1948: The prize list for the third annual Del Mar National offered stall rent for $10.00/horse-tack stalls (first bedding included) for the duration of the show. Sleeping stalls and horse feed cost nothing. The Del Mar Airport advertised in the prize list its convenient location, “just 2,500 feet to National Horse Show arena”. Ringside boxes were $125.00 for the week, tax included, and providing six seats for eight performances
1966: A five-year-old mare, Paniolo, made headlines when she competed in a jumper class the day before giving birth to a healthy foal.
1973: The August issue of Horses Magazine proclaimed, “The 28th renewal of the Southern California exposition National Horse Show, known to one and all as Del Mar. Ed Sullivan hadn’t seen a ‘really big show’ ‘til this one” the article continued. 1973 Show Manager Alan Balch was credited: “Alan knows this horse show better than anyone because he grew up working his way through the various phases of the operation,” Horses Magazine reported Linda Hough had “countless excellent rounds” and was Star of the Show, pictured receiving hunter awards with the late, legendary, Jimmy Williams.
1975: Di Ann Lundy, of Los Angeles, CA, captured the Santa Anita Perpetual Trophy awarded for Leading Rider. She and her mount, Danny, won Champion Jumper. Lundy won the Leading Rider award two years in a row, in 1974 and 1975.
1978: Local favorite, Hap Hansen was deemed Star of the Show at Del Mar in the August 1978 issue of Horses Magazine.
1984: The show attracted an International lineup of world- class riders from Japan, Mexico, and Canada as they prepared for Olympic competition.
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1990: Long-awaited construction began on the new $5.4 million arena complex now named the Del Mar Arena.
2003: In the $25,000 Lexus Grand Prix, Richard Spooner cleaned up by winning first and second place. Duncan McFarlane and his horse Ezrah won the $75,000 HBO Grand Prix of Del Mar, and Cathleen Calvert of La Jolla won the $25,000 Del Mar National Open Equitation Championship presented by Monarch International’s Show Circuit Magazine.
2004: Hunter/jumper week offered more prize money and a new grand prix qualifier with a record-breaking number of entries jumping a record number of rounds. Olympic hopefuls jumped at Del Mar prior to the USET Olympic Show Jumping Team Selection Trials held at the Del Mar Arena for the first time.
2005: Celebrating its diamond anniversary, the 60th Annual Del Mar National Horse Show all but sparkled as a lucky sellout crowd witnessed a shining historical moment in show jumping history. For the first time, a horse and rider combination successfully defended the $100,000 Grand Prix of Del Mar title. Rich Fellers, riding McGuiness, owned by Mollie & Harry Chapman, won the $100,000 HBO Grand Prix of Del Mar, an AGA event, for the second consecutive year. Technical Show Manager, Dale Harvey, commented, “It was amazing that we had to close the gates to accommodate standing-room-only crowds”. Going twenty-second in the order, McGuiness and Fellers achieved the first clean round, and the only clean round in a thrilling jump-off, finishing within the time allowed.
Mar Fairgrounds is an example, the future of horse showing in the west looks good. For many years the shows have been part of the top circuit that riders flock to, doesn’t look like that will change any time soon - if at all.
Since history is the central catalyst of the future, and if Del
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