SDUT Pacific Online Logo
Fashion | Beauty

Photos: And they’re off! Stylish hats at Del Mar Opening Day

Women taking part in the opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on Friday, July 22, 2022 in Del Mar, CA.
From the left are Letticia Atkins, Stacey Waite, Christine Wallin, Tani Short, Jennifer Mullin, Casey Auger and Kathy Lucky. They took part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on Friday, July 22, 2022 in Del Mar, CA.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

It was hats galore at Del Mar’s Opening Day on Friday. Here’s what we saw at the annual tradition that marks the opening of the racing season

By Nelvin C. Cepeda
San Diego Union-Tribune
Share
Steffi Pace from Park City was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats.
Steffi Pace from Park City was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Life partners Thomas Barrett and Belinda Berry were among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats.
Life partners Thomas Barrett and Belinda Berry from Tennessee were among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Elena Embree was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
Elena Embree from San Diego was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Sharon Cho and Paige Fohl were among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats.
Sharon Cho, left, from Mission Viejo and Paige Fohl, right, from Oceanside were among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Adrian Cornist and his wife Nikki were among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats.
Adrian Cornist and his wife Nikki from Las Vegas were among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Lili Ana from Irvine was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats.
Lili Ana from Irvine was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Shevon Brean from Oceanside was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats.
Shevon Brean from Oceanside was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Amy Fox from Carlsbad was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day.
Amy Fox from Carlsbad was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Jess Rasmussen and Matt Meredith from Pacific Beach were among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats.
Jess Rasmussen and Matt Meredith from Pacific Beach were among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Nathan Wiliams from Oakland was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar.
Nathan Wiliams from Oakland was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune )
Aubrey Fohl from San Juan Capistrano was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats.
Aubrey Fohl from San Juan Capistrano was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Victoria Zampino from Seal Beach was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats.
Victoria Zampino from Seal Beach was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Amber Elmasry from La Jolla was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day.
Amber Elmasry from La Jolla was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Katherine Lames from Irvine was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day.
Katherine Lames from Irvine was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Ericka Gerald from San Francisco was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day.
Ericka Gerald from San Francisco was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Susan Leonard from Solana Beachwas among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day.
Susan Leonard from Solana Beachwas among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Lauren Mallak from San Diegowas among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day.
Lauren Mallak from San Diegowas among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Kellee Cade from Tennessee was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day.
Kellee Cade from Tennessee was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Sue Hensley from El Cajon was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day.
Sue Hensley from El Cajon was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
LaVelle Patton from Vista was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day.
LaVelle Patton from Vista was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Diana Camacho from Mission Valley was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day.
Diana Camacho from Mission Valley was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Alesha Corine from San Diego was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day.
Alesha Corine from San Diego was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on Friday, July 22, 2022 in Del Mar, CA.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda /T he San Diego Union-Tribune)
Deena Von Yokes was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day.
Deena Von Yokes was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Lauren Mallak from San Diego was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Sal Mosto from Morgan Hill was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day.
Sal Mosto from Morgan Hill was among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Lori Shelton from Scripps Ranchwas among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day.
Lori Shelton from Scripps Ranchwas among the race fans taking part in the tradition of wearing hats on opening day at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Fashion | BeautyLatest
Nelvin C. Cepeda

Nelvin Cepeda has been a photojournalist at U-T San Diego for more than 20 years. His photo assignments have taken him all over the U.S. covering national breaking news, NFL games, Presidential Political conventions, NFL Super Bowl. His overseas assignments has taken him to Pakistan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Nel assignments overseas also includes 8 trips to Afghanistan and Iraq where he has covered U.S. Marines and U.S. Army deployed to the war zone. His work has been published in the Washington Post, New York Times, Time & Newsweek magazine.