Del Mar Opening Day 2017: Bring on the Hats & Horses
Del Mar Racing starts on July 19, and runs through Sept. 4 at the Del Mar Racetrack
By Monica Garske ••
On Opening Day 2016, sisters Anna Mackin and Deborah Mauzy-Melitz impressed the crowd at Del Mar with their San Diego Zoo-themed hats, which were a nod to the zoo’s centennial. NBC 7’s Monica Garske speaks with them about their wild, crafty creations.
Del Mar Racing season is all about the horses but, on Opening Day 2017, the seaside track in San Diego's North County will be, as usual, all about the hats.
More than 40,000 horse racing fans are expected to attend Del Mar Opening Day on Wednesday, many sporting their flashiest, most ornate toppers for the 23rd annual Opening Day Hats Contest.
Del Mar Racing
Andria Elam and her beautiful, hand-sewn fascinator won the grand prize at the 2016 Opening Day Hats Contest on July 15.
Del Mar Racing
Andria Elam and her beautiful, hand-sewn fascinator won the grand prize at the 2016 Opening Day Hats Contest on July 15.
NBC 7
Images from the Opening Day at the Races in Del Mar on July 15, 2016.
TELEMUNDO 20
Images from the Opening Day at the Races in Del Mar on July 15, 2016.
TELEMUNDO 20
Images from the Opening Day at the Races in Del Mar on July 15, 2016.
TELEMUNDO 20
Images from the Opening Day at the Races in Del Mar on July 15, 2016.
TELEMUNDO 20
Images from the Opening Day at the Races in Del Mar on July 15, 2016.
TELEMUNDO 20
Images from the Opening Day at the Races in Del Mar on July 15, 2016.
TELEMUNDO 20
Images from the Opening Day at the Races in Del Mar on July 15, 2016.
TELEMUNDO 20
Images from the Opening Day at the Races in Del Mar on July 15, 2016.
Beatriz Cabanas
This florist entered the competition with a hat full of real flowers and fruit!
Beatriz Cabanas
These ladies are having a blast in the photo booth with fun props and hats.
Beatriz Cabanas
This contestant decorated her hat with Monarch Butterflies which can sometimes be found in Southern California.
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The skulls along the rim on this Dia de los Muertos themed hat was a detail that completed the look.
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Tea Time! This contestant made her detailed teacup hat and matched it with a teacup dress.
Beatriz Cabanas
This is one of many "Turf Meets The Surf" themed hats. It took over ten hours to make!
Beatriz Cabanas
These ladies wore floral hats that weighed about 10 pounds!
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This "Cool As Ever" hat may look heavy with pinwheels and all, but only weighed about 5 pounds!
Beatriz Cabanas
This group of contestants dressed from head to toe and entered the "Most Outrageous" category.
Beatriz Cabanas
"I have 2 cats going on 18". This first time hat contestant made her cat hat in about 3 hours.
Beatriz Cabanas
This duo came in a lady bug hat and an Olympic hat. This is their second Opening Day but first time participating in the hat contest.
Beatriz Cabanas
This contestant repurposed her grandmother's hat by adding two colorful feathers.
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Here is another shot of the San Diego Zoo hat. So much detail!
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A horse piñata accompanied by roses weighed about five pounds.
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"And They're Off!" features moving horses!
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This one is called "Horses on Their Day Off".
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This contestant made a hat for the "Fresh Flower" category that weighs 40 pounds! There is even a golden skeleton sticking along for the ride around Opening Day.
Beatriz Cabanas
This pirate ship hat seems to have just arrived on the coast of Del Mar.
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Shark sighting at Opening Day!
Here is a different take on the "Turf Meets the Turf" hat theme.
Beatriz Cabanas
Bringing the tropics and a couple of parrots to Opening Day.
Beatriz Cabanas
This couple is looking pretty in pink for the hat contest.
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Another couple dressed in purple and blue. The woman's hat took about 30 hours to make!
Beatriz Cabanas
This pink hat adds a great pop of color to the white ensemble.
A "triple crown" hat fit for a king!
Beatriz Cabanas
"We're bringing Del Mar to the next level!" The 80's has found its way to Del Mar with costumes that are years in the making.
Beatriz Cabanas
This quirky outfit featured a unique hat with three foot long feathers!
Beatriz Cabanas
This elegant floral hat is simple but very detailed.
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All of the floral hats are truly a sight to see!
Calvin Pearce
NBC 7's Elena Gomez (center, in yellow) found some great hats at Del Mar Opening Day 2016, hers included.
This year, the colorful competition takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Plaza de Mexico inside the Stretch Run admission gates. The contest is free to watch, and those who are interested in participating can register at the event for free.
One by one, contestants will strut their stuff, showcasing their fancy, elaborate hats as they compete to win their share of more than $5,000 in total prizes.
The competition includes five categories, with contestants judged on creativity and style: “Most Glamorous,” “Best Racing Theme,” “Funniest/Most Outrageous,” “Best Fascinator,” and “Flowers/All Other.”
Bonita resident Andria Elam spent two months painstakingly hand-sewing a glamorous lilac and turquoise fascinator she wore to Del Mar Opening Day on July 15, 2016. Her work paid off: She won the grand prize at the Hats Contest. NBC 7’s Monica Garske speaks with Elam about her winning hat.
This year, first place winners in each category will receive a $300, plus a Studio Savvy gift basket valued at $250. Second place winners will walk away with $200, while third place winners score $100.
The biggest winner of the day – the Bing Crosby Grand Prize winner – will receive a one-night stay at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar and a multi-course dinner for two with wine pairings at Del Mar’s lavish Addison Restaurant. This prize is worth more than $1,000.
According to organizers, the Opening Day contest was officially established in 1995. Each year, the competition is fierce with hardcore hat enthusiasts turning out by the droves to show off their creations.
Many spend months meticulously designing that perfect hat to match their Opening Day attire flawlessly. Year after year, hundreds of participants enter the Hats Contest, making it the place to see and be seen on Opening Day.
Fay Meitz incorporated windmills, photos of horses and even a tribute to “I Love Lucy” on her Del Mar Opening Day hat. NBC 7’s Monica Garske speaks to Meitz about how it all came together for the big Hats Contest.
Tickets to Del Mar Opening Day cost $15 per person; the first horse race is at 2 p.m.
The 2017 Del Mar Racing season runs through Sept. 4, with the track closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. General Stretch Run admission tickets cost $6 per person. On most Fridays and Saturdays throughout the season, entertainment includes a concert on the Seaside Stage after the final race of the day.
