A Pop of a Cork and It’s Off to the Races

The week between Christmas and New Year’s is always a joy--a few parties and the opening of Santa Anita Park, yet enough time to nap and take down the Christmas tree.

The traditional luncheon in the prestigious Directors Room heralded the first day of the 60th season of racing at the race track. New Santa Anita CEO William Baker of Newport Beach had to greet guests alone for a while, awaiting the arrival of his wife, Jan, who was snowed in in Seattle.

But, park president Cliff Goodrich and his wife, Karen, were on hand, joined by their son Randy. Barbara and Joe Harper came up from Del Mar. Lynn and Clement Hirsch, head of the Oak Tree meet, drove from Newport Beach.

Pasadenans and San Marinans included Jeanine and John Cushman, Terry and Debby Lanni, Karen and Tom Capehart, Mary and Arthur Crowe, Maggie Jagels, Kathy and John McMahon and Missy and Tom Robbins.

Champagne flowed with Goodrich’s toast after King of the Heap came from behind to win the featured $200,000 Malibu Stakes. Exuberant owners included Greg Lon, Dominic Sabatino, Bill Combs and Tod Mirsky.

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Parties: Two highlights fell on the same night--Nancy and Charlie Munger’s dinner-dance for 300 at the Los Angeles Country Club to celebrate the marriage of Sarah O’Neill and their son Barry. The other was Long and Polly Ellis’ warm and inviting cocktail buffet in Pasadena for 200 friends.

Munger, known for his “Mungerisms” (as well as his partnership with Warren Buffet) paid tribute to the young couple: “If you stop trying, you’ll inevitably fail.”

Dancing couples included Mary and Philip Hawley, David and Peggy Thomas, Jonnie and Jim Neville, Leta and Ed Warmington, Pat and Patty Doheny and their daughter Kacey and husband Peter McCoy and Sally and John Woodward.

At the Ellises, family had flown in from Connecticut and Washington. Wishing happy new year were daughter Polly Ellis and her husband, Michael Ramsaur, down from Palo Alto; daughter Pam and Richard Simons of Riverside, Conn.; and Stuart and daughter Sally Taylor of Washington.

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The Colleagues: Diane Sawyer and her husband, Mike Nichols, will receive the Champion of the Children Award when the Colleagues host their ninth annual Valentine’s Day luncheon and fashion show Feb. 14 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. Saks Fifth Avenue will underwrite the event and present Oscar de la Renta and his spring collection.

Colleagues chairwomen are Marion Jorgensen, Betsy Bloomingdale and Erlenne Sprague.

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A New Year: The new galleries of the Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Beach will be shown off Jan. 23 at a black-tie gala. A members and artists evening is also planned for Jan. 24 and a community open house for Jan. 25.

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Music for Children: The Neighborhood Music School does wonders with children. Friday, it presents an evening at the Pasadena Playhouse featuring “Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting.” Proceeds will enrich children’s lives through music.

Elsewhere on the Social Circuit

At the fourth Winter Blossom Ball at the Beverly Hilton, 14 debutantes were presented by the Chinese American Debutante Guild. The event benefits the Asian American Senior Citizens Service Center. Presented: Karin Chao, Catherine Chen, Melody Chiu, Melissa Ghoo, Jennifer Gu, Carol Huang, Margaret Liu, Jennifer Luo, Tishia Que, Jaime Tam, Candice Tay, Catherine Wang, Janet Wang and Crystal Wu. Tina and Raymond Cheng co-chaired.