DEL MAR (CBS 8) - What began on July 20 with the roar of over 45,000 ends with a whisper, or at least a whimper.
"I'm going to be very sad. I feel like crying today," an attendee said.
Among the horse owners and trainers, closing day at Del Mar is known as "get-away day". For patrons, It's get even day.
Leading jockey Joel Rosario has already wrapped his third consecutive Del Mar riding title.
"To be here in Del Mar is amazing, all the people you see here who come to support it, it's a really good feeling," Joel said.
The meet has been a success. Attendance has been good, about equal to last year, although patrons have bet fewer dollars.
"If you bet liberal, you win liberal," an attendee said.
"It's just been a smooth meet. The track's held up well -- I have nothing to complain about and I'm certainly not finding anybody feeling sorry for us," Joe Harper of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club said.
But for today, for the well-heeled and the high-heeled, for big-buckers and Two-Buck Chuckers, it was the last chance for romance.
On this long, hot, last day of a very cool season, this annual San Diego summer ritual ends with a little pomp and circumstance and the usual final rallying cry.
"I can't wait 'til next year," attendees said.
