CIGAR GREAT AS RUNNING MATE.Byline: Kevin Modesti Daily News Staff Writer Cigar for Vice President! He's tan (OK, he's bay), he's rested, he's ready, and he's scheduled to arrive for the Aug. 10 Pacific Classic just as 30,000 Republicans hit San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. for their nominating convention. What better running mate running mate n. 1. The candidate or nominee for the lesser of two closely associated political offices. 2. A companion. 3. A horse used to set the pace in a race for another horse. than someone who's a favorite in every state he visits? They might as well learn to love each other, the horse people and the elephant people, because they're about to be thrown together in a scramble for hotel rooms, dinner reservations and San Diego's attention. As if Olympic Games television and the San Diego Padres in a pennant race won't be competition enough for Del Mar, which opens its 43-day thoroughbred meet at 2 p.m. today. ``The convention is something of a mystery as far as how much additional demand it will place on us,'' Del Mar executive vice president Craig Fravel said. But this much is no mystery: The combination of the Aug. 12-15 convention and the height of the season at racing's prime western vacation destination has sold out hotel rooms throughout San Diego County. And every reserved seat at Del Mar is spoken for on the Saturday of the $1 million Pacific Classic. For those who aren't dissuaded by this news, Del Mar management has four pieces of advice: Book early; look for a hotel north of the track - in, say, Carlsbad; arrive when the gates open - three hours before a 12:30 p.m. first race; and consider the joys of general-admission space on the infield grass and the grandstand apron. ``The beach-chair crowd will have plenty of space to spread out,'' said Fravel, who said the track is erecting temporary bleachers and co-opting a nearby golf course for parking to accommodate a crowd of 40,000, counting the 350 GOP contributors who have reserved a track restaurant. That would be a Del Mar record by more than 5,000, and a stiff test of the seaside track's ability to handle a big event like the Breeders' Cup it covets. ``I think it'll be a decent experiment where we can learn a lot about how the facility responds to large crowds,'' Fravel said. ``We're pretty confident we can handle that many people.'' The Pacific Classic would mark Cigar's first California visit since the 1995 Hollywood Gold Cup The Hollywood Gold Cup is a Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred horses inaugurated in 1938 at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. It was run as a handicap race until 1997 when it was switched to weight-for-age conditions. and could be his 17th straight victory, one race longer than Citation's streak. Undeterred by the experiences of Santa Anita and Hollywood Park, which expected Cigar only to see him stay home with minor injuries, Del Mar plans a 10-day marketing push including Cigar shirts, hats, TV commercials and billboards. ``I think it's a challenge for us, obviously,'' said Dan Smith, the track's director of marketing and media. ``We accept the challenge.'' Of course, Cigar is only the biggest drawing card in the Pacific Classic, expected to include two-time winner Tinners Way, Gold Cup winner Siphon siphon (sī`fən, –fŏn), tube through which a liquid is lifted over an elevation by the pressure of the atmosphere and is then emptied at a lower level. , Dubai Cup runner-up Soul of the Matter, Strub Stakes winner Helmsman and Arlington runner-up Dramatic Gold. DEL MAR AT A GLANCE Dates: Today through Sept. 11. Racing every Wednesday through Monday. First post: 2 p.m. every day except: Fridays July 26, Aug. 2, 9 and 16, 4 p.m.; and Aug. 10, 12:30 p.m. Admission prices: $3 for general admission ($1 for ages 62 and over on weekdays), $6 for clubhouse. Extra for reserved seats. Major races: $300,000 Ramona Handicap for turf fillies and mares, Aug. 3; $300,000 Eddie Read Handicap The Eddie Read Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race for horses age three and up and is raced at a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf. The Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California hosts the $400,000, Grade I event, which is an important prep to the Breeders' for turf horses, Aug. 4; $1 million Pacific Classic, Aug. 10; $250,000 Del Mar Oaks The Del Mar Oaks is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies. The race carries a purse of $400,000 and is a Grade I event at a distance of one and one-eighth miles (9 furlongs) on the turf at the Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. for 3-year-old fillies, Aug. 18; $250,000 Del Mar Debutante for 2-year-old fillies, Aug. 25; $300,000 Del Mar Derby The Del Mar Derby is an American thoroughbred horse race run each year at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The race is open to horses of either gender, age three, willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the turf. for 3-year-olds, Sept. 2; $250,000 Del Mar Futurity The Del Mar Futurity is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. Beginning in the racing season of 2007, this race has been upgraded by the American Graded Stakes Committee from a Grade II event to a Grade I. for 2-year-olds, Sept. 11. Wagering: $2 win, place, show, exacta ex·act·a n. A method of betting, as on a horserace, in which the bettor must correctly pick those finishing in the first and second places in precisely that sequence. Also called perfecta. and quinella qui·nel·la also qui·nie·la n. A system of betting in which the bettor, in order to win, must pick the first two finishers of a race, but not necessarily in the correct sequence. on each race; $1 trifecta tri·fec·ta n. A system of betting in which the bettor must pick the first three winners in the correct sequence. Also called triple. [tri- + (per)fecta.] on each race with eight or more betting interests; $2 doubles on first two and last two races; $3 overlapping pick threes; $2 pick six on last six races; $1 ``place pick all.'' How to get there: Take the San Diego Freeway The San Diego Freeway (Interstate 405, and the part of Interstate 5 south of the El Toro Y[1]) is one of the principal north-south highways in Southern California, and the major beltway of I-5 running through Southern California. (5) to Via de la Valle and exit to the right. The track is about 100 miles from Los Angeles. Off-track wagering: Bets on Del Mar races can be placed at Santa Anita, Hollywood Park and 15 other satellites in Southern California. Simulcasts: Del Mar will take bets on Northern California races and selected out-of-state stakes. On TV: Track announcer Trevor Denman, back from his Hollywood Park break, will host an 8 p.m. replays show on Channel 56. By phone: Del Mar results are available from Santa Anita at (818) 446-8501. CAPTION(S): Box Box: DEL MAR AT A GLANCE (see text) |
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