Commission was formed to protect horse racing
DEL MAR — In the late 1950s there was a press party held at the Del Mar Hotel to announce that John Alessio and a Harbor...
EyeWitness
Harness horse industry was important to village
DEL MAR — In the early 1960s, villagers held a communitywide beach party to celebrate that the race trackers and tourist had gone elsewhere and...
Saturday dump runs
DEL MAR — Before incorporation there was an independent rubbish collector who was reliable and only charged a pittance for his service. Nevertheless Joe Rafferty...
Golden era of the PTA was observed in 1970
DEL MAR — In 1970 the active PTA observed Founder’s Day by presenting a special program in the Ruth Niemann auditorium at the former Ninth Street...
When the PTA ruled
DEL MAR — A long time ago when the city was a village of 350 permanent residents and scads of summer visitors, the PTA was...
Freeway expansion forums creating plenty of interest
DEL MAR — If attendance at community forums is any indication, the I-5 expansion to 14 lanes through the San Dieguito area will garner its...
The drugstore was the village’s grand central
DEL MAR — Decades ago during the racing season, the drugstore at 15th Street and Highway 101 was like Grand Central Station. There was a...
Soda fountain was a popular meeting place
DEL MAR — Every drug store had a soda fountain. Del Mar Drug Store was located at 15th Street and Highway 101, which is now...
Organ grinder, monkey delighted children at fair
DEL MAR — Now there’s entertainment everywhere at the fair. Not so when money to put on the event was limited and it went primarily...
Veteran carnival workers speak their own lingo
DEL MAR — At the fair when the carnival rides and game joints have been secured for the night and the midway lights are out,...
Press parties were a blast in the early days of the racetrack
DEL MAR — Opening day of thoroughbred racing has always been a great attraction. Hollywood personalities were a dime a dozen when a dime was...
Giant pogo stick came before the helicopter
DEL MAR — A couple dozen helicopters flying information en route to Miramar Air Station recently caused hundreds of folks to look up to the...
Raquel Welch wowed Marines at fair
DEL MAR — Recent L.A. Times piece by Susan King featured Raquel (Tejada) Welch observing her 70th birthday and noted that she could be mistaken...
When village folks were encouraged to rent their homes to vacationers
DEL MAR — There’s concern by some folks over a proposed tax on vacation rentals. A lot of homeowners don’t think it’s such a hot idea....
Varied racing events held on Del Mar racetrack
DEL MAR — The racetrack at the Del Mar Fairgrounds has been the scene of several prominent racing events with little relation to Thoroughbred racing,...
