City Slickers Turn Cowfolk for Kids’ Sake

RANCHO SANTA FE —  Only in California, and perhaps, for that matter, only in places like this eucalyptus-shaded enclave, would you find a cowpoke fest that set out leaves of precious Belgian endive for guests to dunk in the guacamole.

And, as it has before, the Voices for Children Auxiliary kept one foot in the stirrup Saturday by staging its annual Western masquerade, “Foot Stompin’ Madness,” at Cedar Hills Farm, the thoroughbred racing establishment and estate owned by Edmund and Berniece Gann. The venue required a slight update of the name, so this fourth version of the mammoth fund-raiser was christened “Foot Stompin’ Madness Goes Racin.’ ”

A swanked-up revisitation of the cowboy extravaganzas hosted at other grand estates the past three Julys, this edition of “Foot Stompin’ Madness” enjoyed at least one unique attribute among the several hundred fund-raisers given by local charities this year: Although most have been well-rounded, and a few frankly square, this was definitely the only oval benefit of 1991, at least to date. The party for 630 supporters of the Voices for Children advocacy program in the county courts took place entirely inside the railings of the Ganns’ full-sized horse training track.

Although it would have been possible to mount a diversionary race or two on the track, gala chairwomen Ann Davies and Judy McDonald contented themselves to divide the immense, grassy infield into quadrants that contained a tented, saloon-style gambling hall, an open-air dining room with dance floor and bandstand, a reception area and a row of carnival-style games of skill. Fortune tellers lurked in bunker-like installations of piled hay bales, while well-booted socialites stomped over the turf to answer the challenge of such games as the Black Jack Dart Throw (the aim is to hit cards totaling 21 points), horse shoes, and the ever daunting nail pound.

Amusements such as these have helped propel “Foot Stompin’ Madness” into a secure niche in the July-August calendar, the busiest season of the year on the social circuit and one that generally takes its toll on tuxedos and on ball gowns saved from other summers. Saturday’s shrink-to-fit dress code gave guests a night off from dressing and offered many a chance to get some use out of the fancy boots and cowboy hats that have brought such a distinctly Western note to their closets.

The chuck wagon buffets were catered by the Hyatt Regency La Jolla in its first off-premises foray; ballroom use at many hotels has declined this year, and, by catering at a distance, the Hyatt joined several other local hotels that have begun taking their ballrooms to the people. The fare included such typical cattle drive specialties as vegetable crudites with roasted eggplant dip, jalapeno-corn muffins, fish tacos, Texas-style barbecued beef brisket and apple-rhubarb cobbler.

Strolling cowboy guitarist Joel Reese strummed through the crowd during the cocktail hour, then yielded at the start of dinner to Break Heart Pass, a country-Western band with a repertoire geared to the occasion. After the meal, a sort of booted gridlock brought the dancers to a virtual standstill when dance instructor John Dougherty took over the stage. “It’s gettin’ mighty snug on thet-there dance floor,” observed Dougherty as the would-be Texas two-steppers schlepped to his directions. The evening continued with dancing and casino games until midnight.

Voices for Children Auxiliary founder Betty Mabee attended with her husband, John, founder of Big Bear markets and president of the group that operates the Del Mar race track. Noting the over-sold attendance, Betty Mabee recalled 1985, the year she founded the fund-raising support group that recruits and trains volunteers to assist children who are wards of the court system.

“I spent a year laying the groundwork for the auxiliary,” said Mabee. “It was like building a house, like laying a foundation and raising the walls. But it’s been such a success. We’ve doubled and then tripled in dollars raised and volunteers trained. The court system and social workers are so over-loaded that our volunteers have made an enormous difference for the kids.”

(The Mabees, whose Golden Eagle Farm has sent several winners out into the national thoroughbred racing circuit, will be entering their Best Pal in the newly established, million-dollar purse Pacific Classic race, to be run at Del Mar on Aug. 10.)

Event chair Davies said that though it was difficult to stage a fund-raiser “in the current economic climate,” she anticipated net earnings of $70,000. “This sum will keep 70 children’s advocates working for another year, and that’s very encouraging,” she added. “It means we can settle some more children and get them into better life situations, which hopefully will save us some money down the road.”

The committee was top-heavy with former chairwomen of other major events and included Claudia Munak, Mary Allan, Mac Canty, Pam Allison, Kathryn Murphy, Audrey Kaufmann, Karen Nugent, Priscilla Webb, Mag White, Carol Gardyne, Adela Peterson, Joanne Fine, Pam Sullivan, Shirley Millard, Julie Maiorano, Mim Sally, Renee Sheetz, Flory Sell, Yvonne Lindroth and Sharon Stewart.

To celebrate the 222nd anniversary of the founding of Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala--and, with it, what would become the state of California--the historic Roman Catholic church Friday continued a tradition begun in 1973 by hosting a gala fund-raiser in the mission courtyard.

Given for 375 guests, the formal dinner and dance benefitted the pipe organ fund, a fact emphasized to arriving guests as they trooped through the church and were serenaded by the organ, in full swing in the loft and accompanied by the parish choir, also exercising its pipes with bravura. Given the ecumenical tone traditionally observed at this event, Broadway tunes stood in for sacred music.

In the courtyard, strings of miniature lights flickered in the century-old pepper trees while a string mariachi ensemble played up the early-California theme chosen by event chairs Jean and Ken Miller.

The table decor rather interestingly eschewed flowers in favor of arrangements of lemons donated by a mid-California grower; the effect in the breeze-less twilight was somehow refreshing. Jean Miller said that to make the early-mission theme more sophisticated, the menu had been given a contemporary Southwestern tone and included corn relish tartlets, Southwestern steak tartar, grilled swordfish with papaya sauce and lemon mousse. Following the meal, the Bill Green Orchestra brought the Big Band era to the dance floor.

Shortly before dinner, Monsignor I. Brent Eagen announced that proceeds from the event would exceed $37,000, which he said should guarantee the installation of a new organ in the church.

The guest list included Linda and Frank Alessio, Harriet and Richard Levi, Joy and Gary Spradling, Pat and Hugh Carter, Marti and Frank Panarisi, Jane and John Murphy, Donna and Donald Guttman, Helen Anne Bunn, Lee and P.J. Maturo, Mary and Jack Goodall, Rita and Josiah Neeper, Darlene and Donald Shiley, Anne and Bill Otterson, Joan Gregg Palmer with Walter Fitch III, June and Kieran Vanier, Karen and Robert Hoehn, Maureen and Charles King, Sara and Tom Finn, Virginia and Jack Monday, Liz and Ed McIntyre and Ellie and James Ehlers.