Expect today's Deighton Cup to draw a fashion-conscious crowd to Hastings Racecourse

by Charlie Smith on July 25th, 2015 at 10:14 AM

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Many years ago, I wrote an article about a day I spent at the Mahalaxmi Race Course in Mumbai, where an elderly Parsi man tutored me on the sport of kings.

At the time, the track had a strict dress code: no jeans, no shorts, no shirtsleeves, and certainly no flip-flops.

This was the case even though the temperature rose to levels even we haven't seen this summer in Vancouver.

For women, broad-rimmed hats were the norm. There was even a fashion show held on-site.

Today, the Hastings Racecourse (188 North Renfrew Street) in Vancouver will re-create those halcyon days of horse racing at the seventh annual Deighton Cup, which takes place between noon and 6 p.m.

Not only will there be 3,500 people dressed in flamboyant derby outfits for eight races, there will also be stilt-walkers, jugglers, a bartending competition, and a red-carpet ceremony to honour the best-dressed spectators.

Tickets start at $35 with $5 going to Variety - The Children's Charity.