Las Vegas Weekly

July 23, 2008 · 8 AM

Storied Del Mar a stable for Vegas VIPs

By Robin Leach

The racing at Del Mar has drawn some noteworthy Vegas VIPs.

Photo: Del Mar

It has become a summer “rich and famous” tradition for numerous Vegas VIPs and hotel honchos! For the 69th consecutive year the beautiful Del Mar Thoroughbred Club -- just 363 miles south of the Strip and 20 miles north of San Diego -– plays host to casino high-rollers and executives, Vegas horse owners and equestrian enthusiasts, including yours truly!

Spotted in the perfect weather and sensational scenery MGM Mirage Chairman Terry Lanni who, as a director of the track’s Board of Governors, often walks the center-attraction paddock at the track looking on at his horses; former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, and WYNN sports book director John Avello. Also there: actress Bo Derek, who has just been appointed to the California Horse Racing Board by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who presented the silver plate to the winner of the Oceanside Stakes. Other celebrities included Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, and L.A. Lakers basketball star Luke Walton. Tim Conway hosted the annual fundraiser for the Don McBeth Memorial Jockey Fund, to assist injured jockeys.

Last year, I even got to present the champagne to one winning jockey in the “winner’s circle,” and if you’re attending this Saturday, I’ll do the same again! I was there the day that the Entourage cast even filmed an episode in the grandstands! At stake this year a total of more than $25 million in purses for 31 major races, including the $1 million Pacific Classic, scheduled for Aug. 24. This Sunday (July 27) is the $300,000 Bing Crosby Handicap.

It all began with an opening day record turnout of over 43,450 fans -– the second-largest crowd ever to gather at the ocean-front track -- just a little less than the 44,180 who watched Cigar run in the 1996 Pacific Classic. The ladies wearing the most outrageous and fabulous hats wore lavish headgear to compete in the traditional “One and Only Truly Fabulous Hats” contest. Founder Bing Crosby actually greeted the first fan on July 3, 1937. It wasn’t until 1948 that Lucille Ball, Betty Grable, Mickey Rooney and Jimmy Durante turned it into a regular stars’ summer playground. Jockey Willie Shoemaker made world headline history in 1949 when he won a record 52 races and in 1954 beat his own claim to fame with a new record of 94 wins in one meet!

Vegas regulars Gnarls Barkley and Ziggy Marley are just two of the nine musical acts appearing every Friday at the track before evening races get underway. Gwen Stefani’s husband, Gavin Rossdale, performed before flying to Vegas for his Hard Rock Hotel concert and the acoustic set at the opening of Wasted Space. Incidentally, Vegas resident Mary Wilson, who made Motown magic with the Supremes for years, starred with the San Diego Symphony summer pops orchestra while I was visiting.

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