Last year during a trying summer meeting at Del Mar, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert offered an antidote to the run of bad luck.
"Wait and see what that new dirt track will do for Del Mar," he said. "You'll see that old Del Mar vibe back."
A year later, buoyed by having American Pharoah, the sport's first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, stabled on the Del Mar backstretch in Baffert's barn, Del Mar begins its 76th racing season Thursday. There's hope that the new El Segundo sand will produce exciting and safe racing.
Del Mar is known for its party atmosphere, concerts and special events, but the two things that sealed the deal for the storied track to get the 2017 Breeders' Cup was replacing the controversial Polytrack with a dirt track and the expansion of the turf course.