Del Mar Racetrack Kicks Off Summer Racing Season

The 69th meeting of thoroughbreds starts today at Del Mar Race Track. (AP Images)"]

The summer racing season is finally upon us and at least 500,000 horse enthusiasts, racing fans and parter-goers are expected to descend on Del Mar Racetrack in northern San Diego County to get in on the festivities.

This will be the second year horses will race upon Del Mar's Polytrack, a synthetic surface installed last year.

"We added more wax to it to combat the higher temperatures about a month ago and we have since been watering it, trying to make it maybe a little bit tighter," track superintendent Steve Wood said.

"So far it's been working very good. have been 1,000 percent positive."

Jockey Garrett Gomez is returning to ride full-time at Del Mar after taking the past two summers off to ride at Saratoga.

Gomez rode on Polytrack surface twice last year, one of which was a win aboard Georgie Boy at Del Mar.

"I thought was good," he said. "It was a little loose, looser than most of your Polytracks or Cushion Tracks or so forth."

Known as the place "where the turf meets the surf," Del Mar's summer racing will be held July 16 - Sept. 3. First post is 2 p.m., Fridays at 4 p.m. with Friday Aug. 15, 22 and 29 at 3:30 p.m. Get all your Del Mar horse betting in the Bodog Racebook today.