With the beginning of summer here the best of what horse racing has to offer is officially underway. The days of freezing temperatures and less daylight are a distant memory, at least for the next couple months. Traditional summer meets are gathering steam with several looming boldly on the outside. One of the benefits of investing in horse racing partnerships is that instead of owning one horse, you can own shares in many horses – FROM COAST TO COAST. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

To the uninitiated, horse racing begins and ends with the Kentucky Derby. That’s a shame because summer racing is truly the best the sport has to offer. Without further ado, the best summer meets include:

1. Del Mar Thoroughbred Club – Located in the seaside city of Del Mar California, you would be hard pressed to find a nicer venue for racing with the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. You will see some of the best horses in the country as well as celebrities mingling with fans. The summer concert series provides a range of music for all as well as a number of events such as craft beer festivals and food trucks to name a few. I highly recommend Daybreak at Del Mar giving patrons the opportunity to have breakfast and watch the morning workouts.
2. Saratoga Race Course – The sportswriter Red Smith wrote, “From New York City, you drive north on the Thruway for about 175 miles, turn off at Exit 14, take Union Avenue heading west – and go back about 100 years.” Located in Saratoga Springs New York at the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, the entire town eats, breathes, and sleeps horse racing. The questions of the day isn’t what you are doing, but what time you are getting to the track. A small town with big city amenities, it is likened to summer camp for adults and one track that should be visited by all fans.
3. Monmouth Park Race Track – The shore’s greatest stretch! Located in the sleepy town of Oceanport New Jersey, this summer destination is a stone’s throw from the Atlantic Ocean. The country fair atmosphere of the picnic area comes complete with all the sights and sounds you would hope to see. This track was the one that made me fall in love with racing a long time ago and it never lets me down. Dawn Patrol is a free event for patrons to get a behind the scenes look at the jocks room and back stretch in the mornings of race days. Try the Summer Wind, their signature drink.
4. Belmont Park – Mostly known for hosting the third leg of the triple-crown, this historic track is located in Elmont New York. With the foliage in full bloom this time of year, the back yard area is one of racing’s best kept secrets. In addition to world class racing, there is a huge area complete with benches and tables for fans and a duck pond for added effect. While the facility itself is huge, it still maintains an intimate feel to it. Great place for a cold drink and feed the ducks if you feel inclined to do so.

The beauty of the summer racing season is being able to leave your troubles at the turnstiles. Get outside and enjoy the nice weather; maybe even cash a ticket or two. With the scenery and world class racing, everyone is a winner.

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