At the races

Could the weather have been any more glorious for the Willowdale Steeplechase on Sunday? It was in the high 70s and so sunny that people had a hard time checking their smart phones: there was just too much glare on the screen. As a photographer friend said, "Today was a hard day on getting the exposures correct. Bright, harsh light."
It was a fun afternoon. The Willowdale course is set up so nicely that you can see most of the race from almost anywhere. The tailgating was great but there was a different "feel" from the other steeplechases of the season. As a friend of mine put it, there were a lot more "civilians" in attendance, not just the foxhunting and racing set who are regulars at the other races.
Opera singer Martin Hargrove did a fantastic job performing the National Anthem, and I was happy to see so many people remove their hats as a mark of respect during the Anthem (I'm old-fashioned that way).
Thank you to everyone who fed and watered me, and to the organizers for sending me a press pass! Much appreciated.
Later that day I was at the Four Dogs Tavern in Marshallton, and between the post-race partiers and the Mother's Day crowd, I've never seen it so crowded. "Kind of busy, huh!" I said to a worker who was taking a break in the alley outside the kitchen. He turned to me with a battle-weary stare. "It was insane," he said slowly. 
Postscript: It's the morning after, and I can tell you that Banana Boat SPF 100 sunblock really works.