We've lived here all our lives, but have never attended Opening Day at the Del Mar Races. I've always heard the hats that people wear on this day are extreme...so I couldn't wait to see it for my own eyes. Check out these pics from last year that I found - craziness! The famous hat contest they host is now in it's 18th year.
Del Mar Race history dates back to 1937 and this year marked it's 75th Season - bringing in it's new record of 47,339 anxious betters - so cool we were one of those people!
Del Mar Race history dates back to 1937 and this year marked it's 75th Season - bringing in it's new record of 47,339 anxious betters - so cool we were one of those people!
Just another gorgeous SD day! |
Here are some of the hats I saw upon walking in...
Here are this year's winners & runner up's for these categories:
- Best Racing Theme
- Funniest or Most Outrageous
- Most Glamorous
- Best Flowers/All Others
- Best Fascinator
And here's MY hat! I couldn't have been more pleased with the outcome... everything was bought at Michael's. So with the vision in my head & a hot glue gun in my hand - I went to work, literally the night before Opening Day!
Voila!
Me & my sis Chels |
Me & my sis Amanda |
my ladies |
I kind of want a re-do, on a less stressful/crowded day... I like being able to walk over to the paddock to watch the horses circle around & get warmed up - then pick out my favs. Then once they start walking to the starting corrals, you get in a decent line to bet...then walk out to the track & be there in time to see them start. I was unable to do any of that on Opening Day - just walking from the bar to the bathroom took 20 minutes...ugh.
All in all - if I were to ever attend Opening Day at Del Mar again - I'd do a few things differently:
- Get there by noon in time to bet & see first race at 2pm (I was there by 1:45pm due to my car battery dying earlier in the day...bad start).
- Have a table to sit at to view the actual races...not stuck in a sea of people desperate for a drink.
- Study up on horses a few weeks before to have a better idea of who to bet on. Lesson learned, haha!
- Bring an actual camera for pics instead of only iPhone
- Have a designated meeting place for friends well in advance, since cell service made it impossible to reach people
end of the day sunset - love this city |
Loved reading this blog Calista! My first apartment was across from the race track! A little studio apt. and they are still there! I think the rent was $180 a month!!! But of course that was in 1975. Crazy huh? You did a fantastic job with your hat. Both of you girls were adorable!
ReplyDeletehahaha, omg $180?!!!! Studios in that area for rent would be upwards of $1,000 or MORE now...especially that close to the track...wow!
DeleteYour hat turned out lovely! Me and my partners first apartment together was a street away from a big race track, but we never went :( We always wished we had though. Unfortunately some unexpected events stopped us from going. Glad you got to go and have a good time.
ReplyDeleteAww, well if you ever get the opportunity to go to races again, definitely go! Yeah, we had fun - but it was such a chaotic experience... loved my hat at least, hahaha!
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