Today was my 1st visit to the Hastings Races at the Hastings Racecourse. The special event today was the BC Derby and men and women were encouraged to dress up to participate in this year’s BC Best Dressed Contest.

I was contestant 95 out of who-knows-how-many (perhaps 100?) and wore the following:
– black chiffon-like dress by ESPRIT
– blue velvet blazer by H&M
– medium blue fur-felt blocked on The Saucy Milliner’s vintage blocks (a brim block and a crown block), trimmed with vintage ostrich feathers

I did not make it to the top 5 finalists (I supposed I’m too old-fashioned and I know I clearly don’t dress like a Canadian or a Vancouverite for that matter), but I was glad they selected an elegant senior and a middle-aged woman in red for the prize: a shopping spree to Metropolis in Metrotown.

I watched 5 races, from Race 5-10, for a few hours and got to see our hometown’s hero, Mario Gutierrez win the 49th BC Oaks on Evelyns Dancer.

Mario Gutierrez on Evelyns Dancer

Although I didn’t bet on any horse, I still enjoyed myself and learned more about the betting process from my Sunday School colleague. I can’t wait to attend another horse race someday, hopefully when the weather’s not so sour!

If you should ever like to attend a horse race in Vancouver, don’t let the thought of insufficient funds keep you from attending. It is FREE to attend (unless you want to have seats – though there is a FREE section to sit upstairs, with a pretty good view too!) and you are not required to bet.