Daily Dose: Off to the Races and Santee Business News

Upcoming Events

Thursday- 

- last night at Frubble

Local Happenings

• , the neighborhood coffee, tea and music venue, is closing down on July 23. Story coming later today.

• The Jungle Gym and Cafe is opening in Santee July 28- fitness, fun, food and drink- more on that coming soon.

• , Santee's only commercial brewery, just opened a tasting room and brewery across the street from their old place. event on July 21- story coming on this as well.

Del Mar Races Opening Day

The 75th season of horse racing at the Del Mar Racetrack is scheduled to begin Wednesday, highlighted by the annual hat contest and the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds.

The "One and Only Truly Fabulous Hats Contest" is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. in the Plaza de Mexico, with a panel of celebrity judges rating lids on style and creativity. Categories include Best Racing Theme, Funniest or Most Outrageous, Most Glamorous, Best Flowers and Best Fascinator, which is a type of headpiece or hair accessory.

The grand prize is two American Airlines round-trip ticket vouchers to anywhere in the United States.

Category winners will receive $300, with $200 for second place and $100 for third place. The Best Fascinator category offers a $100 first place prize.

All entrants will receive two free admission passes for a future visit to the track.

The highlight of the 37-day meet is the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic on Aug. 26. Overall, nearly $7.8 million is available in stakes races.

The Friday concert series will continue this year, beginning with the San Diego-based Wavves this week.

For the most part, racing will take place Wednesday through Sunday, with first post at 2 p.m.

Gas Prices

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County rose Wednesday for the sixth consecutive day, increasing 1.2 cents to $3.732.

The average price fell to its lowest amount since Jan. 4 on Thursday, then increased 5.6 cents over the next six days, including nine-tenths of a cent on Tuesday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

The six consecutive daily increases have pushed the average price 5.3 cents above what it was one week ago. However, it is 21.6 cents less than one month ago and 7.3 cents lower than one year ago.

The latest price increases, which began after prices fell 56 times in 57 days, are the result of higher crude oil prices, according to Jeffrey Spring of the Automobile Club of Southern California.

-City News Service contributed to these posts

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