Equines played second fiddle to fashion and Veuve Clicquot at the seventh annual Deighton Cup. A capacity crowd, double the size of last year, descended on Hastings Racecourse last Saturday afternoon. Many donned their finest derby attire, the pinnacle of which was a scene-stealing hat. Herein, a few spectators share how they came by their toppers, and reveal a little of what’s underneath them.
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Helen Angus hasn’t been to the racetrack since she was 16. She glued the feathers—gifted from a friend who collects them—onto her hat herself. Her Hawaiian-shirted friend Michael Findlay says, “Last night we had some tequila and they made hats.” Helen’s husband Tookie adds, “Really high-quality tequila.” They couldn’t remember the brand, though.
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A table set for betting.
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This is the second Deighton Cup for brothers Bradley and Daniel Meier. Asked about why they came, Daniel says it’s to hang out with his big group of friends, and Bradley cupped his hand and gestured to his mouth, which Daniel translated as, “Champagne. He’s here for the Champagne.”
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First time’s a charm for the well-dressed winners of the Deighton’s Style Stakes competition, Lucy Orellana-Lopez, a hairstylist, and Michael Boulet. Vintage is a way of life for them; they cruise town in a teal and white 1963 Ford Fairlane. Lucy bought her dress online a couple months ago, and started constructing her hat two weeks ago, which Michael helped her with.
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A line-up to access the VIP area.
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Raised in South East London, Mile’s End Motor president David Bentil grew up with horse racing. “Just the betting shops, shhh,” he says. But he’s never been on a horse and doesn’t plan to try it, either. “Because of the risk factors. I weigh risk factors,” he says. “Have you ever seen the movie ‘Along Came Polly’?”
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Shawn Carnahan’s smile reveals sharper-than-the-average incisors. “It was a wedding present,” he says. His wife Mandy interjects, “Some people get tattoos, he got fangs.” Shawn continues, “My teeth were kind of pointy already, and I have an affinity for vampires.”
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Spectators take in the post parade, a formal presentation of the field of horses before each race.
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Ashley Watson and Todd Bohach didn’t dress up. Todd says he would, though: “I didn’t know I was coming until two hours before, and I just woke up.”
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Melody Glait’s newspaper topper was originally made for an art installation.
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A woman checks her phone in the roped off area of the Veuve Clicquot tent.
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Kira Schaffer and Lindsey Shepek have been stilt walkers for 15 years. They’d bet on whichever horse had the most creative name. On the topic of friendship, Kira says, “I think we’re in the friends category.” Lindsay adds, “Friend-plus.”
