Gearing Up for the Surf Dog Surf-a-Thon at Dog Beach in Del Mar CA

Folks, and canines, are gearing up for the SURF DOG SURF-A-THON being held this coming Sunday, September 11, Sunday September 25th at Dog Beach (a.k.a. North Beach) in Del Mar, CA. (Note - due to the massive power outage yesterday in San Diego they JUST rescheduled from Sept. 11 to the 25th).

Visit Dog Beach in Del Mar, CA

This heart warming event, being held on a particularly momentous day, raises funds to support the Helen Woodward Animal Center, as well as provide education and awareness about pet ownership and responsibility.

Never saw a dog surf before? Well this is your chance to see lots of canine surfers dressed in their finest surfing gear, or bare naked!

There will be lots of fun, plenty of vendors, great food, and of course spectacular beach weather.

Dog Beach is located on the Coast Road/Route 101 at the north end of Del Mar just past the Via de la Valle intersection in Solana Beach. Parking is NOT free and it is limited so expect to park a bit of a distance and walk. But who cares!

Surf Dog Surf-a-Thon

Dog Beach – Del Mar, CA

Sunday September 11, September 25, 2011

Want to LIVE near this terrific beach? Well, you can, at the Del Mar Beach Colony just to the south. Gorgeous ocean views can be yours but it's NOT for the faint of budget, given that a number of homes have direct beach frontage.

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Search for Del Mar Beach Colony Homes for Sale

I'm a Del Mar Race Track junkie. Actually, I've been a fan of horseracing since I was a kid, playing at the Garden State Park, in my hometown of Cherry Hill, NJ. When I moved to Solana Beach, I was attracted to the the beach, San Diego, and best of all, the proximity of the World Famous Del Mar Race Track.

One of my favorite things to do is to take my daughter to breakfast for the morning workouts. The horses start working out at 5AM and the track opens at 7:30AM. You can enjoy a delicious breakfast buffett for less than $10.00 (includes coffee and juice). From the Del Mar Turf Club website:

Early risers have a chance to catch morning workouts and breakfast in the Clubhouse Terrace Restaurant every Saturday and Sunday during the season. From 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., trackside announcer and former jockey Jeff Bloom will provide you behind-the-scenes information while you get an up-close look at many of your favorite horses while they tune up for their next race. A buffet with many breakfast favorites is offered.

To attend, park in the main lot off Jimmy Durante Blvd., then proceed through the Clubhouse entrance to the second floor. There is no charge for admission to the event, but an $8 parking fee applies. (Those buying two or more breakfasts will have the parking price deducted off the price of their bill.)

Above is the mural Pierre Bellocq painted for the 70th Anniversary of the Track. When I walk around the clubhouse, I'm reminded that I'm tracing the footsteps of Bing Crosby, Desi Arnaz, and Jimmy Durante. In fact, all of those men were ushers at St James Church (now in Solana Beach) during the race season. My daughter Maggie and I "substitute" as ushers when someone goes on vacation. As you can see below, Maggie always wants to be part of the Del Mar Scene:

The majesty of a thoroughbred race horse awes me:

Workout riders have their hands full. The success of a horse's next race is often in their hands:

The rider beckons the horse to run a bit as he starts the workout:

Here is nationally-known horse Zenyatta, breezing past the finish line. My home is just on the other side of the hill beyond the finish line:

When all goes according to plan, your horse will win and you'll be standing in the Winner's Circle, like Maggie.

Dog Beach in Del Mar, also know as North Beach to area residents, is probably one of the better known beaches in our area, at least to dog owners and their dogs. And it's not far from Carlsbad either.

Read More: Del Mar Real Estate

There are limited places at the beach when dogs can frolic (unleashed, even, from Labor Day until June 18) with other dogs and their owners, and Dog Beach is undoubtedly the best known. I get questions from buyers frequently about where they can take their dogs, so having a place like Dog Beach to refer them to is great. You will see dogs, and owners, of all shapes and sizes and on a crowded day it's quite a sight.

Parking can get hairy on the weekends and especially during the summer, unless you are willing to walk a distance (on street parking is on the west side of the coast road just north of the beach). Know that the parking IS NOT free - there is a honor pay machine and woe be to those who try to park and enjoy the beach without paying. You might get away with it, but the fines can be stiff, so it's hardly worth being cheap.

The beach is located at the north end of town just before Solana Beach (at the north end of the Del Mar Beach Colony). The San Dieguito River flows into the ocean here, forming a natural boundary. BTW it's not a shabby part of the beach to by - nearby homes on the market currently range from $14,000,000 to about $20,000,000 - there's a $50 M listing about ¼ further south with beach frontage.

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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2008 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits