Breeders’ Cup Brings On Galas

The prominent of the international racing circuit will cavort in social capers surrounding the Oak Tree Racing Assn.’s Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 6 at Santa Anita. Thanks to industrious Susan Rowan and Beryl Threewitt, the Gala Ball on Nov. 5 at the Ritz-Carlton, Huntington is oversold at 700. Jazz balladeer Sue Raney and pianist Roger Williams will entertain. Proceeds go to the Winners Foundation and the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund. At least 1,200 (including two faux pickpockets) are invited for the preceding night’s press party. And earlier that day, Lynn Hirsch, wife of Oak Tree President Clement Hirsch, will host a private luncheon at Jimmy’s for 50, including Lucy Bassett of Kentucky (whose husband is president of Breeders’ Cup) and Betty Mabee (Best Pal owner). President Clinton’s mother, Virginia Kelley, said she’d love to come, but arrangements are pending.

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GALA, GALA: It was a pity that the Pasadena Symphony’s opening and the Pacific Asia Museum’s Festival of the Autumn Moon auction benefit ended up on the same night.

But everyone was proclaiming that the museum gala, headed by Kathy Offenhauser (in a strapless gown she designed of antique Japanese silk), was the most beautiful ever, with 19th-Century Chinese blue-and-white vases on each table and an incredible array of auction items, some Imperial. For the symphony, with its champagne and caviar prelude to a dinner served by white-gloved waiters in the Pasadena Civic Auditorium Gold Room, symphony vice president Dennis Lowe got similar raves.

Volunteers raise 70% of the symphony’s $1.25-million budget. Heading first-nighters were president Stephen Morris and wife Ann, Shelly Lowe, Dolores Kroop, Edith Roberts, Alyce Williamson, Larry Livingston, Joseph Regan, Kenneth Rhodes, Charlie and Christy Bakaly, and Steve and Peggy Reaume. Pre-concert, directors presented conductor Jorge Mester with a pair of white chocolate gloved hands with a baton--”I’d like to say a few words,” he said, “but I’m salivating.”

At the museum gala, Everett Palmer was a standout--tasseled and brocaded, flouncing long, glorious Chinese antique beads. Georgianna Erskine, bustling in an Indonesian kimono, competed for fashion kudos with Nancy Davis and Lynne Beavers. More: Peter and Kacey McCoy, Charles and Nancy Munger, David and Joan Traitel, Peggy Ward, Maria and Sandy Mallace, David Kamansky and Marjorie Miller.

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PAST PERFECT: The historic Tejon Ranch’s 150th anniversary . . . Joan and Dean Schneider and Jackie and former Ambassador to Ireland Peter Dailey’s autumn dinner full of laughter at the Valley Hunt Club . . . The California Historical Society’s weekend of seminars with a special dinner at the home of Linda and Jim Dickason . . . The opening of “The Golden Age of Danish Painting” at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art . . . Olive View-UCLA Medical Center’s Foundation dinner to give Beau Bridges the Nelle Reagan Award . . . Las Floristas’ luncheon at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center, where president Jade Higgins revealed $315,000 netted from the Floral Headdress Ball . . . Actress Ann Jillian saluted at the Ladies of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul luncheon . . . David Cardoza of Neiman Marcus wowed the National Arts Assn. with fashion knowledge at a luncheon at Jimmy’s . . . Lucy and Angus McBain hosted the Junior League Sustainers at their Muirfield Road “ranch” for a Santa Maria barbecue . . . Dolores Hope honored with the Mary Pickford Woman of the Year Award by the Screen Smart Set Auxiliary . . . ARCO Chairman Lod M. Cook named International Citizen of the Year by the International Visitors Council . . . Paul Miller and the law firm of Tuttle & Taylor honored by the Western Law Center for Disability Rights . . . Brenda Zomalt Doby and Kathinka Tunney concocted the Family Sports Day at Loyola Marymount University to launch an inner-cities Special Olympics program.

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KUDOS: To the newest group--the Crown City Contemporaries (ages 25-49)--dedicated to the Pasadena Historical Society and welcoming members last Sunday at a Northern Trust Bank-sponsored fete at the Craftsman home of Joseph and Vi Jacobs . . . To new Mayfield Junior School head Stephanie Griffin . . . To new Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) trustees Robert Graham and Ron Meyer, joining almost-new Cleon T. Knapp and Dallas P. Price . . . To new Loyola Marymount University trustees Angelo R. Mozilo and Leonard J. Pieroni . . . To new Pepperdine University regents Matthew K. Fong, James R. Porter, Travis E. Reed and Robert L. Walker . . . To California Treasurer Kathleen Brown, recipient of the Los Angeles Heritage Award from Project Restore at a City Rotunda dinner . . . To Gloria Loring, president, Los Angeles chapter, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International . . . To Judy Bedrosian, president, Foundation Associates of the French Foundation for Alzheimer Research.

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RED-LETTER DATES: Susan Boyle and Lois Matthews co-chair Pasadena Guild of Childrens Hospital’s annual Treasures and Trivia Sale on Saturday (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) and Sunday (noon to 4 p.m.) at 33 W. Valley St., Pasadena.

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STYLISH GRACE: Mirabella Editor Grace Mirabella, wearing a black Geoffrey Beene pantsuit and rattling red lacquered Elsa Peretti Tiffany bangles, treated the Fashion Circle of the Costume Council to the intricacies of magazines and the perils of fashion coverage at a breakfast in the Bob Ray Offenhauser-designed Beverly Hills home of Roberta Deutsch. Dynamos Donna Wolff and Jane Ackerman organized . . . The Yves Saint Laurent boutique on North Rodeo opened to cocktails . . . Marina Bulgari (Marina B) brought her jewelry for a glitterati group at Hotel Bel-Air; Betsy Bloomingdale and Henry and Jayne Berger feted her with luncheons.

Mary Lou Loper’s column is published Thursdays.