Del Mar vs Saratoga
 

Which do people prefer? I have been to both and think Del Mar is just a better track and more enjoyable. The weather makes it better in my opinion.

This is easy:

Del Mar is the Taj Mahal, but nobody is home...catch my drift?...absolutely beautiful facility and setting and is truly at the top of the game in luxury, but the fields are short and the horse flesh is not even close to that of Saratoga.

Saratoga, on the other hand, is full of history and tradition (which others on this board are way more qualified to speak to) and it supposedly horse racing heaven. I have never been there but would LOVE to go soon...it is the single most place I want to go in the world. The racing at Saratoga is the best in the world...period...there is not close to a tougher meet. Even the cheap horses are the best cheap horses in the world....they ALL can run. Maidens that finish 5th at Saratoga could win at just about any other meet in the country..it is that intense from a competition standpoint.

The Spa is a handicappers and a racing traditionalists dream....Del Mar is more for the ritzy high societors....

I see what you are saying but it is like going to Yankee Stadium vs the newer stadiums. Yankee Stadium in nice but if you are going to spend that type of cash you have to get more. The newer stadiums are just nicer. Saratoga is ridiculously expensive to stay there, the weather is awful, and there is nothing to do there outside of racing. I usually go up on an Amtrak, spend 2 nights and the amtrak plus hotel costs about $600. We used to rent a house for a week but it wasn't worth it because while the racing is great the rain and 90 degree days just make it unbearable.

I don't know why, but I love Belmont on the weekends in the fall. Not too many people there and the weather is great.

The two offer different things and they do it brilliantly. However, the racing is better at Saratoga and the women are better at Del Mar.

I think that is correct as long as the Saratoga meet doesn't get washed out.

The weather is hardly " awful ". It may not be San Diego, but the weather is terrific most of the time. And, as for there being nothing to do outside of racing....have you actually been there?

I can't speak for you but I seem to find plenty to do from about 10am to 4am.

The other six hours aren't that bad either.

Umm there are countless of things to do in Saratoga in the summer. It is a wonderful place.

I have probably been to a combined 100 days at Saratoga over the years. The weather is not so good. Always hot and rains way too much. I like the early mornings but the evenings are painfully boring. The downtown scene is really weak after the first few times you have been there. I am going to guess you have never been to Del Mar.

The racing is great but you can't compare San Diego to Saratoga Springs. Del Mar is such a better time than Saratoga that the two really aren't comparable. What is there to do in Saratoga?

I did not compare it to Del Mar, nor do I have any interest in doing so, and I say to each his ( or her ) own. However, to suggest there is nothing to do in Saratoga is ridiculous. My biggest problem is finding enough time to do everything I want to do.

Painfully boring??? You are clearly hanging out with the wrong crowd.

Well I dont what kind of things you are interested in. But the nightlife for me is fine.

If you are searching for club and a party atmospere then Del Mar towers over Saratoga. But I am not into those things.

I guess it is ok but the problem is there are a limited number of restaurants and places to go out drinking and they never change each summer. I guess I have just been there too many times and find it overpriced for what you get out of it.

Saratoga's downtown scene?... Its okay if you are in your early 20's single and have the energy to stay out late. But other than that the choices are very limited and the food isnt all that great, save for 1 or 2 restaurants which you'll find yourself waiting for a table unless you want to eat dinner at 5pm. But like Euro I am really not much of a night owl and could care less.

The racing sucks at Del Mar compared to Saratoga, not even comparable.

Never have been to Del Mar while its in session but I have spent time in San Diego and La Jolla and its beautiful with tons of stuff to do. I'd find it hard wasting 6 hours at the track when I could be at the beach or at a Padres game. The food is crazy good and the prices are much better than Saratoga, relative to the choices you get.

I live in NY too and have been to Saratoga enough and San Diego is just more of a vacation for me I guess. The racing at Saratoga is better but I find myself enjoying watching racing on tv more than live simply because I recently got a new TV and horse racing is becoming much like football where it is more fun to sit at home and bet and watch the races or games on tv with a beer and pizza. I do still love Belmont on the weekends. No crowds.

The majority of time I go to the race track at Saratoga (1/2 mile from my house) I end up watching almost all the races on TV monitors anyways. Its good to go and see friends but apart from that I enjoy watching race from home more. Especially being able to eat and drink whatever I want without having to pay $3 for a bottle of water and $10 for a hamburger that isnt much better than a Mcdonalds 1/4pounder.

San Diego is like fantasy land with the weather being perfect and the women being nice to look at and nice to talk to (No NY attitudes). Not sure I could ever live there but I sure like visiting. Far too much to do there than to waste 6 hours stressing over doubles and exactas. LOL!

Please don't get me started on this questions. Last year I had to set Kenny Mane straight on this matter in front of the whole crowd at Siros. Two different tracks two different settings. Except one has racing that sets itself apart from the rest of the world.
Just my opinion

I like Keeneland better than both, but I would take Del Mar over Saratoga only because it rains every time I go to saratoga. Only went to Del Mar 2 days on vacation and it really is pretty awesome. The big races at Saratoga are better though but there are too many 2yr old races for me.

Am I really hearing this ARGUMENT? lol

Saratoga wins. Bigger and more relaxed and park like, bring the kids if you want or sit on a bench or picnic or wander around to the paddock. So many places to go and watch and different types of experiecnes. IMO the nightlife is fine downtown, IMO any city only needs a few *GOOD* bars/restaurants to get by, just go to those and chill out -- whose in a hurry during summer? Plus every one of your favorite horses will be there to take pics of, sometimes if just in an allowance! that would be graded stakes at another track!

Del Mar i have only been to on opening day. The crowd knows nothing whatsoever about the racing. But the eye candy is faaaaaaaaaaaaar better as far as human fillies go. The venue is much newer and very nice, but muuuuch smaller and no park setting, not relaxed, uptight and busy bustling. Again that is just opening day but it is too packed to enjoy as much as SAR.

Kenny Mayne never did the seminars with us. I assume you mean Jay Privman.

I don't think you set Kenny Mayne straight. That guy loves Del Mar more than any other track. I still will take the Keeneland racing over Saratoga.

There really is no argument because the only thing that is cut and dry is the racing is better in Saratoga. That can not be argued. Del Mar's racing is a joke and not really a big upgrade (if any) from Hollywood Park.

Everything else is what you prefer personally and thats different things to different people. I have met people who claim Saratoga has the best restaurants and nightlife. To each their own.

Well yeah Keenland in the fall is awsome.... and if I see Kenny again I'll say the same thing. Don't care what anybody says nothing like Saratoga.

Sorry but I love Saratoga but the restaurants and nightlife in San Diego put Saratoga to shame. San Diego is probably the nicest place in the US. Anyone who told you Saratoga has the better restaurants and nightlife has never been to Del Mar.

That Keeneland fall meet with the sales and the farm tours puts Saratoga and Del Mar to shame. Easily the best experience I have had when it comes to racing. Drive the 90 minutes to Louisville and you can get a nice derby museum tour too.

Been to San Diego about 4 times and loved every minute. Wont disagree at all regarding the restaurants as I am a huge mexican food fan and San Diego has some of the best I have ever had. Saratoga has okay restaurants but they charge far too much for what you get and the choices seem to be very limited. If you arent much in to food and willing to pay $28 for a average steak with frozen veges than you'll be fine.

I cant comment on the women as I am very happily married but folks, use your imagination! You ever see the show Baywatch? Thats what girls really do look like in Southern Cal!

Keeneland was what got me started on being a track degenerate, but let me tell you it is not as good as DMR or SAR.

First of all Kee is soooo tiny that a sunny Saturday crowd of 30,000 has absolutely NO WHERE to go. You are shoulder-to-shoulder. The crowd is 90% frat & sorority peeps who are staggering around bleary-eyed and taking up space and getting in the way of the betting lines. Which take forever. The apron is the ONLY one in the country to face INTO the sun, leaving you burnt to a crisp and squinting all afternoon. The speed bias is so ridiculous that the racing is irrelevant b/c the form doesn't hold up.

And yes I'm grateful to have Kee, but now that i have seen real tracks like Arlington and Belmont I realize it is kinda crappy in some ways.

as a so.cal native i put del mar behind santa anita and hollywood..... yeah we all know del mar has the hottest babes but who cares........ i go to the races to make money. if you want the best of both worlds go to vegas. vegas has the most beautiful woman by a country mile.

Keeneland should not be mentioned in the same sentence as these two, since they installed the Poly Crap...

I've never been to Del Mar...hope to soon.
Saratoga has it all for me, best horses, nice ambiance.
Belmont in the fall is good too.
Just my opinion.
NY ladies are not to sneer about.
Seems to me, beauty is where you find it.
DTS

Even with the polytrack Kenneland's race meets crush the one Del Mar puts on. I cant stand short fields and 2/5 shots who you never know have enough "medication" to get the job done.

Saratoga and Keeneland are the top two tracks that I want to visit soon. I know I'll see Keeneland within the next year, and I will go out of my way to go see Saratoga.

Don't bother with Keeneland, unless you want to wear a face mask, that Poly Junk stinks, you should smell that garbage at Turfway, Keeneland is dead to me. Go straight to Saratoga and you'll be happier...

The woman at Del Mar make up for the mediocre racing. I had huge expectations when I went and they were easily met. In horse racing terms, there are literally hundreds of Ruffians.

Well, I'm moving to Lexington next year, and Lexington is horse heaven. Although, I hope I end up at Saratoga for my internship.

Keeneland can put in concrete and it still will have the best atmosphere of any track.

If you love horses you will like Keeneland better but the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga makes it pretty close. Lexington KY puts Saratoga to shame though when you are talking farms. When you drive into Keeneland take a look to your right and it is arguably the greatest farm the sport has ever known.

I thought the same until Kiaran said today he wants poly in NY. Looks like poly is going to be everywhere before you know it.

I've only been to DelMar once ...

... and found it very eery.

It's a beautiful place which attracts decent quality horses ... but the "fans" ... the "fans" ... they're so laid back that they're practically brain dead.

Pleasantly Perfect ran the day I was there ... and when he walked into, through, and out of the paddock ... you could hear a pin drop. Not a peep from anyone. No cheers, no boos, no nothing.

This would never happen at a New York track ... where the fans are much more into the game. Very enthusiastic, very boisterous, very ballsy.

Yeah ... some of the women looked great ... but where were the racing fans?

Good point

We don't have to listen to the Aqueduct story again do we?