TRACK FOR ALL APPEAL TO RICH AND POOR MAKES DEL MAR MOST POPULAR.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

DEL MAR - A middle-aged man watches intently as the odds for the second race flash on an overhead monitor, his right hand in the pocket of his pressed slacks and the other clutching a track program.

``So, who do you like?''

The man glances to his right, toward the voice, and spots a 20-something dude in a surfing T-shirt, knee-length shorts and dirty white sneakers, clutching nothing but a beer in a plastic cup.

Welcome to the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, the land of juxtapositions and a treasure not known to many Southern California racing fans because of its location in north San Diego County. Which is not to say the track is unpopular, by any measure.

Del Mar, founded by entertainer Bing Crosby in 1937 and long known as a playground for his Hollywood buddies, now attracts an eclectic group of young and old, male and female, rich and poor, a desirable mix that every track strives.

``Executives from other tracks come here,'' Del Mar spokesman C.P. ``Mac'' McBride said, ``and they say, 'Where in the world did you get all these young people?' ''

Del Mar's summer season lasts less than two months (July 26-Sept. 13), which draws average weekday crowds of 14,000-16,000, doubling that of the averages of Hollywood Park or Santa Anita.

The track hosts its premier event, the 10th Pacific Classic, on Saturday, and it is a perfect opportunity for a Del Mar neophyte to experience one of the country's most popular, scenic and historic racetracks.

For those thinking of making their initial trek south to Del Mar, here is a primer for the first-timer. Keep in mind that where you should go at Del Mar depends largely on what you would like to accomplish.

A good percentage of the people you will encounter have only a vague awareness that a sport is actually taking place on the premises, and if they bet, they usually pick winners based on their favorite color or number.

If that's the crowd you prefer to hang with, proceed straight to the infield. It's strictly a fraternity environment, just without the house and swimming pool. Local college students enjoy the summer sun, not quite as much as they enjoy the concession stands that serve a variety of adult beverages.

``You should see them after around the fourth or fifth race,'' one track employee said. ``They're really a lot of fun then.''

The video board, and most of the main track, is mostly invisible from the infield, which doesn't seem to bother its inhabitants, who often bring along lawn chairs and coolers.

If you forgot the sunscreen, or you came up a few years short of Generation X, there's still plenty of fun to be had on the other side of the track. The grandstand is five levels high, with each level seeming to have its own individual feel and ambiance.

--Fifth level: This is for the diehards, the serious handicappers who are hard at work 90 minutes before the first post, hunched over in general-admission seats. There is little flair to this floor, just a couple concession booths and a bathroom or two, but the regulars don't seem to mind the lack of amenities.

It's worth a trip to the top though, for one race anyway. From a seat at the top of Section 18, you have a clear view of the track, obstructed only by a few supporting beams, and over your left shoulder, you can see the Pacific Ocean, just a few hundred yards away. Remember, this is Del Mar, ``where the surf meets the turf.''

--Fourth level: For those willing to spend a couple extra dollars, the box seats on the fourth floor offer the best view of the track. This is also the level of the Turf Club, where the track's elite reside.

If you want to escape the traditional stadium fare of hot dogs and peanuts, give the ``Trifecta Carver'' a try.

--Third level: There's a lot going on here, and it takes a while to walk around and soak in the atmosphere. Make sure you stop by the elevator/stairs areas, and look at the pictures of Del Mar's past. When Del Mar was remodeled in 1993, race officials remained sensitive to the track's glorious past, and made sure to leave many visual reminders around the track.

Here are a couple of tips: First, if you need a quiet place to handicap, head for any one of three small, enclosed rooms that offer a concession booth and several small tables where the horseplayer can watch the monitor and make some tough decisions.

Also, there is a small balcony just beyond the Pizza Hut stand that offers a perfect, unobstructed view of the paddock area. But beware, this is designed as a smoking area.

Another balcony houses a booth for a local radio station, which plays rock music and gives away promotional items.

As a side note, there isn't much difference between the grandstand and the clubhouse, except for the three extra dollars you have to pay at the gate. The food options are essentially the same, and the accommodations are no more plush. On the third floor, it might be more fun to be in the grandstand.

--Second level: The main attraction here is on the clubhouse side, the Clubhouse Terrace Cafe. The track converted several rows of box seats into an outdoor cafe. For $68, you get four clubhouse admissions and a table for four for the afternoon, where you can watch the entire race card and have food brought to your table.

The idea is similar to Santa Anita's ``Finish Line'' restaurant, but Del Mar's cafe puts you closer to the action. The cafe has become so popular that advance orders must be made.

--First level: This is the heart of Del Mar, where generations and genders mingle near the paddock and crowd the rail to yell and encourage their picks. It's also the best place to enjoy the track's Spanish Mission architecture and brand new video board.

Who knows, maybe you'll even make money, but at Del Mar, you probably won't mind if you go home with a lighter wallet.

``We try to make it fun for everybody,'' McBride said. ``If you just want to play the horses, that's great. If you want to come and party, that's great. If you want to do more than just bet on horses, we think we'll be able to accommodate that.''

10TH PACIFIC CLASSIC

When: Saturday

Purse: $1 million

Post time: 12:30 p.m.

Information: [phone]. On the Web: www.delmarracing.co

CAPTION(S):

photo, box, map

Photo: (color) The racing action isn't always most important for fans at Del Mar.

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

Box: 10th Pacific Classic (see text) Map: Del Mar Racetrack