VAN: It Was All Horses, Blue Skies, And Derby Attire At The Deighton Cup

This past weekend saw all the city’s pretty people dressed for a day at the Hastings Racecourse as part of the annual Deighton Cup festivities, and it couldn’t have been a better day. With bluebird skies overhead, plenty of sunshine, and the never-ending flow of champagne and music, it was a spectacular event on and off the track.

After a week of iffy weather, our fingers were crossed that things would clear up in time for us to don our derby style. Well, Mother Nature was definitely in agreement when Saturday rolled around with temps in the mid-20s and a cloud-less sky – perfect for a day at the races with 1,500 other partygoers.

After a far-too-much-fun ride to the event, we hopped out and grabbed photos of the well-heeled crowd arriving in droves before making our way up the red carpet and into the already-bustling party. Live music blasted through the sprawling grounds as we took in the stylish scene.

Fashion aside, the Deighton Cup featured plenty to occupy guests and we had fun wandering about the space. A stroll through the Mile’s End Motors Field of Dreams had us drooling over fancy cars we’ll likely never be able to afford before we settled into watching a game of horseshoe toss for charity. Guests could cool off at an iced tea station, check out the cigar and bourbon bar, and nab a picnic lunch to recharge. To sweeten things up this year, the cup featured a cotton candy stand and petanque tournament (French-style bocce ball) and a contest with a $500 cash prize for the best dressed duo.

Those sporting deep pockets congregated at the Thoroughbred Marquee tent, where $2,500 scored you your own table and personal bar service. Positioned alongside the track, it was the best bet for those with a serious hankering for front row seating (and a penchant for Veuve Clicquot).

After trying our hand at a handful of bets we opted to dance off any trace of frustration to live swing-style music and DJ beats that kept the crowd feeling lively all afternoon until the festivities (sadly) had to come to an end. Fear not, we’ll be right back at it next time… now to start planning the perfect outfit.

Did you attend the Deighton Cup? Which horse did you bet on? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.