Tunnel Vision : Infield Construction Opens Track’s 10 Acres to Fans

SAN DIEGO —  Executives of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club have had tunnel vision for the last seven years.

They envisioned their track one day having a tunnel leading to the infield, where spectators could watch the races. The vision becomes reality today, when Del Mar’s 46th season opens with the first post at 2 p.m.

Fans will be allowed to view races from anywhere on the 10-acre infield. Among the infield facilities are 64 parimutuel betting windows, concession stands and restrooms.

“Ten years ago, it was apparent that if Del Mar’s growth pattern continued, we wouldn’t be able to handle the crowds we were expecting,” said Joe Harper, Del Mar’s general manager. “We were right. Attendance kept going up, then we flattened off for a while. The only factor we could see to cause flattening in attendance was that we had reached our physical capacity.”

Harper said Del Mar has considered opening its infield to fans since 1978. However, the tunnel was fourth on the priority list to a new clubhouse, more grandstands and a new stable area.

Construction of the tunnel took place this year from January through May at a cost of $1.1 million. Before the infield was open for seating, fans in general admission had to place their picnic chairs on asphalt in front of the main grandstands.

Del Mar, which has 15,000 seats, set a track attendance record by averaging 19,584 fans in 1983. Last year, the attendance dropped to 18,494.

Harper attributed the drop in attendance to two factors: the Olympic Games in Los Angeles and the lack of a tunnel leading to the infield.

“I look at the tunnel in two aspects,” Harper said. “One is that it gives the fan instant elbow room. But, No. 2, it’s a marketing tool. The spurts of our growth are usually connected with expansion.”

Harper said Del Mar had attendance increases in past years after expanding the turf club and installing more parimutuel windows.

The tunnel, located at the track’s west end, is 635-feet long, 20-feet wide and 9-feet high. Among the tunnel’s wall paintings are ones depicting Jimmy Durante going nose-to-nose with a horse and Bing Crosby with Pat O’Brien. Crosby was Del Mar’s first president in 1937 and O’Brien was his vice-president.

On the infield, television sets have been installed for viewing the races. There are numerous benches and tables, and groups of 25 or more can reserve a private seating area.

“We saw there was a real market for people who wanted to come to the track and have a picnic,” said Dan Smith, Del Mar’s public relations director. “Obviously, people like to have picnics on grass.”

Two other items are new at Del Mar this season--a teleguide of events in San Diego and a self-service wagering system.

Using the wagering system is similar to using a bank’s automatic teller. Fans insert their money and place their bets, then the machine tells them after each race what is their net remaining amount.

While it’s not exactly like money in the bank, it is a way to avoid lines at the betting windows.