Hat Contest - Del Mar Opening Day

Every summer, as the gates swing open at the famed Del Mar Racetrack and the first thoroughbreds thunder down the stretch, another competition quietly captures just as much attention as the horses themselves. It is a tradition filled with creativity, glamour, elegance, and a touch of theatrical whimsy—the annual Opening Day Hat Contest.

For many visitors, Opening Day at Del Mar is not simply the beginning of racing season; it is Southern California's answer to the Kentucky Derby, where fashion takes center stage alongside world-class horse racing. Spectacular hats adorned with feathers, flowers, sculpture, crystals, and remarkable imagination transform the grandstands into a colorful outdoor fashion show unlike any other.

Yet the tradition represents far more than elaborate millinery. It reflects nearly a century of Del Mar history, Hollywood glamour, California style, and the enduring romance of one of America's most beautiful racetracks.

Long before the famous hats became synonymous with Opening Day, Del Mar Racetrack itself had already become an American icon. The track officially opened in 1937 with an extraordinary group of founders and supporters led by entertainer Bing Crosby, who became the public face of the venture. Crosby greeted guests personally at the entrance on opening day, establishing an atmosphere that was less formal than eastern racetracks yet every bit as sophisticated. The slogan, "Where the Turf Meets the Surf," perfectly captured the unique setting—a championship racetrack only steps from the Pacific Ocean. 

Unlike many racing venues built around gambling alone, Del Mar was conceived as a complete social destination. Wealthy horse owners mingled with movie stars, business leaders, military officers, tourists, and local families. A day at the races quickly became as much about seeing and being seen as it was about handicapping horses.

Almost immediately, Hollywood embraced Del Mar.

Only a short drive from Los Angeles, the seaside racetrack offered movie stars an elegant escape from studio life while remaining close enough to return to work the following day.

Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Del Mar became one of Southern California's premier celebrity gathering places.

Among the many stars regularly spotted at the track were:

• Bing Crosby

• Lucille Ball

• Desi Arnaz

• Cary Grant

• Bob Hope

• Jimmy Durante

• Mickey Rooney

• Pat O'Brien

• Ava Gardner

• Lana Turner

• Barbara Stanwyck

• Betty Grable

Unlike today's carefully managed celebrity appearances, Hollywood's golden-age stars often mingled freely among racegoers. Fans might find themselves standing beside Cary Grant while placing a wager or encounter Lucille Ball strolling through the grandstand between races. The relaxed coastal atmosphere became part of Del Mar's enduring appeal. 

Where Hollywood gathered, fashion naturally followed.

Women attending Opening Day began wearing elegant summer dresses accompanied by stylish hats inspired by European racing traditions and prestigious events like Royal Ascot in England and the Kentucky Derby.

During the 1940s and 1950s, these hats were generally tasteful expressions of sophistication:

• Wide brims

• Silk flowers

• Fine veiling

• Satin ribbons

• Ostrich feathers

• Elegant millinery craftsmanship

No formal competition yet existed.

Rather, spectators simply admired the fashionable attire that became expected among Opening Day guests. Newspapers frequently devoted as much space to photographs of beautifully dressed attendees as they did to reporting race winners.

The organized Opening Day Hat Contest is actually a relatively modern tradition.

In 1994, Julie Howell Sarno, inspired after covering the Kentucky Derby and witnessing its celebrated hat culture, introduced what became known as "The One and Only Truly Fabulous Hat Contest." The idea immediately resonated with Del Mar's festive spirit and rapidly became one of Opening Day's signature attractions. The contest was officially established in 1995 and has continued ever since. 

Sarno later remarked that she never imagined hats would become nearly as anticipated as the races themselves.

She was right.

Today, many contestants begin designing their creations months in advance.

As the years passed, competitors pushed creativity to extraordinary new levels.

What began as elegant fashion accessories evolved into wearable sculptures.

Modern entries often include:

• Miniature racetracks

• Running horses

• Mechanical moving parts

• Hundreds of handcrafted flowers

• Architectural designs

• California beach themes

• Surfboards

• Vintage Del Mar memorabilia

• Giant fascinators

• Humorous oversized creations

One memorable winning entry featured a life-sized racing enthusiast complete with an authentic 1948 Del Mar racing program, celebrating a contestant's family history at the track. Another transformed the famous Del Mar diamond motif into a floral masterpiece made from hundreds of individual roses. 

Today's contest recognizes many different styles of creativity.

Recent categories have included:

• Most Glamorous

• Best Fascinator

• Best Flowers

• Racing Theme

• Most Outrageous

Rather than rewarding only expensive hats, judges look for originality, craftsmanship, elegance, personality, and imaginative interpretation of Opening Day tradition. Cash prizes and luxury gifts are awarded to winners, but for many participants, the greatest reward is becoming part of Del Mar history. 

Opening Day has grown into one of Southern California's premier summer social occasions.

Thousands arrive dressed in:

• Linen suits

• Summer dresses

• Designer sunglasses

• Colorful ties

• Elegant fascinators

• Classic Panama hats

• Spectacular custom creations

Photographers line the entrance, television crews interview contestants, and social media instantly broadcasts the most imaginative hats around the world.

For many attendees, the horses are only part of the day's entertainment.

The parade of fashion has become equally anticipated.

Although today's hats are often playful and extravagant, they still honor Del Mar's glamorous heritage.

The contest preserves the spirit of the racetrack's earliest decades, when Hollywood stars transformed Opening Day into California's unofficial summer fashion showcase.

Unlike many traditions that fade with time, Del Mar's hat contest has grown stronger.

Each new generation adds its own interpretation while maintaining respect for the elegance that first made the event famous.

Del Mar has always offered something different from other racetracks.

Its spectacular ocean setting.

Its relaxed California sophistication.

Its Hollywood history.

Its beautiful architecture.

Its world-class racing.

And its unmistakable sense of style.

The Opening Day Hat Contest embodies all of those qualities in one joyful celebration.

It reminds visitors that horse racing has always been about more than competition. It is about pageantry, community, tradition, artistry, and the timeless pleasure of dressing for a special occasion.

Nearly ninety years after Bing Crosby welcomed the first guests through the gates, Del Mar continues to blend sporting excellence with social elegance.

The hats have become larger.

The fashions more creative.

The photography instantaneous.

Yet the spirit remains remarkably unchanged.

Every Opening Day, as spectators arrive wearing creations that range from understated sophistication to breathtaking wearable art, they become part of a tradition stretching back generations—a tradition born from Hollywood glamour, inspired by classic racing elegance, and uniquely Californian in its effortless charm.

As the horses charge toward the finish line and applause echoes across the grandstand, another parade unfolds in the crowd. It is a celebration of imagination, craftsmanship, fashion, and history. At Del Mar, the hats are no mere accessories. They are living works of art—and one of the most beloved traditions in American horse racing.