Del Mar Opens on a Fine Day for a Drive

“Happy opening day, Joe. It took one hour to get here from the (Rancho Santa Fe) inn,” chided Santa Anita chairman Bob Strub on the first day of the season last week at Del Mar Racetrack.

Joe Harper, president of Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, who greeted friends as official host of the racetrack’s season, replied, “I’m glad so many people were in your way.”

It was a crowd--more than 26,000, more than Saratoga’s opening in New York earlier that day, said Harper.

Owning a beach house at Del Mar or La Jolla or having a rolling spread of oranges or oaks at Rancho Santa Fe may be one of the nicest ways for Southlanders to spend the summer and be conveniently near the track. Lots of Angelenos and Pasadenans who came to the Del Mar opening do just that. Many more drove down for a single pleasant day of racing, lunch and ocean breezes.

Both sorts were among the 200 Harper and his wife Barbara hosted for post-race cocktails at their Del Mar beachfront modernistic home, everyone talking about wins, no one about losses.

For the races, the Harpers invited the tops in racing to the Director’s Room for penthouse-like views. Bob and Betty Strub joined that crowd. So did Hollywood Park’s chairman, R. D. Hubbard.

John C. Mabee, chairman of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club board of directors, and his wife, Betty, were surrounded by a coterie. And Oak Tree Racing Assn.’s president Clement Hirsch of Newport Beach and his wife, Lynn, (they’ve moved into their Del Mar house for the racing season and have a house full of family) were prominent.

Pasadenans Jack and Maggie Robbins, who have a home at Rancho Santa Fe, chatted with Robert S. Strauss and his wife, Helen, who have a summer house at Del Mar.

The Strausses were the center of attention. President Bush has appointed Strauss--a prominent Democrat--ambassador to the Soviet Union. Strauss, who’s also a Del Mar Thoroughbred Club director, said he hopes, pending confirmation, to leave for Moscow Sept. 1. Helen says she’ll wait until their daughter, Susan Breen of Dallas, has her baby.

California Horse Racing Board member Leslie M. Liscom and his wife, Jackie, and Michael and Virginia Sandler, former owners of the Racing Form, were in the director’s room.

Angeleno Sally Woodward came from her Del Mar beach house and sat in the Turf Club with Angelenos Sue Teasdale and Elizabeth Wethy, and also Louisa Stipling, an L.A. native now of Midland, Tex. Former Hollywood Park chairman Marje Everett was at a front table in the Turf Club with Merv Griffin and Eva Gabor. Former Pasadenan Mitchell Lathrop, who heads the San Diego office of Adams, Duque & Hazeltine, was there with his wife, Denise, who was shaded in a picture hat like so many of the other women.

In the Turf Club President Gerald Ford’s son, Steve Ford of Malibu, escorted Wendy Williams and his brother Jack Ford was with Juliann Olivehain.

Angelenos Betty McDonald and Helen and Phil Fowler were with Mary Jane and Tom Hinds of Beverly Hills. Horse owner Mary Bradley and Jack Pugh, Sue Rowan, Bill and Violetta Dougherty and Ray and Dorothy Rogers were close by. Donald and Allison Robbins of Pasadena were getting congratulations on his new appointment to president of Hollywood Park.

More in the crowd: O. J. Simpson, pianist Leonard Pennario and his brother, Joe, restaurateur Rob and Patty Thibaut and Frank and Jean McGrath of La Jolla. They were sitting with Allan and Rose Marie Royster of Poway.

Even during opening day, Barbara Harper was writing out more invitations to the Pacific Classic Gala Aug. 9 at the Satellite Wagering Facility at Del Mar. It precedes Del Mar’s richest race ever, the $1-million guaranteed Pacific Classic Aug. 10.

With Ann Allred, Harper is co-chairing the benefit for the San Dieguito Boys and Girls Club on behalf of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Tim Conway will be master of ceremonies. “It’s the first year for this gala,” she explained. “We wanted a steel band, but we can’t. It would disturb the horses.”

THE BACHELORS: James Donald Stuart Jr. has been named president of the Bachelors. Vice president Charles Fitger Donnelly will head next year’s Bachelors Ball with assistance from Hugh Durst Bateman, secretary, and Anthony F. Witteman, treasurer.

More on the board will be William P. Bessolo, Geoffrey S. Clark, Grant W. Ivey, Gregg R. Kirkpatrick, Arthur H. Rasmussen Jr., John A. Sandberg, David P. Sargeant and William H. Weeks II, with Robert H. Forward Jr. and Walter J. Wilson, ex officio.

PAST PERFECT: Janice Carpenter ordered up umbrellas for a garden picnic by Somerset Caterers to honor Las Madrinas debutantes Carolyn Barrett and Heather Stoneman at the historic Gilmore Adobe.