When ‘fabulous’ goes to your head
The California tradition of going hatless, gloveless, tan and scantily clad goes back to the ‘30s, but fans at Opening Day in Del Mar still have a hankering for the Old World custom of wearing hats to the horse races. But of course, these aren’t hats that Her Royal Highness would wear.
It’s more costume ball than Royal Ascot near the paddocks, with women donning heady exotica such as papier-mâché peacocks with rows of feathers at the back and men such as Alberto Hurtado strapping on theme hats — in Hurtado’s case, “eco-friendly” headgear featuring a bike helmet sprouting a tree covered with “organic matter and fresh flowers.”
Some wore homemade hats with stories playing out across the brim (a tradition that draws from the picture hats of the ‘20s), including Sarah Borneman of El Cajon, who took three days to create a miniature horse race atop her straw chapeau, with a zebra poised to cross the finish line. “The zebra’s going to win the race,” she says. “Anything can happen at Del Mar.”
Dianne Prutch of Los Feliz created a hat Alice would be proud to party in in Wonderland — it featured a gigantic teacup. She also fashioned a hat for her friend Leah Wagner out of a vintage beret, affixing a bird’s nest to the side. Even her boyfriend, J.J. Eastman, wore one of her straw numbers. “Mine are made with found objects,” Prutch says.
“There has been a tradition of hats, especially in the Turf Club, at Del Mar even in 1937 with Bing Crosby and the boys,” says Mac McBride, the track’s director of media. But the official One and Only Truly Fabulous Hats Contest started in 1995. This year the results were announced after the sixth race.
They may not be the kind of hats that would draw raves at the Irish Derby, Melbourne Cup or Prix l’Arc de Triomphe, but they make fine eye candy almost anywhere.
Grand prize: Lori Shelton, San Diego
Best flowers: Ana Royer, Escondido
Most glamorous: Gina Adams, Laguna Hills
Best racing theme: Lori Shelton, San Diego
Funniest/most outrageous: Denna Holman, Lake Forest
