Del Mar, Ca -- For the 70th time, the crowds descending on the city of Del Mar for Opening Day of the horse racing season.  Long lines at the gates and concession stands and heavy traffic along both sides of interstate 5 did little to diminish the revelry as gamblers and horse lovers rejoiced in a new racing season.

The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club broke its 1996 single day attendance record by almost 700.  The official attendance was 44,907 besting the previous record of 44,181 set in 1996 when Dare and Go upset Cigar in the Pacific Classic.  The previous Opening Day record was set last year at 43,459.

Much of the pre-race media coverage was devoted to the three year old synthetic surface that was installed to limit horse injuries and fatalities.  In its first year of use, the Polytrack, reduced horse fatalities from 26 the previous year to only 2.  However, in the first day of 2009 racing, a crash in the third race sent a jockey to the hospital and caused the death of a horse.

Sacramento, Ca -- Even though the Governor has canceled a evening legislative budget session, the big 5 in Sacramento appear to be edging towards agreement on the now $23B budget deficit.  As new details on the deal emerge, this budget will look to close the deficit completely.

It is now all but certain that Sacramento will take $5B from cities to help balance the budget.  The theft of local funds will hit municipal services such as fire, police and local services below the belt.  The Governor's promise that "the road stops here" means after it runs over local government.

The Governor and Republican members of the Legislature have repeatedly promised "not to push the problem down the road by borrowing."  However, the budget deal includes taking almost $5 million away from cities by borrowing $2 billion Prop 1A (passed in 2004 by 83% of voters), taking of $1.75 billion HUTA (Highway Users Tax Account), and taking of $1 billion from RDA (Annual Redevelopment Agency.)
 

Del Mar, Ca -- Former Bilbray Chief of Staff and longtime San Diegan, Steve Danon has announced his bid to challenge San Diego County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price.  Mr. Danon lives in Carmel Valley with his wife and two children.

Mr. Danon has worked in San Diego politics for nearly twenty years as an activist and a political consultant.  His website highlights his work to fight the closure of the UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest and his efforts to secure funds for the Teaching, Education and Research Institute, a school for autistic children.

Defeating sitting supervisors has proved historically difficult and particularly impossible since 1992.  Since San Diego Supervisors were given what critics call a "slush fund" of two million dollars annually to spend on local community projects within their districts, no incumbent Supervisor has lost an election.  Supervisor Slater-Price was elected to the position in 1992.  She lives in Del Mar with her husband.