Well this is always fun coming to the Del Mar Racetrack and Here it is fun for the entire family from looking at the horses and placing a bet on the Ponies !! I enjoy watching the horses run and of course the nachos here are so dam good !? Parking is 10 dollars and if you come here on Sundays it is Free and Easy Sundays you get free Programs and free Entry to the track !! Just love it ! Overall an awesome place to hangout and chill with family and friends !! I surely can see myself coming back and enjoying more !! read more

Surfside Race Place - Horse Racing Near Me - Del Mar, California

I have never had a better time losing money! This spot is legit old school. Upon walking in for derby day ladies were given a rose and seated in front of a ton of screens where one can check out races from all over. Being from the Bay I get super excited about seeing races at Golden Gate Fields where my dad would take me as a kid. Food took awhile but it was pretty good. They have surprisingly huge salads that made me wish I had ordered one! Being exceedingly annoying AND a veggie I was happy when our waitress was able to wrangle up a veggie burger for me! I ended up eating way too much. Drinks are basic but why are you ordering that piña collada with muddled chocolate mint at such a place anyway? Save that habit for people like me... Unknown amongst the younger set I can see this spot being a fun place to do up the races in a style that is as authentic as it is interesting. Just think twice before inviting Camilla the Yelping Hen, she is not so great at losing. I forgot to mention the super cool Yelp Booth and thank Trish. It was something I would not have done without Yelp and I am thankful for the chance! read more

Surfside Race Place - Camilla the Yelping Hen wears her Hat for the Derby! - Horse Racing Near Me - Del Mar, California

See all

Such an interesting experience! I would have never gone to watch and bet for any horse in my life if it wasn't thanks to a Yelp invitation and, believe me, I loved this old school type of place, scenario and atmosphere experience. I put a pretty floral dress on and a cute blue hat to match with the ladies and the crowd... even if the crowd was via TV and the ones in the Surfside VIP area where we were seating had a much more casual approach to fashion. My boyfriend didn't know about dress code so showed up in cords summer style and old diesel shirt;) Still, no protocol needed and I like that lack of super formality that I was expecting. We ladies got showered with a rose upon arrival, a super cool bag of goodies gentilesse of Yelp and great friendly service. It was a learning experience for us as we were not familiar with racing, bet terminology and was the first time for both of us to heard about Kentucky derby. Very interesting and fun. I got the eggs Benedict and he got the burger and share some beers. We liked spending the morning and afternoon there and watching the horses outside as well as the professional horse riders. The closest I have ever been to these beautiful animals! read more

See all

i have never been here before but was lucky enough to be treated to comped entrance, a private table and lunch! what a sweet treat...i even had a plus one who apparently has "lived" at the track since she was old enough. Seriously everyone in there seemed to know her! So since i had no clue how to bet or even read the racing papers...she gave me a run down...this could get really addicting! we bet on a couple races ...lost them both, but it was fun! i had a giant cobb salad as my lunch...it was ridiculously big! but it was oh so yummy! had a couple cocktails..first a vodka press...yum...goes down like water for me...then i had to try a mint Julep...mmmm it was tasty but way too sweet for me. i'm sure i could request it to be less sweet now that i've tried one. totally chill day with a whole new scenery for me. good times! hope to be back soon read more

See all

Del Mar a race track that I'm not really a huge fan of as I'd rather go to Santa Anita when the season is right! The track itself is well kept and very nice but it really lacks any kind of layout to bring it all together as it's quite a mission to get from one place to another here. The one thing they really have going for them is the concert series always awesome artists playing a free concert after the last race, over the years I've seen Offspring here twice and Ziggy Marley one time too both were decent shows especially for being for free! One cool thing about this track that it shares with Santa Anita is that they let you bring a cooler full of food inside the park so that you can have a picnic in the infield area during the races which always makes for a good time. The people who work the betting stands here were complete jerks to us it wasn't just one person but a number of them in different locations it wasn't until before the second to last race that we found someone who actually seemed to enjoy their job they must be under payed union workers or something. A little trick that we found out to save a few bucks on admission is to get a stretch run admission it was only $6 compared to the $10 I'm not sure if you get anything for the extra few bucks but the way I see it you have a few more dollars to gamble away! We generally go to the infield as its not so contested over there and your more free to move around than you would be in the grandstands. When we walked into the plaza area it was so insanely hot in there that I couldn't stand to be in there so we quickly found our way to the infield tunnel (which is to the far left if your facing the track) once over in the infield we found an awesome table with an umbrella that provided us with a bit of shade and a home base for the day which was definitely a good way to escape some of the heat. Del Mar is right on the ocean so it does have a bit of a breeze at times which is awesome because it totally helps cool you off on a hot day. I'm one to make a number of bets including some longshots and some Superfecta's as they totally pay off if they hit not as much as a pick six but enough that you'll be stoked if you horse wins. I'm sure I will be back here again at one point to watch a free show and win some money on the ponies! Good Luck To You! read more

I had been to the Del Mar races before, however my first time.at the Surfside Race Place was an even better option for checking out the races. When you walk in you are surrounded by TV's and tables. Great for individuals and for groups. I happened to be part of a group of 10. And this easily is a place to accommodate us. Our server Karen was GREAT! Not only were we able to watch the Breeders Cup, place some bets. But we also enjoyed watching some football on the TVs. Enjoyed a good amount of food at a reasonable price. The prices ranged around $8-15 with the portion sizes being fairly large. Drink prices were also reasonable. I had a handy guide given to me on the ways to bet..and a list of horses. The betting was done easily enough. Surrounded by TV's = check Awesome food= check Reasonable Prices = check Good Customer Service = check This place is definitely worth checking out when going to Del Mar and not just for the horse races They offer a fantastic venue to watch sports on multiple TVs. And I saw a sign that they even host a Bingo night!! My inner B I N G O wants to scream out and grab a dabber to blot out some Bingo numbers! I am totally coming back to this place now that I have been introduced to this place. Thanks Trish S for introducing me to this place! read more

Surfside Race Place - Delicious food! - Horse Racing Near Me - Del Mar, California

See all

I have been to Del Mar before but have never been here to watch the horse races. Today i was able to be a part of a CMYE event for the Breeders Cup. Apparently it is the Super Bowl of horse racing. It was quite entertaining to be able to sit at a table and watch all the different horse races going on as well as the cheering of the crowd when the race was happening and then the silence when they were getting ready for another race. I'm so happy that i was given a card slider thing that told you how to place your bets and what each bet meant. This made it easy to go up to the window and place your bet and then wait to see if the horse won. We had quick and friendly service from Karen who took really good care of our table. The food was delicious with large portions and reasonable prices. I will definitely be back to the Surfside Race Place and try my luck again. Thanks to Trish for putting a lovely afternoon together with great conversation and to the staff for making it a fun Saturday. read more

Surfside Race Place - Turkey club croissant with onion rings - Horse Racing Near Me - Del Mar, California

Great place to watch the races off season. I wouldn't be hanging here when the track was in session though. All you need here, great bartenders, bars and tons of TV's. Decent food. Great patio where you can watch horses. Best of all, you can bet on all the races all over the country as well as watch the races.. My girlfriend had a cobb salad she loved and I can attest, it looked amazing. It was huge too. We went as guest for a Yelp event. They hosted us a large table in front of about 5 tv screens and fed us lunch. The cocktails we took care of. I had a vodka press that was good. People at our table had the mint juleps which in my opinion I'd skip. They are more nostalgic for the races as opposed to being really yummy. My friends were out on the patio smoking cigars and betting, and more friends inside betting. A great gathering place. All good for off season! read more

See all

We love going to the Surfside race place. I would recommend going to the Saddleclub they have such good service and excellent waitresses and bartenders. The food is excellent. Also the staff at the betting windows are very helpful and courteous. Be sure to join the diamond club to get lots of bonuses. read more

See all

I was one of the lucky 10 that got invited by Trish for the CMYE event for the Breeders Cup! It was my first time in the Surfside building and it was so great! It was cool Vegas style betting with screens at every turn! Gambling people are a special kind of people. The energy is buzzing and people are cheering when they win, cursing when they are loosing and drinking all the way in between! Our hostess/waitress was so nice and made sure that our needs were met with drinks and food which is always appreciated. They will be closing for a bit to remodel and gave us tickets to come back so I am super stoked to go back on December 3rd and check out the new digs. read more

Surfside Race Place - Horse Racing Near Me - Del Mar, California

Went to the racetrack for the first time in the Fall season. A LOT less people there than you see in you expect summer season. If you are a people watcher- not as much to see. If you hate crowds- this might be the time for you to go. We were in the Turf Club area and got lunch. Not your most gourmet food- but then, would you really expect it to be? I only bet on one race of the day- bet on the longshot and WON! That made the day a bit more fun, especially as I was there celebrating my birthday The track was beautiful, a bit cool- so if you are going in the fall season, you ma.y want to bring a sweater. read more

Surfside Race Place - At the racetrack, celebrating my birthday. - Horse Racing Near Me - Del Mar, California

This is the OTB (Off-Track Betting) spot at Del Mar--the horses only run at Del Mar in the summer. The rest of the year, they're at Santa Anita or Hollywood Park, but you can bet those races here. I can't imagine why any civilians would want to come here (maybe you read some Bukowski), but if you do, you might want to spend the $10 to get into the "Saddle Club." It's table service and they have a decent, if overpriced, Americana menu, and you can rub elbows with the likes of Sid and Jenny Craig. They're always up there, especially Sid and his cronies from the Ranch. If you opt for $4 general admission, what you're going to find is a low-rent Vegas sports book full of desperate and kooky characters. Every 15 minutes or so they start screaming at the TV's, urging their horses to victory. It's a strange subculture. There's a small concession stand to the left of the entrance that has really good grilled hot dogs, go for the super dog. On the other side, there's another stand that has decent carved sandwiches. I like the corned beef on rye. Bet the favorite, they win about a third of the time. You won't win much, but you won't lose much either. If you decide you love it and want to come back, sign up for the player's club. You get free parking and discount admission. And learn how to read the bible, the Daily Racing Form. Civilians are probably better off waiting for summer. It's a whole different world, a beautiful, awesome world, when the horses are running down here, where the turf meets the surf. read more

I was lucky enough to be recently invited to a CMYE event for the Breeders Cup. I have been to the races plenty of times, but have never been inside the Surfside building. As we entered the venue, we went upstairs where the action was. TVs...TVs...and more TVs. The place was pumping with excitement as "hundreds" of TVs tracked the days action. Some people were yelling, some were screaming with joy, but everyone seemed to be having a good time. It looked like a vintage Vegas sportsbook, but I heard it though the grapevine that there may be some pretty swank renovations coming soon. Karen, our waitress, came and took our drink orders (I ordered a rum and coke) since they didn't have a decent selection of beer.Hopefully this is remedied with the overhaul. Can't wait to see the revamp and I will certainly return and give the track more of my money. read more

Love Del Mar Horse Racing - however the Opening Day organization this year was such a disaster. Will not be back for Opening Day again but all the other days - it's a real treat! read more

Just returned home from another amazing day at Del Mar racetrack. Probably one of the best things to do in So.Cal!!! You cannot beat the beautiful weather, horses & people! The infield is great if you have kids; pony rides, face painting, bounce houses, etc. A truly great family-filled day!!! Or...opt to check the kids in Camp Del Mar. You cannot pass-up this beautifully landscaped paradise, equine athletes, their jockeys and the fun & exciting fans :) read more

Even if you go only once a year, sign up for the free Diamond Club membership to get discounts on entrance and other goodies. Parking is usually $10 but if you take the coastliner, you can jump on a free shuttle towards the tracks. Pros: - Free summer concerts - You can bring in food to picnic Cons: - Drinks and food are REALLY expensive! But in the end, it's always a fun time at the tracks! read more

Surfside Race Place is great. I've been here to watch the Breeders Cup and all of the triple crown races. Lots of fun on big event days. They occasionally have give always (I got a nice tumbler for the breeders cup at Santa Anita). Diamond club is the best, saves money here and for live racing, admission is half off. I don't know if they still do free parking, but that was great to have too. read more

Oooh!! There is nothing quite like a day at the races, at the beautiful Del Mar Racetrack, just north of San Diego. Opening day starts mid-July, so if you're bored in the summer, definitely check this place out, even if you're not into betting. They have 4 O' Clock Concerts on Friday afternoons (free, w/ paid admission). read more

I'm not a big gambler but wanted to see this track and went with friends. The grounds are beautiful and there are lots of food and beverage stands, and plenty of betting windows all over the track. We ate at a bar/grill before the race and the service was very friendly and not rushed (probably because it wasn't crowded yet). The waitress even game us a couple of betting tips, one of which actually paid off! It was a fun day of entertainment that really wasn't that expensive, since I don't bet big, and it was fun to see the beautiful horses on display in the paddock. The day we were there, they gave away free fleece jackets....nice souvenir!! read more

This is an amazing experience. It's a little unusual because of the die hard horse bettors but it's a great place to come and try at least once. The food and drinks are amazing. Try the corned beef sandwich. Come have lunch and place a bet. Staff is great. Has a patio area and upstairs you can get sit and have your own personal tv to yourself. I cannot say enough about the customer service. Make sure to visit this place at least once if you are a resident of the area. An upgrade is due to the tv's once that happens this could be a 5 star place. read more

Horses run summer only, but the it's where "Surf Meets the Turf" OTB, but If you're serious, you're better off at Hollywood Park or Santa Anita. Beer, racing, and the Pacific Ocean. What's not to love? read more

This is Off Track Betting meaning you can wager on tracks that are in season elsewhere alomst year round usually Tuesday- Sunday. NOT to be confused with the Del Mar race track which is only open for a little over a month. If you like betting on horses, and being surrounded by people you usually dont rub elbows with Cough up 4 dollars and pop that pony because you have found your lunch spot. They have a dingy concession stand that serves up a mean carved corned beef on rye and the daily special is almost always really good. (it is cooked in the kitchen of the saddle club) If you are lucky enough to be there for beef stew day plate up cuz its the bomb. read more

Great facility for enjoying simulcast racing. Go frequently for handicapping tournaments or if I need to get a bet in. Lots of TVs and terminals for betting. On larger days they usually have a ton of tellers and an information booth. The lady at the food counter was super nice and also they have beer specials every now and then. People here are a little bit different than your normal crowd, but nobody is every mean. All share the same interest, and you will see the same people if you go here often. On larger days upstairs is a great dining area and a little bit less hectic then downstairs. Good spot when the track is not in season. read more

This place is great. The hand carved sandwiches are awesome. I go every Saturday and have been going for years. The place is a real treat. I have only one problem, only a small section of the facility has WIFI and so you cannot bring a tablet or laptop which would be a big plus. Have complained to management about the WIFI, but he is not very tech savvy. read more

What a beautiful place, I love this place. The seating is fabulous, the people are friendly and there is great parking. The prices are reasonable and it makes for a great day during your cherished weekend. Must go see the horse races and enjoy a beautiful morning/ afternoon at the track. Also, it's nice to admire the incredible vehicles that make their way over to this place!!! read more

Pure awesomeness! I love the after-race concerts! Airborne Toxic Event played on the night I went and they ROCK!!!! We had a table in Il Palio and the food was meh...but it's not exactly a five-star restaurant. It was an awesome time and the drinks where strong!! No surprise...when alcohol and gambling mix the drinks always tend to be strong! :) read more

This is my first time at KAABOO for all three days. I had friends in town as well and we went together. Saturday was the worst experience and the event was highly disorganized. The last concert we attended was Aerosmith, and after that we were unable to see RAC or Ludacris due to capacity issues. We couldn't even cross the pathway since it was overwhelmingly busy. If there was an emergency, there was no way with as many people, anyone could escape safely. I am very upset that I spent over $300 and was unable to see everyone I wanted to. This is not good service! read more

Meh. I don't get why we put horses through so much stress... not too exciting and the food SUCKS. :(

As you walk in to the Del Mar Surfside Race place you can feel the excitement in the air as spectators cheer for their favorite horse. This was my first experience watching horse racing and man was it fun. The venue reminded me of a race book at a dated casino. TV's in every direction allowing you to watch every race imaginable as well as sports. At our table we were able to catch the Oregon Vs Stanford game (Go ducks!) as well as 5+ screens of horse racing. Even though I was a total newbie everyone was incredibly nice a patient when I went to place bets. That really made the whole experience enjoyable. Our waitress (Karen) was fantastic! So personable and attentive. She even took time to answer questions about the venue and what to expect different times of year. The food here is insane. I ordered the Cobb salad and honestly, I could have split it with two other people. Beer options were somewhat lacking but I was able to get a bottle of Sculpin :-). Mixed drinks are made strong which makes a swallowing a missed places bet a bit easier. All in all I'm a fan and will be back! read more

Del Mar Saddle Club, the upstairs elite off-site book. Food review: Recently on a trip with family we went up to the Saddle Club for lunch. Ordered three Turkey sandwiches to go, cold slaw on the side. The sour dour bread was old and stale, turkey was dry and tasteless. Nothing good to write about these overpriced lunch plates. IN FACT: These were the worst sandwiches I have ever had at Del Mar. The chef / sandwich maker - obviously knew the bread was old, but still served it. The bread fell apart as you attempted to eat it. THAT IS REALLY OLD SOUR DOUR BABY. I did not realize this until I got home. The SADDLE CLUB is SUPPOSED TO BE THE premium place at the Del Mar Off Track Betting. The place you have to pay extra to get into. This was ridiculous. For a sandwich when at Del Mar GO DOWNSTAIRS TO THE Surfside CARVING STATION. OH YES, the sandwich took about 10 minutes to prepare, ( there were no other orders pending ) as I waited the Bartender did not offer water or give any additional service. It was like I was invisible. Why did I leave her a tip? Stupid, stupid, stupid me. Saddle Club = bad food and a bartender who just did not care. read more

Went and played bingo two weeks ago and had to take my daughter who is almost 8 months old along. George repeatedly called her 'it' and told us that if she (it) cried, we would have to take her (it) out, which we had no problem doing (we sat in the back for this reason), and the ONE time she did make a small noise, my husband immediately took her outside. Tried to go play bingo again today, and George approached us (again, we were sitting in the back near the door) and told us we weren't allowed to have her in the bingo area because she's under 18 and it's the law. The website states PLAYERS must be 18 or older, and the bingo laws all state NO MINORS are allowed to PLAY. Bottom line, bingo here is not a friendly enviornment, especially if you have children or are not a regular (and you win). read more

This is a great place to bet... Friendly people, good food, and relaxed atmosphere. I get a tip sheet and watch the races. It's fun. I have had the best luck with Duke's Racing Selections. read more