Horses race in the Infinitive Steeplethon at the 84th anniversary of the Virginia Gold Cup Races in The Plains on May 2.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: Great Meadows, horses, The Plains, Virginia Gold Cup

Mary Motion riding Orpington wins the Junior Horses portion of the Junior Field Masters Chase Championship at the Virginia Gold Cup on May 2.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: Great Meadows, horses, The Plains, Virginia Gold Cup

Three-year-old Aubree Eckard of Jefferson, Va., holds on to her dad Zach and watches horses in the paddock with her brother Zachary, 5, at The Plains on May 2 before the Virginia Gold Cup races begin.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: Great Meadows, horses, The Plains, Virginia Gold Cup

The Virginia Gold Cup Junior Field Masters Chase Championship takes the field at The Plains on May 2.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: Great Meadows, horses, The Plains, Virginia Gold Cup

Irene Kerns of Markham, Va., made roast beef, turkey and ham sandwiches on pita bread for her tailgate party at the 84th anniversary of the Virginia Gold Cup on May 2.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: Great Meadows, horses, The Plains, Virginia Gold Cup

Chad Heflin of Warrenton helps 20-month-old Austin Mawyer try on a pair of sunglasses to watch the Virginia Gold Cup races on May 2.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: Great Meadows, horses, The Plains, Virginia Gold Cup

Each year at the Virginia Gold Cup races, Carol Newland of Culpeper has a hat theme for her table display.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: Great Meadows, horses, The Plains, Virginia Gold Cup

The canine competitors shot out of the gate at the Terrier Race Exhibition at the Virginia Gold Cup races on May 2.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: Great Meadows, horses, The Plains, Virginia Gold Cup

Friends tailgate at the Virginia Gold Cup Races at The Plains on May 2: from left, Deborah Thornton, Justin Thornton and Kevin Harnisch (on the tailgate), Sarah Harnisch (in the white hat) and Dennis Chapman (blue jacket).

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: Great Meadows, horses, The Plains, Virginia Gold Cup

Friends try on big hats at the 84th anniversary of the Gold Cup Races: from left, Stephanie Maxwell of Fredericksburg with a white hat, Karli Schneider of Fredericksburg with a blue hat and Laura Stowe of Arlington with a beige hat.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: Great Meadows, horses, The Plains, Virginia Gold Cup

During the first race of the day, the Maiden Hurdle, Jockey Carl Rafter (#8) is almost thrown off of Country Cousin while going over the hurdle.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: Great Meadows, horses, The Plains, Virginia Gold Cup

Jockey Carl Rafter (#8) swings in the air for about five steps after almost falling off Country Cousin in the May 2 Virginia Gold Cup races.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: Great Meadows, horses, The Plains, Virginia Gold Cup

Jockey Carl Rafter (#8) regains control of Country Cousin and gets back in the race, after almost being thrown during the first race of the Virginia Gold Cup on May 2.

Photo: Tracy A. Woodward, Washington Post

Tagged: Great Meadows, horses, The Plains, Virginia Gold Cup