Opening Day Del Mar Race Track vs The Kentucky Derby

And away they go! Together with the horses, jockeys, and paparazzi, San Diegans came out in the thousands to kick off this year’s Opening Day at the Del Mar racetrack. I may not be a local, but I am an Opening Day fan for the same reasons high school girls obsess about prom: It is the ultimate show. Forget the betting, the ocean breezes and the picturesque grandstand, Opening Day is one of the few acceptable occasions an adult can live out a social-status fantasy for a day (think Vivienne in Pretty Woman).

The same holds true of Del Mar’s southern predecessor, the Kentucky Derby. Here, locals emerge in the thousands to witness Triple Crown racing history or make their own mark on the fashion fast-track. At the Derby, no combination of pastel colors on men is considered inappropriate. Derby men walk around looking as if the Easter Bunny dropped colored eggs on their clothing. In contrast, Del Mar men take the Justin Timberlake-meets-Tommy Bahama approach, where fedoras and aviators meet a San Diego staple: long shorts and flip-flops. This may not be high fashion, but on a hot day, it is practical and requires another San Diego staple: a sense of humor.

Del Mar women make their own colorful fashion statement. This year, most wore breezy, brightly colored dresses in shades like saffron yellow and watermelon pink. Their main accessory, of course, was the hats. Every size, color and shape was in attendance – all worn with an equal amount of attitude and pride, regardless of the wearer.  Speaking of attitude, women’s fashions at the Kentucky Derby were equally fabulous in that the clothes did not wear them. The women seemed to walk, almost glide, effortlessly with style and grace, as if every day were a garden party.

Regardless of where you come from, it's fair to say that there’s nothing quite like race track fashion. Kentucky reigns supreme as a modern version of Southern royalty. In contrast, what Del Mar lacked in dressing propriety, it made up for in its fearless use of color and So-Cal attitude. Whether dressed down for comfort or dressed to kill like a social-wannabe, San Diegans get high marks for not sacrificing their true beauty for a horse race. Next year, I think I'll choose Del Mar for racetrack fun. And whatever I wear, I'll be sure bring a sense of humor.