We've listed a few ideas below, but this list is by no means exhaustive.  A good travel agent can help you develop a tailored vacation that integrates horse racing with the other activities on your list.

Calder

"Miami really does cater to action-oriented visitors from around the globe." Jennifer Haz, the Assistant Media Relations Manager at the    Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau remarked.  She added that, in addition to thoroughbred racing, the track features “…fun group outings (free family days) and picnics. Also, its located next to Land Shark Stadium (formerly known as Dolphin Stadium) so during downtime visitors can catch a football or baseball game or go for a round of golf at Shula's Hotel & Golf Club. There's an Aveda Spa there for wives.”

The richest day in sprints, the upcoming $1.4 million Summit of Speed on July 11, is a great event to plan around.  In only nine short years, Summit has attracted top horses, jockeys and trainers from across the country and has appealed to handicappers as well, with a record of over $10 million wagered on a single Summit of Speed day.  Horses from coast to coast as well as a strong local contingent have been nominated to the tenth annual Summit of Speed, including last year's Eclipse Award winning sprint champions, Benny the Bull and Indian Blessing.   

Location: Calder is 20 minutes from both Miami International and Fort Lauderdale Airports. Located on the Broward (Ft. Lauderdale) / Dade (Miami) county line, the Florida Turnpike, I-95, U.S. 441, the Palmetto Expressway and 27th Avenue (University Drive) all provide convenient routes to Calder from Broward, Dade and Palm Beach counties.

Race Schedule: Late April - Early January

Highlights: Long racing season.  Can combine racing with a beach vacation.  Less than 2 blocks from the stadium where the NFL Dolphins and the MLB Marlins play.

Notable Events: Summit of Speed: July 11 (Over $1,450,000 in Stakes Races; All-Graded Stakes Pick 4); Juvenile Showcase: August 29, 2009 (Play the All-Stakes Pick 4); Festival of the Sun: October 17 ($1,300,000 in Stakes Races; 7 Spectacular Stakes; All-Stakes Pick 4; Horse Fair 2009; Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and Retired Thoroughbred Ceremony); Florida Million: November 14 (Over $1 Million in Stakes Races; Play the ALL-STAKES Pick 4); Tropical Park Derby - 1st Derby of the year.

Tips: Hotel discounts on the Calder Race Course site.  Hotels recommended through the website are also great places to brush shoulders with well known trainers, jockeys and other racing professionals. http://www.calderracecourse.com/visit/accommodations.  There are some great family packages available for those looking to visit http://www.miamiandbeaches.com/special_offers/index.asp. Calder's website calderracecourse.com and Calder's fan page on Facebook are great resources. Players should join the Twin Spires Club. Calder has a unique exotic bet - the Super Hi-5, a multi-track Hi-5 wager, with potential for huge same day carryover and payout.  In 2010, Calder will be opening a casino featuring 1,225 slot machines and a 30 table poker room.

Italian family-style restaurant Anthony’s Runway 84 in Fort Lauderdale is a favorite of horse owners and other racing enthusiasts. The authentic Argentinean steakhouse Las Brisas Restaurant on Hollywood Beach has great racing photos on the wall and is frequented by jockeys. Saratoga Ristorante Italiano in downtown Hollywood is owned by longtime horseman Mal Burrows and has racing art by popular Saratoga artist Flores. And perhaps the oldest restaurant with a racing tradition is Tropical Acres, the oldest steakhouse in Broward county, having been around since 1950.

South Florida is known for its Latin influence and the racetrack is no different. If you want to experience the real culture of Miami, take in racing from Latin America at Calder's Latin American Central at the track. Races are featured from Uruguay, Argentina and Chile. Plus, note the jockey roster, as it is full of young Latin jockey sensations. Last year's Eclipse award winning jockey, Mexican Paco Lopez, raced at Calder and so does Eddie Castro, who graduated from the Panamanian jockey school. Eddie set the world record for most wins in a single day at Calder Race Course. In addition to Latin jockeys, there are many Latin trainers and owners, some who even raced at Oriental Park in Havana Cuba. Another example of successful Latin trainers is Mexican trainer Javier Negrete who trains the "little horse that could" Finallymadeit. This successful Calder-based horse has earned almost a million dollars, and many times at a price. Bettors can find value looking for these hidden-gem horses by studying the trainer base at Calder.
Del Mar

When asked why vacationers would visit Del Mar, Mac McBride of the Del Mar Thoroughbreds Club replied, “The question is, ‘Why wouldn’t anyone want to come to Del Mar?” In addition to the great racing and wonderful location right next to the Pacific Ocean, McBride offered additional details about this year’s program and the Del Mar experience.  “One of the things we’re going to do this summer… and it ties into the current economy, is recognizing the fact that everyone is very aware of bargains, deals… We’re doing a thing called Free and Easy Wednesdays.  With Free and Easy Wednesdays, we’ll give you free admission; we’ll give you a free program; we’ll give you a free seat; and with that will give you 50% off a beer, a soft drink or a hot dog.  And not just one, but as many as you want.  That’s going to happen every Wednesday throughout our meet.  Not opening day, the 22nd, but every Wednesday after that.” Opening day, according to McBride, is a special attraction in and of itself with an expected attendance of over 40,000.  “Opening day is usually a pretty good party here.” 

McBride provided additional information about specific programs and events.  “We have free concerts here every Friday night.  We have several free concerts on the weekend. I will tell you, we run the biggest singles club in San Diego every Friday night here. We have anywhere from 5000-8000 young [people] in their 20s and 30s here catching a nice rock band and getting the weekend started right…
We’re having a huge concert in conjunction with our biggest race this year, the one million dollar Pacific Classic, which is going to be on Labor Day, Sunday September 6th.  We’ve got three other major stakes that day.  It’s going to be a terrific day of racing.  Actually, between Friday and Monday, Labor Day the 7th, we’ve got 11 stakes races.  It’s going to be the best weekend of racing ever in the history of Del Mar.  It’s going to be really a whopper of way to finish up the season!”

In addition to the big events and concerts, there are low-key ways to enjoy Del Mar.  “We have all our usual bells and whistles.  Great kids days every weekend out in our infield.  We have doughnuts in Del Mar, where we get a famous jockey or trainer to come for the day.  We have Daybreak at Del Mar breakfasts Saturday and Sundays -- $ 9.99 all you can eat for breakfast.  Sit down in the beautiful sunshine and watch the horses work out in front of you.  It’s one of the coolest and best deals around, no doubt about it.”  Mc Bride concludes.   “It’s Del Mar: We have the beautiful ladies.  We have the beautiful horses.  They run fast.  Why wouldn’t you want to come?”
Location: Del Mar is located just west of I-5 at the Via de la Valle exit, 20 miles north of San Diego and 100 miles south of Los Angeles. Both Amtrak and Coaster (local commuter) trains stop at the nearby Solana Beach station. Del Mar provides a free shuttle (Double Decker buses) to and from the track. Get off at the Solana Beach station and look for the free double-decker buses.

Race Schedule: July 22 - September 9

Highlights: Concerts. Stakes races. Close to the beach. San Diego Highlights include: San Diego's rejuvenated downtown area, San Diego Zoo and Coronado Beach. 

Notable Events: Wednesday, July 22- Opening Day and Hats Contest; Sunday, July 26- Family Fun Day with Kids Giveaway; Saturday, August 1- Craft Microbrew Festival; Saturday, August 8- Long-Sleeve T-Shirt Giveaway; Sept. 4-7- Pacific Classic Racing Festival; Sunday, Sept. 6- $1 Million Pacific Classic Race

Tips: The Del Mar website has a list of nearby hotels and motels and vacation rentals at     http://www.dmtc.com/season/community/accommodations.php, and restaurants at http://www.dmtc.com/season/community/restaurants.php.

The San Diego Costal Chamber of Commerce also lists hotels and restaurants http://www.delmarchamber.org/DELmar.html

Saratoga

Dan Silver, Director of Communications & Media Relations for the New York Racing Association, is confident that Saratoga will please those looking for a horse racing vacation.  “Saratoga is the perfect vacation destination for a horse racing fan!” he says.  The oldest race course in the nation and in North America is steeped with history.  In addition, Saratoga Springs, home of the famous racetrack, offers a relaxing escape.  “You would be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful and serene setting than Saratoga Springs during the summer. There are a number of parks and lakes in the area that anyone would love to visit, in addition to of course the famous rejuvenating springs that the town has to offer.”

In terms of tips for those coming for a visit, he recommends, “I would suggest that they come out to the Breakfast at Saratoga program and watch the morning workouts at the track. A buffet breakfast is served every racing day from 7 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. I would also recommend that any racing fan visit the expanded backyard English/SoCal Racing Tent, presented by Hendrick’s Gin. Racing fans can watch and wager on the best of British racing in the mornings and enjoy twilight simulcasting from the West coast in the tent, which features Hendrick’s Gin, small-batch libations, a full bar, and southern California-style fare for purchase. Really, there are so many fun things to do at the track that you can’t go wrong just walking around and taking in the surroundings!”
Location: About 3 hours North of New York City in Saratoga Springs.

Race Schedule: July 29 - September 7, W-M

Highlights: 141st year. Steeped with history and sophistication.  Oldest race course in the nation and in North America.  Beautiful parks and lakes in the area.  Rejuvenating natural springs. 

Notable Events: $1 Million Shadwell Tavers Stakes; 2009 Opening Day: July 29; Annual Open House: July 26; Hats Off Weekend: July 31 - Aug 1; Travers Stakes Festival: Aug 22 – 30; Travers Stakes: Aug 29; Final Stretch Weekend: Sept 4 – 7

Tips:  Breakfast at Saratoga.  Buffet breakfast and watch the workouts. The website has hotel and dining information.  For more information visit the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce online at http://www.saratoga.org / and the Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau at http://www.discoversaratoga.org/ . 


International

If you are looking for a horse racing experience outside North America, Horse Racing Trips Worldwide specializes in horse racing vacation travel abroad and in North America.  The trips listed on the website include a vacation to the Arlington Million in August, Le Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris in September, the November Breeders’ Cup, the Dubai World Cup and the Royal Ascot.  According to George Wagner, President of Horse Racing Trips Worldwide, “We focus on the big meets, the big races.” When describing what he looks for when developing a racing trip, he explained, “We look for something unique, a unique event or a unique track or a lot of tradition.  We also try to pick locations with a lot to offer so that the non-racing spouse can find things of interest, because most people don’t travel by themselves.” For people who are serious about getting the most from a horse racing vacation, Wagner recommends, “Try to deal with an experienced and reputable travel company that specializes in horse racing travel.  They can assure that you get the best seating and dining on your trip.”

To browse for international events, the site WhatsOnWhen allows users to search for horse racing events worldwide. Search parameters allow users to screen by location, date and keywords.