ziggy Marley, Devo, Gnarls Barkley and Steel Pulse.

The price of any racetrack admission (which starts at $6 per person for the stretch run area, or $3 per person with free Diamond Club membership, for which you register on-site) includes concert admission; there is no extra charge. The Friday shows are held in the Plaza de Mexico on the grounds, where a bandstand is set up, and the Saturday bands perform in the infield. All shows are standing room only.

Contacts: Del Mar Races, (858) 755-1141 (general info); (858) 792-4242 (ticket sales).

— Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times

[Photo: DMTC.com]

Permalink | E-mail | Print | Add to My Trips

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 13, 2008 at 9:00 am by Susan Derby and is filed under California, Festival, San Diego, Summer, Weekend Getaways. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.