Del Mar Racing — Local services in Del Mar

Visited this racetrack for the first time on their Thursday "Free and Easy" day as it was advertised on their website. We downloaded the app and signed up for the Diamond program, which then would allow to get the benefits of the "Free and Easy" program.

The day started off anything but Free and Easy. We used Google maps to navigate us to the racetrack and it brought up to a completely different location a few miles aways where another Del Mar Racetrack show event was going on. Luckily someone at the gate to that event was helpful and explained to us where to go as we obviously hadn't been navigated to the correct location. We thanked the man and he said no problem...it had happened to at least 50 other people the same day.

Once we finally found the actual racetrack, I pulled up my Diamond card on the racetrack app to show it to the parking attendant at the entrance to the parking lot and she looked at me confused. I told her it was the Diamond card for Free and Easy Thursday and she didn't know what I was talking about. I told her it was supposed to provide free entry and she said no, I've never heard of that and proceeded to charge us $10. After leaving the entrance, we quickly found an available handicap parking space but then realized that the handicap parking area we parked in was a VERY LONG walk from the race track entrance. Seriously, how ridiculous!!!! We walked and walked and walked thru the parking lot, we finally reached the area where the crossing guards were standing helping people cross the street. Another long walk from there, we finally reached the security checkpoint and main entrance. There was very little signage directing people who had never been there before where to go so again we walked a long way before finally finding the general admission (versus box seats) area.

There were many self service betting kiosks but no where to collect cash, except to wait in the very long and slow teller lines. I have never been to a racetrack where the tellers were so slow and incompetent. Only twice did I go to an actual teller and both times the teller did not listen to the rather easy bet I had placed (example: $5 to place on #4) and gave me a ticket that was wrong. From then on I decided to use the kiosks to place bets. Why isn't there machines where people can redeem their vouchers when there are so many to place bets and even purchase vouchers so the long, slow teller lines can be avoided completely if desired.

The staff at the concession stands were friendly and efficient.

This "free and easy" day was anything but easy and the free part is a misrepresentation also since we had to pay just to enter the parking lot...

As a first timer heard great things about this place. As a big horse racing fan I was very pleased. Very clean , great scenery, a bit disappointed on the track and infield a bit, just spoiled with the great race place in my back yard.

Two bones to pick. 1. The deli. Wanted to see if Del Mar compared to the great food at Santa Anita. Not even close. Ordered a roast beef from the deli closest to the towel give away section in the stadium club. Flies flew freely all over the slabs of meat. The chef carving the meat put up no fight to shew them away. As I waited for my sandwich to be made, it was clear there were many flying and landing ON THE MEAT. The meat about to be put on my sandwich. I couldn't take it any longer. I confronted the chef, he replied and stated it's not his job to shew them away. I was beyond shocked and disgusted. I then asked for my money back. Also to speak to the manager who over heard and then started shewing the flies away with a cardboard cup tray. She apologized but I was more taken away on the chef and workers for seeing this and making no effort to do anything to fix their fly problem. They took it as"well it's not our sandwich" type. I couldn't believe my eyes and ears at that.

Second bone. The beer stand on the second level nearest the private party area facing the track. A woman named Janis sold us beers that had fallen and tops were mangled and no way can a mouth sip from it. Said that's all she has and doesn't know what to do. I simply explained, pour into a cup and problem solved. This stand was convenient and about 15ft from our seats. Easy access to the restrooms as well so I didn't feel I had to walk the entire place to purchase beer when I can walk to this stand. Later went back for two more for my wife and I. Asked for two tecate lights, Janis the worker said you know these are all I have as she slammed two more mangled cans. She then said" I don't know why you keep coming back here". I was taken back with the attitude and treatment from this lady. I paid good money to enjoy my time with my wife, didn't expect this type of treatment from this lady. Customer service gets an F and should be for fired after that treatment. Never expected any special treatment, just the common curtesy and respect like we all deserve.

Great environment. Clean track. Just a bad food experience, and a mean lady in the...

My wife and I visited Del Mar race track last Sunday and had a very disappointing experience (we came all the way from Texas). I initially tried to purchase tickets online but found their website to be confusing in regards to seating. Many of the ticket broker platforms will show you a view when you click on the seat you're interested in. Not only was that not the case with their website but it was tough to get a gauge on where the actual finish line was.

I ended up calling the ticket office directly for guidance. First off, they really don't offer individual tickets in the club houses. So my wife and I had to buy four tickets to get a table. I told the ticket agent that I wanted a good view of the race and she recommended sitting on the terrace. She told me the seats we were purchasing were right at the finish line (which unfortunately was not true... It was actually about 10 yds beyond it so you couldn't possibly tell who won on a close race). In addition, the majority of the races started on the other side of the track so you were relegated to having to watch the majority of the race on the TV until they came around the stretch run (that's not what I want to do when I go to a live event... I could have stayed home if I was just going to watch it on TV). I asked someone in customer service if it was possible for us to switch our seats to the clubhouse (the pricing was exactly the same). She told me that she only had accessibility to the individual seats that cost $16 (we paid $160 for the table), and that we would have to talk with the ticket office if we wanted to exchange the table. But she informed me that she has never seen them accommodate that type of request (clearly poor customer service... Why would you not accommodate someone, especially when they are paying top dollar for your seats). That's called being pennywise and pound foolish (a good strategy if you don't want people to return to your facility). I did contact them directly only to be told that the complaint would be forwarded to management and the ticket office (I suspect I will not hear back from them).

They really need to train their staff better to give accurate information to their customers. I don't like wasting money like that especially when I relied on their ticket agent...