Over the Top? Del Mar Hats Crazy as Ever at Opener

The 76th season of thoroughbred racing at the Del Mar Racetrack began Thursday, led off by the annual Opening Day Hats Contest.

More than $5,000 in prizes were up for grabs in the hats contest at the Plaza de Mexico. Judging took place in the categories of Most Glamorous, Best Racing Theme, Funniest/Most Outrageous, Best Fascinator and Flowers/All Others.

The grand prize winner gets a Harrah’s Resort Southern California Luxury Resort Escape with two-night stay in a hotel suite, $200 meal credit and $200 spa credit.

Category winners get $300 and $100 Studio Savvy gift certificate. The second place prize is $200 and third place $100.

The 40-day racing season features a new dirt track that replaces a synthetic surface that was in place for eight years.

According to the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, about 31,000 tons of dirt known as El Segundo sand — drawn from the El Segundo area near Los Angeles International Airport — was placed on the one-mile oval. The same material is also used at Santa Anita.

The dirt track will also require less water than the former surface, according to the DMTC.

The dirt oval has already been tested by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. The champion horse is working out at Del Mar in preparation for an Aug. 2 run at Monmouth Park in New Jersey, but is not expected to race locally.

As usual, the highlight of the Del Mar season will be the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic — scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 22. The day will also include the $250,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes and $250,000 Del Mar Handicap.

The Opening Day featured race was the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds, run on the one-mile turf track.

The racetrack’s summer concert series is scheduled to begin Friday, with the Wallflowers. Eleven concerts are planned during the racing season on Fridays and Saturdays.

Opening Day admission was $10 for the Stretch Run and $20 for the clubhouse — above the usual $6 and $10, respectively. Reserved seating cost $25 on Opening Day.

Starting around 11 a.m., opening day traffic was expected to cause delays along Interstate 5 in both directions near Via de la Valle, according to Caltrans.

For patrons who want to take public transportation, the North County Transit District’s Coaster train will stop at the Solana Beach station. Passengers may board shuttle buses for the ride to the racetrack.

Because of the large crowds that are expected, passengers are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance, either online or on smartphones.

The NCTD’s promotional “Pony Express” tickets are not valid on Opening Day.

Amtrak will also stop at Solana Beach during the racing season, which runs Wednesdays through Sundays until Sept. 7.

— City News Service

Kita Johnson from San Diego gets her photo taken before the hats are judged. Chris Stone photo

While some visitors took part in the hat contest, others wore colorful hats in the spirit of opening day. Chris Stone photo

An aficionado checks out the horses before the first race. Chris Stone photo

Amparo Brean took part in the hat contest. Chris Stone photo

Opening Day attendees enjoyed the pleasant weather, champagne and the action on the track. Chris Stone photo

Sasha Feredoni and Danielle Ciacci arrive for the opening day festivities at the Del Mar Racetrack. Chris Stone photo

Theresa Cavalier, Megan Fitzgerald and Chris Russell arrive for the opening day festivities at the race track. Chris Stone photo

Vanessa Jackson and Seneca Bard enjoy opening day at the races. Chris Stone photo

Hope Parker of Los Angeles showed off her opening day hat. Chris Stone photo

Julietta Bauman and Gabriella Butler attended in the spirit of opening day. Chris Stone photo

Sonya Besner of Montreal is making her 13th visit to the Del Mar Racetrack. Chris Stone photo

Nonna McGrew, Gayana Berry and Angela Schatz enjoy the festivities at opening day at the Del Mar Racetrack. Chris Stone photo

Connie Wang of Pittsburgh smiles with her Minion hat. Chris Stone photo

Kelly Mangen of Laguna Niguel shows off her hat with spinners. Chris Stone photo

Opening day was a chance for ladies to show off their best hats. Chris Stone photo

Richard Polachek displays his paddock model hat. Chris Stone photo

Kita Johnson, Josh Cangelosi and Cheri Cangelosi enjoy themselves as they compete in the opening day hat contest. Chris Stone photo

Cheri Cangelosi, who moved from New Orleans to San Diego, sports her colorful floral hat. Chris Stone photo

Ana Flora Royer of Escondido wears her 8-pound floral hat. Chris Stone photo

Virginia Demoss of San Diego shows her colorful hat with roses. Chris Stone photo

Liliana Prieto spent about 100 hours creating her 7-pound hat. Chris Stone photo

Kelsie Tine sports her colorful butterfly hat. Chris Stone photo

Ana Leyrer (left) and Teresa Leyrer got a lot of attention at the opening day at the Del Mar Racetrack. (File photo by Chris Stone/Times of San Diego)

Shevon Brean, Janita Salazar and Amparo Brean (left to right) posed for photos. Chris Stone photo

Deborah Boyd, a retired sheriff’s deputy, arrived in an elegant hat. Chris Stone photo

Lori Shelton of Scripps Ranch sports a colorful hat. Chris Stone photo

Jeanne Irwin smiles as visitors photograph her Balboa Park hat complete with a tower. Chris Stone photo

Kita Johnson shows off her shimmering headdress. Chris Stone photo

Donna Greer and Les Sutter show off their horse-themed hats on Opening Day of the Del Mar Races. Chris Stone photo