Caliente Casino HistoryGet to Know the Other Side of San Diego
Caliente is a recognized Mexican company with a growing international presence. The company has benefitted from over 100 years experience in the entertainment gaming industry, casinos that operate all functions with modern electronic gaming terminals, bingo halls, sports betting and simulcast live greyhound racing and horse racing.
The Historic Hipodromo Aguacaliente Casino
Their tradition dates back to 1916, when it created the first racecourse in Tijuana, Baja California. The facility later became known as the Agua Caliente Racetrack. The initial track location was near the U.S./Mexico border and the six horse races on opening day drew 10,000 Californians who were denied betting legally on horse racing at home. The current company name, Caliente, owes its lineage to this venerable racetrack. With an initial focus on Race & Sports Book operations, Caliente began to develop its presence in several states of Mexico and ultimately, expansion to countries within Central America, South America and Europe.
Hollywood Celebrities Flocked to Caliente
From the very beginning, Caliente attracted celebrities. Western cowboy Tom Mix was once an honorary field judge at the racetrack. World famous boxer Jack Dempsey, who went on to become one of the principals of the Riviera Resort and Casino in Ensenada, was also an honorary starter at Caliente. Charlie Chaplin, John Barrymore, Babe Ruth, Wallace Beery, Buster Keaton, Al Jolson, Constance Collier and Jean Harlow all visited Caliente during its heyday.
Guests were entertained in the lounge by the song and dance team of Rita Hayworth (Margarita Cansino) and her father who were billed as “The Cansinos.” The daughter of Spanish dancer Eduardo Cansino and his Irish wife Volga Haworth, young Rita was eventually “discovered” in Baja by a Fox Studios executive. By the early 1940s she was a Hollywood star, featured in movies with the likes of Tyrone Power and James Cagney.
The publicity surrounding the Caliente Race Track and its predecessor, the Tijuana Jockey Club, helped attract top horses from the very beginning. In 1917, the Spreckels Handicap which offered a $4,000 purse to the winner honored the man who helped resurrect the track. It grew in value and prestige until 1930 when its name was changed and it became the Agua Caliente Handicap, the first in North America to offer a $100,000 purse.
Agua Caliente was the site of several industry firsts
Horses were attracted from all over, including the eastern U.S. and abroad. The great Australian horse Phar Lap won the Agua Caliente Handicap in 1932, earning that richest purse in North America. In 1938 the indomitable Seabiscuit also won the Agua Caliente Handicap, as did the popular horse Round Table 20 years later.
Agua Caliente was the site of several industry firsts, including starting gates, safety helmets, and “pick six” wagering. Caliente’s famous 5-10 was the forerunner to many pick-six wagers and had big payoffs.
By the early 1990s the active horse racing had closed down and was replaced by greyhound racing which has continued to this day. Many dogs break in at Caliente where there are 13 races every night and matinee races on weekends. Greyhound races: Monday to Friday from 7:45 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 2 p.m.
Caliente is the most important gaming entertainment company in Mexico.
Caliente has far more experience than any of its competitors in the gaming industry in Mexico.
The company has pioneered a number of unique innovations for the gambling business, gaining a worldwide reputation for its viable contributions to the gaming entertainment sector. Today, a significant number of international betting companies operate with systems and procedures of play originally developed by Caliente.
In 1998, Caliente began a diversification program through a strategic alliance with the Spanish group Codere. The first step was the introduction of well-known traditional bingo to Mexico. Full-featured Vegas-styled electronic gaming machines followed a few years later, appealing to a new generation of gamers. In this field, Caliente is the absolute leader in Mexico. The Agua Caliente Racetrack, located in the city of Tijuana, now houses the most electronic gaming machines in Mexico with more than nine hundred machines installed. It now rightfully claims to be the best and most modern such facility in the country.
Caliente has distinguished itself for its focus on infrastructure and technological development. The client experience is of the highest order. Patrons are treated to a high caliber entertainment experience while enjoying luxury, comfort and excellent service – all in a safe atmosphere.