A Day at the Races

Darley July Cup Day is one of the biggest race days in Britain. On Saturday, July 13, the July Course in Newmarket hosted the race considered by many to be Europe’s most prestigious sprint AND it occurred on my sister's birthday AND her community choir sang AND I got to join the choir for the day. Holy cow, what a day it was. We had to be at the race track at 11:00 a.m., dressed entirely in black. It promised to be a hot day and did not disappoint. There were 25-30 of us, standing in the shade of a tree, singing as the gates opened. We broke for lunch and regathered an hour later in the shade of a small building in the family section of the race grounds. Blankets, coolers, small children everywhere.We weren't too well-received in this area, competing with race announcements and so forth, and finally gave in and let the PA system have its way. A 3-hour break before our final appearance gave us time in which to watch the races, find some shade and take in all the fashion hats, of which there was no shortage. Our last "appearance" was at 5:45, full hot sun, in the parade ring. An exhausting day, but one that will never be matched, or forgotten.

The hat I wore to the races was for practical purposes only, it was not a fashion statement, unlike Ladies attending the race for sport. Quite fashionable they were and every single one was quite thrilled when I asked if I could snap a picture of her hat. You can see all the hats here. There were just too many to post on this page.