One of the joys of Del Mar, especially for dog lovers, is Dog Beach, located a few furlongs west of the racetrack grandstand beneath the iconic bluff that juts out toward the Pacific Ocean inlet to the San Dieguito River. It's a happy place where dogs of all colors, shapes and sizes bring their humans to watch them frolic in the sand and surf, chase tennis balls or Frisbees, or just get acquainted with one another.
Gwen, a yellow Labrador, was one of those dogs, dragging her human companion, Jimmy Joe Gooding, to Dog Beach for some playtime. When Gwen died, as our beloved pets sadly do, J.J. – as he is known to locals – decided to do something in Gwen's memory that would also be of therapeutic value to him.
Taking advantage of the city of Del Mar's “Adopt a Spot” program, Gooding applied for and received permission to create Gwen's Garden, a small plot of public land at the entrance to Dog Beach with a sidewalk that zig-zags through what was once a wasteland of mostly weeds and dead plants.
Over several years, Gooding transformed that wasteland into a beautiful memorial to Gwen and all the other dogs who enjoyed playtime at Dog Beach. He planted and maintains a variety of succulents, wild flowers, and native greenery, making Gwen's Garden a must-see stop for those who enjoy gardening or flowers or simply want to meditate over a lost canine friend.
Every time I walk through the garden, a smile comes to my face, thinking of the Paulick family's now departed dog, Spud, who annually endured long drives from Kentucky to Del Mar but seemed to find a fountain of youth at Dog Beach, making new friends on each visit.
During the course of the year, depending on the holiday or activities around town, you might see the garden decorated with Valentine's Day, Fourth of July, Halloween or inspirational signs for dog lovers. During the racing season, Gooding – who has served as a volunteer for the host committee when the Breeders' Cup is held at Del Mar – puts out longshot picks behind a miniature racing oval placed in the garden. You'll see him there almost every day tending to Gwen's Garden, watering, sweeping sand off the sidewalks, or decorating for the next holiday – often wearing a Breeders' Cup ballcap or shirt.
For me, the most poignant part of the garden are the hand-painted rocks that dog owners have bought to memorialize their own lost friends. Hundreds of rocks, with special tributes painted on them, have been placed there, reminding dog owners of the good times they had at Dog Beach with their faithful companions.
Now, on to the races.
By the Numbers
Last week, we reported on the first seven days of racing at Del Mar, pointing out that the percentage of winning favorites was just 27.1 percent – well below the norm – and that front-runners had not fared well on dirt or turf, winning just four of 40 races.
What a difference a week makes.
The four racing programs offered Aug. 3-6, were just the opposite, with 17 favorites winning the 38 races, a hefty 44.7 percent, and front-runners winning 15 of 38 contests. The percentage of winning favorites was almost identical on turf or dirt. Horses leading at every call won 10 of 20 dirt races (50 percent) and five of 18 on turf. Unlike the first two weeks, horses closing from the back one-third of the field had difficulty winning on dirt, with just two of 20 races won by a deep closer. Three of 18 turf races were won by horses closing from well off the pace.
Field size dropped from 9.7 runners per race to 8.5 in week three. It still stands at a healthy 9.3 average field size for the first 78 races over three weeks.
The first open 2-year-old stakes on dirt will be run this weekend for both fillies and colts/geldings, with Saturday's Grade 3 Sorrento presented by Keeneland Sales and Sunday's Best Pal Stakes. Not surprisingly, Bob Baffert figures to have the upper hand in both. Baffert has won both open maiden 2-year-old dirt races thus far and one of the two open maiden 2-year-old filly dirt races.
Baffert's winning filly, Zedan Racing Stables' Dua, won what appeared to be a very competitive filly race July 22 and will be the likely favorite in Saturday's Sorrento.
While the Best Pal entries have not been released yet, Heartland was the more impressive of Baffert's two male 2-year-old maiden winners, the Justify colt breaking last in a six-horse field, then putting in a strong rally to win going away by two lengths under leading rider John Hernandez. Heartland races for CHC Inc. Siena Farm, and WinStar Farm.
Couple of reminders about week four at Del Mar, which begins on Thursday with an eight-race card that kicks off at 2 p.m. PT. Friday's new post time is 3:30 p.m. PT and the Pick 6 will have a $1-million single ticket winner guarantee on Saturday and a mandatory payout on Sunday.
The post Del Mar Summer: A Side Trip To Dog Beach And Gwen’s Garden appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
