Thousands brave weather for Strawberry Hill Races

Kelly Bassett sauntered over to the white banister at the edge of the field just as horse No. 6 -- Humdinger -- won the second race at yesterday's 77th running of the Strawberry Hill Races.

The win happened to be Bassett's second of the day. Her pick for the first race -- Eagle Beagle -- also won.

Her secret?

"I just picked the names I liked," the Charlottesville resident said.

Yesterday's steeplechase races at Colonial Downs in New Kent County drew thousands, despite the cold rain and wind that lasted for much of the day.

This year's theme was "Casablanca," and while most of the spectators spent their day huddled under the cover of tents or the back door of their SUV, a few groups joined in the spirit of the 1942 movie.

They dressed in trenchcoats and fedora hats like movie stars Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman and turned their tailgating spaces into Rick's American Café.

Richmond resident Cindy Mae Dodd and her friends dined on lamb stew under a tent with a pink sparkly "Rick's" sign overhead. A Bogart statue greeted everyone who stopped by.

"We consider Strawberry Hill a Richmond tradition, and we want to keep it that way," Dodd said as she handed out plates of Moroccan food.

Joining her amid the gauzy pink and red drapes of the tent was Richmond resident Holly Wetmore, who said that each year, it seems that fewer people get into the spirit of the Strawberry Hill themes.

In years past, "you never saw overalls or people with their shirts off," she said. "People were dressed nice. It's really sad, because that's what it's all about."

But just down from Dodd was a group that also got into the "Casablanca" theme. Dressed in trenchcoats, they played roulette at the back of their pickup truck next to a spread of olives and cheese.

The group included members of The Book Club from New Kent, along with their spouses and friends. A miniature plane lay against the back of the truck, and plants swayed in the wind next to a fake café storefront.

"This is the first year we've been dressed appropriately," Catherine Pierce said jokingly.

"If it had been a beach scene, we'd all be in trouble," added Doug Simpson.

They said that more than seeing the races, they enjoy spending time with each other and getting together to plan decorations for their space.

"For us, it's more about the artistic side of it," said Jena Simpson, echoing others' comments about the lack of race attendees who dressed up.

But for those who did, "it's about seeing the unusual, doing the unusual, being the unusual," Jena Simpson said. "Sometimes you just want to let loose."

Contact Holly Prestidge at (804) 649-6945 or .