Posted by Sharon Schendel on Aug 19, 2017
Panorama view of the section of Il Palio reserved for Rotary Club of Del Mar (Dugan Moore and Phillipe Lamoise work on their picks at the center table)
The Fipps were off to a good start with Be a Lady in race 1
Larry Cook discusses his picks with Haylea Minks as Bob Fuchs looks on
 Susie Wagner celebrates a winning pick with Ground Rules in Race 2
The Il Palio lunch buffet was extensive and seconds (or thirds) were encouraged!
Bill Dougherty sorts bets for the Sick Picks pool
Race 3 post parade- Arch of Troy (my pick using the "I like the name" system) at 15:1 would win
Rotary Club of Del Mar triumverate?  Or just Monty Woolley, Tom Ryan and Jim King studying the forms
Katie Cook chats with Steve Weitzen and Marty Peters, while Larry Cook studies the program
Haylea Minks with Kevin Fitzpatrick and Barrett Smith
Matt and Janice Kurth with Garrie Rhodes
Sharon Schendel with Barrett Smith and Chris Stewart
Susie Wagner with Assistant District Governor Steve Weitzen
Karl and Susie Wagner with Kit Leeger
Our host, Del Mar Throughbred Club CEO Joe Harper, stopped by to say hello
Don and Donna Fipps (lower left) stand in for President Klaus Gubernator to present a bouquet to the winner of the Del Mar Rotary race, Silverspun Pickup- watch a video of the photo finish and the winner's circle ceremony
 
We had our annual (aka “Another Umpteenth Annual”) Day at the Races at the Del Mar racetrack in lieu of our August 17, 2017 meeting.  On the eve our outing, members of the “Rotary Mensa Society” gathered at Bill Dougherty’s house to go over the next day’s card and choose their five “Sick Picks”. Unfortunately, none of the Sick Pick horses saw the winner’s circle, but several of our members, including Larry Cook, the Fipps, Bill Rawlings, and the Wagners chose several winning horses to leave with more money than they came with. 
 
The lunch buffet at the Il Palio restaurant, on the sixth floor of the grandstand overlooking the home stretch, was generous and delicious, and the tables beside the panoramic windows made for a comfortable vantage point to see all the races.  We thank Del Mar Thoroughbred Club CEO Joe Harper for hosting the outing. 
 
Race 5 was the Del Mar Rotary race for maiden 2 year-old fillies that are California bred or sired. Don and Donna Fipps stood in for President Klaus Gubernator to present a bouquet to Silverspun Pickup, ridden by Martin Pedroza, who edged out Sing a Solo to win in a photo finish.  Click here to watch the race and the Fipps in the winner’s circle!