The surf met the turf on Wednesday in Del Mar, a day filled with drama, hats and high stakes.
The folks at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club were hoping that as many as 40,000 racing fans would turn out for opening day at the track. That number is still unconfirmed, but what is certain is that thousands turned out on a beautiful day to see the sights.
Hundreds of ladies -- and men – sported the latest in oversize headgear, all in the hopes of going home with a Toshiba 40-inch LCD TV or some of the $2,000 in prize money. Many people admit they’re only interest in Del Mar’s opening day is the One and Only Truly Fabulous Hats Contest and the entrants in the Best Racing Theme, Funniest or Most Outrageous, Most Glamorous and Best Flowers/All Others categories.
The normal day-to-day drama of wagering on individual races was upstaged on Wednesday when jockey Rafael Bejarano was trampled in the third race at about 2:30 p.m. when Mi Rey stumbled and he fell off the horse. Bejarano, though, was shaken up but not badly injured in the incident. He was taken to the hospital for an examination after the fall and was listed in fair condition later in the day. Mi Rey, however, was euthanized, reported the North County Times.
Speaking of betting: Debra Giglio, owner of "The Winning Ticket," is in love with horse racing. She is a handicapper and has a passion for getting people hooked on the races. Giglio said there are several things you can do that can help at the betting window, including looking at the horses running each race: "You want to see a horse whose ears are forward. You don’t want to see them when they’re back, because it means something’s bothering them, particularly with fillies. Just like women, they tell you how they feel."
The nags are on the track through Sept. 9.
