It’s nearly impossible to live here and not be aware that the time for the Foxfield Races has arrived. The biannual steeplechase event has drawn local residents, UVA students and out-of-state visitors to Charlottesville since 1978. The spring races will be held this Saturday.
Fashion is arguably the most notable aspect of the Foxfield Races, defined as "country-casual" or "Sunday best" on the races’ Facebook page. Similar posts by the blogs Carlson Chronicles and Arlington Nightlife can give you more ideas on the unwritten dress code.
Alcohol is another staple of the event. Each year, between 50 and 100 students are taken into custody at the races for alcohol-related offenses. Click here to see what UVA’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team is doing to prevent safety issues this year.
At the end of the day, however, the Foxfield Races would cease to exist without two things: the horses and the stewards. Click here for C-VILLE’s interview with Woodberry Payne, steward of the Foxfield Races for the past four years.
"I’ve seen how the meet’s grown over the years," Payne said. "It keeps getting bigger and bigger."
Tickets for the event can be purchased at Mincer’s, Pink Palm and Greenberry’s at Barracks Road and Timberlakes Drugstore on the Downtown Mall. Additional locations can be found in Harrisonburg, McLean, Richmond and Bethesda, Maryland. Click here for a full list.