Article: RAISING THE BAR AT DEL MAR FAVORITES, LIKE UNDEFEATED CIGAR, FALL REGULARLY IN RICH PACIFIC CLASSIC.(Sports)

Byline: Kevin Modesti Staff Writer

DEL MAR - Now it can be told: Right up until post time in 1991, it was no sure thing that the inaugural Pacific Classic would even be run.

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club chairman John Mabee and his wife Betty owned local favorite Best Pal. They also owned San Diego County's largest grocery-store chain. The Big Bear markets were being picketed by political activists.

``They said they would disrupt the race if we didn't stop selling Folgers coffee,'' Betty Mabee said Wednesday. ``We were afraid they'd try to harm Best Pal.''

A beefed-up presence by Del Mar security and sheriff's officers in the saddling ...

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