Virginia Gold Cup
The Virginia Gold Cup and International Gold Cup steeplechase races are a celebration of hunt country tradition and two of the largest outdoor social events held in Virginia.[1]
The Virginia Gold Cup is held the first Saturday of May at
The International Gold Cup is the featured horse racing event of the Fall season and is managed today by the Virginia Gold Cup Association. Now held on the third Saturday of October, the International Gold Cup was founded in Tennessee in 1930.
The Virginia Gold Cup event was generated by eight sportsmen who met at the Fauquier Club in Warrenton and organized a four-mile race alongside the natural walls and fences of the nearby hunting countryside on April 3, 1922, and thirty four days later was the first Virginia Gold Cup race.[2] The 2016 event drew more than 50,000 spectators.[3]
Additional activities include terrier and pony races before the main event, hat contests on Members Hill, vendor tents and booths, parachute demonstrations, classic and new car displays, and countless tailgates.
Viewing areas are divided into three basic sections: North Rail, South Rail, and Members Hill. Members Hill overlooks Winners Circle and has the best view of the course. All three sections include private tents, public viewing areas, and tailgate spaces. North Rail is geared more toward young professionals and social groups; South Rail is where most corporate tents and family-oriented outings congregate.
Sources
- ^ "Hats on for 91st running of the Virginia Gold Cup". Prince William Times. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- ^ "History". vagoldcup.com. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- ^ "Virginia Gold Cup Races". Visit-Loudoun. Loudoun Convention & Visitors Association. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2016.