Page 21 - Fashion issue

A DAY AT THE SAN DIEGO HAT So throw your hat into the ring. Who knows you may find yourself
COMPANY RACES in the winner’s circle.
by Erin Ruocco AUTHOR: A Boston native, Lesley University graduate, and 2011
Del Mar hat day contestant, Erin now live in Poway with her hus-
And they’re off…to the seaside Del Mar Racetrack to place their band, pet therapy dog, and cantankerous cat. She has worn many
bets and register their bonnets at the One & Only Truly Fabulous hats, including cashier, teller, and paralegal before becoming a
Hats Contest. freelance writer. Erin is working on a pictorial history of hats.

Sponsored by the San Diego Hat Company, the 17th annual hat
contest attracted almost 47,000 people for the Thoroughbred Former professional model Carol Bader owns and operates
Club’s opening day 2011. the DEL MAR HAT COMPANY retail storefront, work studio,
and website www.delmarhatco.com. Bader’s creations have
2011 was a big year for hats. Even folks who avoided coverage of appeared in 2011 issues of People Magazine, Coastal Living
the April 29, 2011 Royal Wedding heard about Princess Beatrice’s Magazine, Ranch and Coast, and San Diego Magazine.
outlandish “fallopian tube” hat. Considered the worst headdress Call 888-424-HATS (4287) for studio hours and appoint-
worn at Kate and William’s wedding, Princess Beatrice’s hat sold ments.
for $131,000 on May 22, 2011. The proceeds went to UNICEF. A
good end for a bad hat. Founders Teresa Gardner and Andrew Bleecher started the
SAN DIEGO HAT COMPANY www.sandiegohat.com from
THE ARTIST silently asked moviegoers, “Who’s That Girl” in the their garage after a trip to Bali in 1993. They personally
white and black hat? The 2011 black and white French film re- visited each factory to ensure quality and working condi-
ceived 10 nominations and won 5 Academy Awards including Best tions. Their design team traveled to Tokyo, Paris, London,
Costume Design. New York, San Francisco, and Southern California for their
Spring/Summer 2012 collection.
“Looking good never looked so good” purrs the Cavalier-hatted
Shrek 2 spin-off cat on the 2011 DreamWorks PUSS IN BOOTS The VILLAGE HAT SHOP has four Southern California
movie poster. stores (Hillcrest, Seaport Village, Long Beach, and Sacra-
mento); a wholesale showroom at 3443 India Street, San
Hollywood plays a big part at the Del Mar Racetrack. Co-founder Diego; a website www.villagehatshop.com; and a toll-free
Bing Crosby personally greeted fans at the gate when Del Mar number 1-888-VHS-HATS to help you find that perfect hat.
opened in 1937. Crosby’s partners included actors Pat O’Brien,
Jimmy Durante, and Oliver Hardy as well as automobile dealer
Charles S. Howard. Guests to the track included W.C. Fields
and Marilyn Monroe.
And let us not forget about the horses. The legendary match San Diego Woman
race between Charles S. Howard’s Seabiscuit and Binglin
Stable’s colt Ligaroti was the first nationwide broadcast of a
thoroughbred race by NBC radio. Seabiscuit won by a nose 21
before going on to greater fame.
The fun starts by registering your hat at 11:30AM. You have
to pay to park your car as well as buy a general admission
ticket to enter the racetrack. However, you do not pay a penny
to enter your headdress at one of four hat contest category
registration tables in the Stretch Run Plaza de Mexico between
11:30AM-3:00PM.

All registered hat contestants receive 2 free admission passes
to a future race and a coveted paddock pass to the Walking
Ring prior to the start of Race ONE at 2:00PM.
All hat contestants also have the chance to strut their stuff in
the Stretch Run Plaza de Mexico or stand on the sidelines to
watch the hat parade at 3:00PM.

First, second, and third place Hat Contest winners receive
$300, $200, and $100 respectively in each of the following four
categories:
1) Best Flowers/Others
2) Funniest or Most Outrageous
3) Most Glamorous
4) Best Racing Theme
The Bing Crosby Grand Prize winner of the hats contest receives
2 round-trip American Airlines vouchers for travel anywhere in the
United States.