WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DEL MAR

÷ Situated on the Pacific Coast, 20 miles north of San Diego. ÷ Opened in July 1937 when Bing Crosby, one of the founding partners, was on the gate to welcome the first visitors. ÷ A playground for Hollywood celebrities either side of the Second World War when regular visitors included Betty Grable, a keen owner and breeder, Dorothy Lamour, Ava Gardner, Lucille Ball, Oliver Hardy, WC Fields and Jimmy Durante. ÷ Before each meeting, a recording of Crosby singing

‘Where The Surf Meets The

Turf’ is played — but tonight it will be performed live by Bon Jovi’s Richie Sambora.

The track is a one-mile oval with cambered bends. Some race distances are different this year because of the lay-out.

The short run from the home turn is just over a furlong (817ft).

Despite its tight configuration, the track tends to favour late finishers.

The top jockey this year is US-based Frenchman Flavien Prat.