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After Friday’s Opening Day hullabaloo becomes a sparkling memory, the initial Saturday and Sunday of Del Mar’s 77th summer meet will keep the good times rolling with a touch or a taste of most anything a fun seeker could want.

 

Saturday’s activities jump off early with a special buzz as racing superstar California Chrome, who has an eye on a comeback race at Del Mar the following Saturday (July 23) in the San Diego Handicap, will put in his final serious exercise for that race with a five-furlong workout at 7:45 a.m. The work will be available for all to come and see with the track reserved from 7:45 to 8 a.m. for San Diego ‘Cap runners only.

 

Immediately after the drill, the popular “Donuts at Del Mar” morning will unfold in the Seaside Terrace area near the head of the stretch from 8 to 10 a.m. This is the 28th season of “Donuts,” where racing fans and their families are treated to free donuts, coffee and juice as well as interviews with racing personalities led by MC Trevor Denman, the track’s iconic announcer who is back for his 33rd season at the microphone at the seaside oval. The guests Saturday morning will include members of “Team Chrome,” including the champion horse’s congenial trainer Art Sherman.

 

Then Saturday at noon the fan favorite “Jockey Photo Day” will be offered again around the large fountain in the track’s Plaza de Mexico right inside the Stretch Run gates. Many of the track’s top riders will be on hand from noon to 1 p.m. to pose with fans for snaps of their cameras or phones.

 

Later that afternoon Del Mar will feature the $200,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap with fillies and mares racing a mile and a sixteenth on the track’s wide, green turf course.

 

Sunday’s activities will be highlighted by the track’s annual “Family Fun Day” which draws thousands of families to the infield where rock climbing, bungee trampolines, pony rides (and Pony Boy) stand out among the many games and face-painting stations. All kids 12 and under get a free Webkinz plush horse, the only guaranteed winner on the afternoon.

 

Also on Sunday there will be the first edition of the Del Mar BBQ State Championship with over 30 of the nation’s top professional BBQ Pitmasters, local restaurants and Chefs competing for more than $15,000 in cash prizes while serving up samples of their wares to the public. The feast, which goes from 1 to 5 p.m., is held in the Seaside Concert area west of the grandstand and also features a large selection of local craft beers.

 

Competition-ready samples of brisket, pork, pork ribs, chicken and/or steak sells in 2-oz. portions at four for $10. Through Saturday, pre-sale packages to the event are available via Del Mar’s ticket office or online (dmtc.com/calendar/details/BBQ) with racetrack admission ($6) and four samples for $14, or a VIP pre-sale package that provides early (noon) admission to the event, racetrack admission and four BBQ samples for $25. A band will play throughout the afternoon.

 

And while the kids play and the Bar-B-Q samples get sampled, Del Mar will present a $250,000 headliner in the Eddie Read Stakes, a nine-furlong spin around the Jimmy Durante Turf Course for 3-year-olds and up.

 

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