Discovering Del Mar: A Journey Through History, Culture and Nature
Known for its breathtaking beaches, vibrant cultural scene and rich history, Del Mar offers a unique blend of natural beauty, tradition and a vibrant events scene. As the Breeders’ Cup returns in November, the world once again focuses on Del Mar, where its welcoming community will host visitors from across the globe, showcasing one of California's most charming towns, renowned for building its own horse racing legacy.
The eyes of the horse racing world will be on Del Mar at the start of November, as the illustrious Breeders’ Cup will be held at the California track for the first of two successive editions.
Del Mar were excellent hosts of the event back in 2022, with the welcoming community doing an excellent job of making international visitors from Europe and Asia feel at home.
If you are not familiar with this event you can check out this guide here, including the past results.
However, there is more to the location than just the action taking place on the racetrack.
You can find out more about the history of Del Mar, as well as understanding more about some of the other significant cultural events on the schedule here.
Early History
Del Mar is located on the coastline of the Pacific Ocean, and was founded as a seaside resort in 1885. It wasn’t until 1959 when it was officially recognised as a city in the United States.
Among the first settlers in Del Mar were Theodore M. Loop and his wife Ella in the early 1860s. Loop worked as a railroad official, with Ella later naming the city after one of her favourite poems by Bayard Taylor called ‘The Flight of Paso de Mar’.
More settlers built homes in Del Mar throughout the 1800s, including Colonel Jacob Taylor, who purchased a staggering 338 aces in 1885, with Taylor visioning the location becoming a hot spot for the rich and famous in the US.
Del Mar in War Time
Del Mar also played a significant role for the United States Navy during the Second World War, as the military operated a Naval Auxiliary Air Facility in the area.
Climate Change Concerns
Due to its position next to the sea, there have been long-time worries for locals. The Surf Line railroad is located by the coastal bluffs, and they are situated 40 feet above the beach front for over a mile.
The erosion eats away at the edge of the cliff annually, which led to the local government taking measures into their own hands by driving steel beams into the beach at the base to stabilize the bluffs for up to 30 years.
Locals also dismissed requests from the California Coastal Commission to install a chain-link fence to the beach due to the importance of tourism in the region due to being one of the best surfing spots in the county of San Diego.
Nature & Wildlife
Del Mar is one of the most beautiful locations in California, as it is one of just two locations in the country where Torrey pine trees are able to grow naturally. It is one of two populations of the endangered species to exist, with the other in the U.S. being found at Santa Rose Island.
The Los Penasquitos Lagoon is located to the south of Del Mar, while the San Dieguito Lagoon is found at the opposite side, along with the San Dieguito River, which connects to the Pacific Ocean.
Due to it connection with wildlife, there are a range of wild animals that can be encountered at Del Mar, including exotic birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Meanwhile, there is typically sharks off the coast of Del Mar, with reports earlier this year stating that the location is a nursery habitat for juvenile white sharks.
Historical Population
Despite being one of the most beautiful places in the California region, the stats show that the population in Del Mar has decreased annually since 1980. In the 80s, over 5,000 people lived in the region, which has dropped to just under 4,000 based on census records recorded in 2020.
The vast majority of the population are white with 93%, while 0.1% of the locals are African or black. A reason for the low recent stats could be down to the income of those that live there, with the average income per household in 2020 standing at $185,000 per year.
Notable People & Events
While Del Mar is home to the 2024 and 2025 editions of the Breeders’ Cup, there are also notable attractions on the annual calendar. Among those include the San Diego County Fair, which is the longest running event in the region having been held at Del Mar since 1983. The Del Mar Antiques, Art, and Design Show is also the longest-running family-owned antique show in California, having been established in 1961.
Del Mar has also been home for some of the most famous people in the U.S., including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and 2021 Noble Prize winner, Ardem Patapoutian, who both live in Del Mar.
Meanwhile, legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk was born and raised in Del Mar. Three-time Olympic silver medallist Rachael Flatt is also among the notable people to have been born in the area.
Sporting superstars such as Drew Brees and Rachel Buehler were also born in the region before representing the New Orleans Saints and United States Women’s National team, respectively.
