The Del Mar Racetrack may be all about the horses but on Opening Day, it’s all about the hats.
On Thursday, racetrack revelers will sport their flashiest, most ornate toppers for the 21st annual Opening Day Hats Contest taking 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 enter and those who are interested can register here.
One by one, contestants will strut their stuff, showing off their impressive hats as they compete to win more than $5,000 in total prizes across five different categories.
The contest categories include “Most Glamorous,” “Best Racing Theme,” “Funniest/Most Outrageous,” “Best Fascinator,” and “Flowers/All Other.”
First place winners in each category will receive a $300 gift card to Studio Savvy and a $1,000 gift card to Image Spa MD. Second place winners score a $200 gift card, while third place winners get a $100 gift card.
The biggest winner of the day – the Bing Crosby Grand Prize winner – receives an “escape” package valued at $1,300 for Harrah’s Resort Southern California that includes a two-night stay in a hotel suite, a $200 meal credit and a $200 spa credit.
NBC 7 will livestream the Opening Day Hats Contest in this article.
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 flawlessly match their Opening Day attire.
For more details on Del Mar Racing season, click here.
