Every year one of the most frequently asked questions I get is…what to wear on opening day. Opening day at the Del Mar Races is one of the (if not the) biggest events of the year. Every year close to 40,000 people attend opening day! The past few years have been capped at 20,000 due to the pandemic. But I heard a rumor that they may keep the attendance cap because it just makes for a much more enjoyable experience at the track! I, personally, would love it if they did!

But back to what you really want to know. What to wear on opening day! Let me first tell you that it is almost ALWAYS hot in the middle of July. So in my opinion, long sleeves are almost always out of the question. Opening day is a day to see and be seen! Enjoy it and pull out that fancy dress you rarely get a chance to wear! Half of the fun of opening day is having an excuse to get dressed up!

I’ve almost always worn a more structured mini dress on opening day. But this year I went with a hi/low dress. And heels! Trust me ladies when I tell you…if you wear heels, make sure they are your most comfortable pair. Even if you have seats, you will be getting up often to mingle, place bets, etc. Many opt for wedges or cute flats. Which I think I will be doing next year! Ha!

As for wearing a hat…I say, GO FOR IT. My first year to the track, I was a little nervous on what kind of hat to wear. A fascinator just seemed like a bit much so I opted for a floppy hat. But now…I say the BIGGER, the BETTER! I went from a simple floppy hat to the biggest fascinator I could get my hands on. I even had a few custom-made fascinators over the years! In fact, the hat is now my favorite part!

So there you have it, my friends. A dress, comfy shoes and your best hat is all you really need to know. I am linking all of my previous years looks here, here, and here. Hopefully you now have a better idea of what to wear on opening day!

PRO TIPS: Safety first! Don’t forget to wear your sunscreen. Even though there are plenty of shaded areas, you may still be in the sun for portions of the day. We like to walk around, check out the paddock, meet up with friends, etc. so SPF is a must! Wear comfortable shoes (if possible) and be sure to bring bandaids with you, just in case! I like to bring these blister protector bandaids with me.

P.S. The Turf Club is for members only and has a strict dress code, which you can access here. To purchase tickets for the Del Mar Racetrack or to get more information, please click here.

OUTFIT DETAILS: Amanda Uprichard Dress, Arturo Rios Hat & Schutz Heels